Picture this: Bernard is at the dog park with his black lab, innocently throwing the Frisbee back-and-forth with his well-trained pooch. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a dog comes flying up the grass and corners him with the Frisbee. Bernard puts his hands out to signal for the dog to stay away from him, but this dog doesn’t seem to respect boundaries. Then—BAM—the dog jumps up and bites Bernard’s leg, while the owner runs toward him immediately apologizing. You hear: “You shouldn’t have been teasing my dog! He wouldn’t have bitten you if you didn’t provoke him.”
Now, this is a scenario where the dog owner refuses to take any responsibility for his or her dog’s actions. Bernard was innocently playing Frisbee with his own dog and did nothing to provoke the dog that bit him. What are Bernard’s next steps? If the dog owner refuses to take responsibility for Bernard’s injuries, it is in Bernard’s best interest to hire a Toronto personal injury lawyer and file a dog bite lawsuit.
Dog Owner’s Liability Act
If you own a dog, you are responsible for your pet’s actions. It’s that simple. The dog owner in the Frisbee scenario would have been able to control the situation if they had put their dog on a leash. When taking your dog outside there is always the risk that the animal might run off, but it is your responsibility to have your dog on a leash, be aware of people coming up to pet your dog, and to never let your dog jump up on or scratch someone else.
If you have been given a ticket or charged, you need to build the evidence up to support your case. Opening a dog bite lawsuit is a difficult process if you are not aware of the laws, or have no evidence to support your claims. A Toronto personal injury lawyer will be able to help you through the process, especially in proving the breed of your dog if you think your dog is a pit bull.
If you were the victim of a dog bite or a dog owner accused of negligence, you can book a free consultation with a Sokoloff lawyer today and receive the compensation or support you deserve.
Sources:
https://www.ckc.ca/en/Files/Raising-My-Dog-Section/Responsible-Ownership/Your-Responsibilities-in-Case-of-a-Bite-Incidents