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.
Examples of Dog Attacks
- A dog lunging at or chasing a person, leading to a fall and subsequent injury such as a concussion or a joint-related issue, even if there is no bite or scratch.
- A dog knocking a person to the ground without biting or scratching them.
- A canine rushing at a person and knocking him to the ground, causing injury without any contact with the dog.
- A dog attacking your family member such that you see or hear it contemporaneously and you suffer resulting anxiety.
- A dog bite that doesn’t break the skin but applies enough pressure to cause a compression injury to a nerve, tendon, ligament, or muscle.
Denials of an “Attack”
Dog owners often deny the severity of an attack. Or, they try to characterize the attack as just “playful” behavior by the dog. Some owners, despite the evidence, will claim they were falsely accused. Some groups defend dogs falsely accused.
However, the law tasks a judge or jury with deciding whether an “attack” occurred.
Conclusions
While most injuries related to an aggressive dog are compensable, also consider:
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- Not all negative interactions with a canine constitute an “attack.”
- Minor contact or play between dogs may not be considered an attack.
- The severity of the injury and the surrounding circumstances can influence how it is classified and what legal rights to compensation may accrue.
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