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Dogs have become the most popular pet in the United States. Americans share their homes with nearly 90 million dogs nationwide, and more than 38% of U.S. households own at least one. The percentages in the Northeast are a bit lower: 29% of households in Massachusetts and just 24% in New Hampshire include dogs. Still, the numbers aren’t small. That’s well over 100,000 dogs in New Hampshire, and more than 700,000 in Massachusetts.
While dogs can make great companions and many are friendly with strangers, they are also animals with sharp teeth, strong jaws, and sometimes unpredictable natures. While most people understand that it’s important to exercise caution with unfamiliar dogs, not everyone knows how to safely interact with unknown dogs. And, many people wrongly assume that a family dog or neighborhood dog they know well presents no threat.
While unexpected animal attacks do happen, most dog bite situations are avoidable. Some of the most common mistakes people make when interacting with an unknown dog include:
When encountering an unfamiliar dog, it is best to stay still and let the dog approach you or wander off. Running or reaching toward the dog may be interpreted as aggression. A still person with arms at his or her sides is generally of little interest to the dog, and does not appear threatening.
While it’s particularly important to avoid the mistakes listed above when you don’t know what to expect from a dog, it’s important to note that dogs you know and love can still be dangerous. In fact, most of the more than 4.5 million dog bites each year are inflicted by the family dog or a friend or neighbor’s dog.
Children are at particular risk from familiar dogs, in part because they fail to read warning signs. Even with a familiar, friendly dog, one should always avoid behaviors perceived as aggressive, such as making the dog feel cornered or threatened, persisting in contact when the dog resists, startling the dog, and interfering with feeding.
Massachusetts is a strict liability state for dog bites, which means that a dog’s owner is responsible for any harm the dog does to a person or to someone else’s property. However, the owner won’t be held responsible if the person the dog injures was trespassing or was tormenting or provoking the animal.
If you’re bitten by a dog while making deliveries or otherwise in the course of your employment, your injury will likely be covered by workers’ compensation. You may also have a claim against the dog’s owner for damages, but you cannot collect the same compensation from both workers’ compensation and the dog owner.
The damages available in any injury case depend on a variety of factors, including the nature, severity and duration of the injury. In addition to compensation for medical expenses and lost work time, you may be entitled to compensation for intangibles such as pain and suffering and the impact of scarring.
Fortunately, most dog bites aren’t serious. However, about 750,000 dog bites each year require medical attention, and some can be quite serious. Tens of thousands of cosmetic surgical procedures are performed each year as the result of dog bites, and occasionally dog attacks are fatal. With limited exceptions, both Massachusetts and New Hampshire hold dog owners responsible for harm caused when their dogs bite or otherwise attack.
If you or your child has been injured by someone else’s dog and you have incurred medical expenses and other damages as a result, you may be entitled to compensation. A free consultation with an experienced local dog bite attorney is the quickest, most reliable way to gather information about your rights and options. To get started right now, just call The Broderick Law Firm, LLC at 978-459-3085 or fill out this contact form to schedule a free consultation.
Attorney Kevin J. Broderick has devoted his career to helping people who have been injured through someone else’s fault. He understands how difficult and stressful the aftermath of a serious injury can be, and wants to make it as easy as possible for you to get the help you need.
You can schedule a free consultation right now to:
The sooner you schedule your free consultation with an experienced dog bite lawyer you will be to protect yourself and your claim and pursue the compensation you deserve. You can start right now by calling 978-459-3085 or fill out the contact form on this site to get a free consultation. Even if you aren’t sure if you have a case, it is always better to call and ask.
Massachusetts is a strict liability state for dog bites, which means that a dog’s owner is responsible for any harm the dog does to a person or to someone else’s property. However, the owner won’t be held responsible if the person the dog injures was trespassing or was tormenting or provoking the animal.
If you’re bitten by a dog while making deliveries or otherwise in the course of your employment, your injury will likely be covered by workers’ compensation. You may also have a claim against the dog’s owner for damages, but you cannot collect the same compensation from both workers’ compensation and the dog owner.
The damages available in any injury case depend on a variety of factors, including the nature, severity and duration of the injury. In addition to compensation for medical expenses and lost work time, you may be entitled to compensation for intangibles such as pain and suffering and the impact of scarring.
Let Attorney Kevin Broderick answer your questions and evaluate your personal injury or vehicle accident case for free!
The information you obtain on this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters, and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.