Did a dog bite you within the last two years? Do you live in Georgia? There are certain legal statutes in place that can help cover the damages from your traumatic experience. If the attack happened within the last two years, you are eligible to file a dog bite lawsuit and get the representation and coverage you deserve as the victim of an attack.
Because Georgia is a negligence state, negligence has to be proven by the injured person that was bitten. The victim is responsible for proving that the dog was vicious or dangerous in some way or another. The victim also has to prove that the dog’s owner was negligent in that the owner previously knew that the dog had aggression or dangerous behaviors and/or that the dog was allowed to roam freely (i.e. not on a leash). If the dog’s owner was unaware of the dog’s aggression or dangerous behaviors, the “one bite rule” applies, which entails that the owner cannot be held liable for the attack on the victim.
In terms of provocation, the victim of the attack must prove that the dog was not provoked by their actions. The dog bite statute in Georgia favors the dog owner if the dog bite was provoked. In other words, if you provoked the dog to bite you, it is not the owner’s fault. Dogs are considered innocent and harmless in Georgia until proven otherwise. In Georgia, if the dog’s owner was negligent or irresponsible at the time of the attack, the dog’s owner may be held responsible and you might be able to seek legal compensation depending on the extent of the situation. It is also important to notate whether or not the dog has a history of biting people. If the dog has previously bitten someone, the owner has “superior knowledge,” which entails that the owner can be qualified as negligent if the dog happens to bite another person.
If you are bitten by a dog, the first thing to do is to call the police or animal control. They will come evaluate the scenario and more than likely quarantine the dog to ensure the dog is up-to-date on its vaccines. Animal control will also decide whether or not the dog is perceived as potentially dangerous or dangerous. If the dog is classified as dangerous, euthanizing the dog might be the only answer. If treatment is necessary, the victim should go seek treatment as soon as possible. Once the victim has been treated, they should call the authorities or Haug Law Group to schedule your free consultation in regard to your potential case. Dog bite injuries are classified under personal injury claims, and our team at Haug Law Group is here to help you get the representation you deserve, especially if you were hurt.
