Dog bites and dog attacks
Many families own pet dogs so it may be hard to think our best friends could cause serious harm to others. However, statistics show that there are no less than 500,000 dog bites in Canada every year. Some of these injuries may be fatal while some others cause years of debilitating pain and disfigurement. Some victims develop a permanent phobia for dogs after these gory incidents. Canadian dog owners are guided by the Dog Owners Liability Act and this law renders the victim of a dog bite entitled to a compensation. Our personal injury lawyers are experts at fighting for the claims of victims that have suffered from dog bites or dog attacks.
If you or someone you know has ever been injured or traumatized by a dog bite or dog attack, you should take the following steps to ensure your safety:
- Seek medical care immediately
- Trace the owner of the dog and confirm the dog has been vaccinated appropriately
- Collect the address and other relevant details of the dog owner
- In case of dog bites, take and keep photographs of the injured area
- Collect and keep all the receipts of expenses incurred during the treatment
Get started with a free consultation
Once you have received medical attention, you should start weighing your legal options. As mentioned earlier, the law states that every dog owner should have their pet under reasonable control. You shouldn’t be the only one that’ll bear the financial and psychological burden of another person’s negligence. You can schedule a free consultation with our expert dog bite lawyers to know the types of compensation you are entitled to. Our priority is seeing you get better and ensuring justice is served. Pursuing a compensation would further protect others from harm as the dog owner would learn greatly from the experience. We do not charge any consultation or legal fee until the case is resolved.
It’s not always a straight case
Dog owners also employ lawyers to thwart your claims. They come up with defenses that would spin the case in their favor. Below are examples of common defenses put forward by dog owners and their lawyers:
- The victim was the negligent party
- The dog was provoked by the victim
- The victim was aware of the risk of interacting with the dog
With these defenses, the case could easily go against you. That is why you need an expert dog bite lawyer to help you fight for your compensation. Our lawyers have an in-depth knowledge of dog bite cases and we would be glad to bring our expertise to your case.