If you’ve been bitten or attacked by a dog, you need a dog bite injury lawyer who is experienced in handling such cases. A lawyer can help you prepare your claim and even help track down the negligent owner.

 

 

If you’ve been badly bitten or attacked, your first priority should be medical care. There are certain procedures that need to be followed immediately on the scene of an attack. If you were accompanied by someone at the time of the bite or attack, an injury lawyer can help you gather the information you need.

 

First and foremost, you need the name and contact information of the dog owner. If it’s a family member, a friend or a neighbour, this shouldn’t be difficult. The hardest part will be dealing with the pressure you receive to not report the bite. Remember that reporting a dog bite is important. There should be a record of any bites, in the case that the dog is a serial biter.

 

If the owner is a stranger or the dog is just running loose, you may have a harder time. Sometimes, an owner will refuse to provide his/her contact information. If so, ask any bystanders if they know the owner or where he/she lives. You need to report the bite to the police, the local health department and the local by-law enforcement office. If you don’t have the name of the owner, there’s a chance one of these places will be able to help you find the owner. Finding the owner is imperative since you need to know if the dog has had its rabies shots.

 

Gather the names and contact information for any witnesses. Independent witnesses are important since the dog owner may later deny that it was his dog that bit you.

 

You should also take photos of the bite as soon as you can after the incident. Keep documenting the healing as you improve so you have a record for your claim.

 

 

According to Ontario’s Dog Owner’s Liability Act (DOLA), the owner of the dog is legally and financially responsible for any injury to people or property damage that is caused by their dog. A dog owner is "strictly liable”, which means that the owner has to pay you damages, even if the owner acted in a responsible manner or if you provoked the animal. If there is more than one owner, all owners are jointly responsible for damages.

 

The owner of the property where you were attacked may also be held liable for damages since they assume responsibility for their property and the animal. For example, in some cases, the landlord can be held responsible if they knowingly allow dangerous dogs on their rental property.

 

Even if you acted in some way to provoke the dog, you are still entitled to damages, although the amount may be reduced because of "contributory negligence”. If the victim is a child, the court will consider whether the child was properly supervised at the time of the bite.

 

A dog bite or attack can cause permanent injuries, physical or emotional scarring and even death. Your dog bite injury lawyer can help you gather information and submit a claim to help with the financial and emotional stress and pain of a dog bite.