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A Challenge Getting Medical Care in Rural PA The City of Pittsburgh is abound with hospitals and urgent care facilities to treat injuries caused by canines.  However, residents of rural Pennsylvania fare less well.  For example, victims living in Beaver, Butler, Washington, Greene, Westmoreland and Mercer Counties often face a…

The Invisible Damage: Mental Harm to a Child Any time you hear of a dog bite to a person under age of 18, you probably think of blood and physical disfigurement.  But the victim’s long term emotional distress can amount to the biggest issue for the child. The attacking pet’s…

🧬 Using Doggie DNA to Identify the Animal Post-Attack Most often, identifying the aggressive pet is easy, especially if the pet’s owner is present for and acknowledges the dog bite. Or, there may be other corroborating evidence to identify the canine, short of obtaining the animal’s DNA for comparison testing. …

Most states have adopted a strict liability standard for injuries from a canine bite, meaning, the victim need not prove “negligence” to obtain a recovery.   But Pennsylvania historically has refused, finding “strict liability” only for the payment of medical bills, but not “pain and suffering, disfigurement, or loss of wages….

Pennsylvania Mail Carriers Bit Over 300 Times in 2024 In 2024, Pennsylvania postal workers were involved in 316 dog-related incidents, ranking PA 6th nationally, according to the U.S. Postal Service. And, Pennsylvania is the 6th most populous state in the US, so the number of incidents is proportionate to PA’s…

So let’s say you found a legal representative to bring suit in Pennsylvania state court for your animal attack related injuries.  And, you file suit within the two year statute of limitations. All you need is evidence in court, right?  Wrong.   In Pennsylvania state court, a plaintiff must make a…

A “dog attack” typically describes an unprovoked incident where a dog bites, attacks, or causes harm to a person or another animal. This can involve anything from a single bite to multiple bites, scratches, or aggressive behaviors such as lunging or chasing absent any contact with the dog whatsoever.   …

What happens if a canine attacks not you, but your fur baby, causing death or serious injury to your pet?  Is it a crime?  The answer is, yes, but not a serious one.  This is true, even if others get hurt, trying to save the fur baby.  In Pennsylvania, as…

When Trials Become Train Wrecks  We always advise our clients on the advantages and disadvantages of settling a case before proceeding to trial, because an unfavorable day in court can have extremely negative outcomes. Even with a capable legal representative and strong evidence, trials inherently involve risks.  Many things can…

Can the person who harbors a dog that bites someone also be liable for medical mistakes that occur while treating the victim’s injuries?  Let’s say, for example, your neighbor’s dog escapes their property and trespasses on yours, to attack you in your front yard. Clear liability. You seek medical treatment…