Animals can be dangerous even if they are domestic. Although our pets are lovable creatures to us, they may not seem that way to other people. When our pets are unfamiliar with people, they may not act as friendly as we would expect them to act around us. Dogs can be territorial animals. They become protective over their owners and the homes that they live in. this can cause them to act aggressively if a stranger were to approach. For these situations, an owner should know how their dog is going to act when interacting with other people. When more than one dog is involved in a dog attack, it may involve more than one owner. For these situations, an injured party may be able to hold all the owners responsible for the accident. The dog owners can be jointly and separately held responsible for the injuries that happened as a result of the accident and the damages that they may be entitled to pay.
When can a dog owner be liable?
A dog owner can be held liable when a dog attacks another individual and injures them. For these cases, there may be specific circumstances that can apply. If a dog has a history of attacks and vicious behavior, it may be easier for the injured party to prove that the owner should have known about this behavior and did not take the steps to prevent an attack. This can then hold the owner responsible for failing to maintain control of their pet and they may be liable for damages in connection with the attack. If the injured party somehow antagonized the dog, they may not be able to hold the owner responsible for the attack. Their behavior could have caused the dog to act in that way out of fear of the individual. For these situations, the owner may not have to pay damages to the injured party. If the injured person was trespassing on the owner’s property, they may not be able to seek liability on the owner’s behalf. By trespassing onto their property, they are in the dog’s space. This can prove that the injured party is at fault. These cases can vary depending on a variety of factors that affect liability.
Marc N. Needelman is an experienced attorney working throughout the state of Connecticut. Contact the law firm to set up a free initial consultation for matters, related to real estate, personal injury, criminal defense, estate planning, and more.
