O’Malley & Langan represented a young boy and his family for severe injuries inflicted to the child as a result of a dog bite.
O’Malley & Langan pursued homeowners and renters policies, covering the home where the dog resided in an effort to obtain the highest possible settlement for the minor child who was left with permanent scars. The case did not to go trial as O’Malley & Langan was able to obtain the maximum amount of the insurance policies, to provide for the child’s future medical care.
Each year in the U.S. there are almost a million dog bites. Children are the victims in about 60 percent of all bites. Letter carriers and delivery persons are also frequent victims of attacks.
- About 800,000 dog bites per year need medical attention. 1,000 per day need treatment in hospital emergency rooms. Most of the victims are children. Severe injuries occur almost exclusively in children less than 10 years of age.
- The majority of dog attacks (61%) happen at home or in a familiar place, and the face is the most frequent target (77% of all injures).
- The breeds considered to be the highest risk for biting are Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Doberman Pinschers, Chows, Great Danes, St. Bernards and Akitas. In 8 out of 10 cases, the attack dog is male.
Irresponsible Dog Owners
Owners of high-risk breeds should be aware that if their dogs attack a person, the attack might be scrutinized by law enforcement. The reason is that irresponsible behavior with a dog whose breed is known to bite has caused a rising and unacceptable injury and death toll. "Irresponsible behavior" is defined differently from state to state.
Any dog can turn into a dangerous dog. The owner most often is responsible -- not the breed, and not the dog. An irresponsible owner or dog handler might create a situation that places another person in danger by a dog, without the dog itself being dangerous. An individual dog may be a good, loving pet, even though its breed is considered to be likely to bite. A responsible owner can win the love and respect of a dog, no matter its breed.
Fair Compensation
In every state, a victim can recover compensation from:
- a person whose negligence caused the attack
- a person who violated a leash law or a law prohibiting dogs from "running at large,"
- a person who kept a dog with the knowledge that the dog had a history of injuring people. Generally, dog bite statutes make a dog owner responsible for all bites, even if the dog never bit anyone before.
Sometimes a victim can recover compensation from:
- people who, at first glance, might appear to have little to do with the dog.
Example: a landlord might be liable if he knows that a tenant keeps a dog that bites people, provided that the landlord has the legal power to get rid of the tenant. Or a day care center might be liable for permitting someone with a large, aggressive dog onto the premises.
O’Malley & Langan specializes in dog bite cases where children or delivery persons were injured.
If you or someone you know was bitten by a dog, find out what your legal options are. Contact O’Malley & Langan for your free consultation and we’ll help you prove the dog owner or handler was irresponsible.
