Personal Injury Law
Dog Bite Injury Lawyers
Personal Injury Law
Dog Bite Injury Lawyers
In the event of a dog bite or animal attack, you should know that you are legally entitled to seek compensation for damages from the animal’s owner. Canadian law generally favours the victim in such cases. Our dog bite injury lawyers can help you get the necessary compensation from the pet’s owner that you are entitled to.
We extend our ‘No Win, No Fee’ offer to all our clients in a personal injury case. This means that we get paid only when we secure a win for you in court. You don’t have to worry about the legal expenses throughout the proceedings. Connect with our personal injury lawyers today for legal guidance and assistance in your case.
Our Personal Injury law services
- Boating Accidents
- Bicycle Accident
- Car Accidents
- Catastrophic Injury
- Chronic Pain
- Cross-Border Injury
- Dog Bite Injury
- Fractures and Orthopaedic Injuries
- Liability in Personal Injury
- Long Term Disability Insurance
Claims - Medical Malpractice
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Nursing Home Negligence
- Occupiers’ Liability
- Pedestrian Accident
- Product Liability
- Slip & Fall Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injury
(Neck, Back, Whiplash & Spinal Cord Injuries) - Sports Injury
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Truck Accidents
- Wrongful Death
How can our Dog Bite Injury lawyer help you?
Checking the legal validity of your claim.
Let’s say you were not bitten by the dog but got injured because you fell when the dog charged at you. You can still proceed to file your claim against the dog owner for the damages. At the end of the day, it is the responsibility of the dog owner to properly supervise their pet to ensure that others are not harmed by the animal.
The law clearly holds the owner accountable for any harm caused by the pet. This is why you need to consult with a Personal Injury lawyer right away. An experienced Dog Bite Injury lawyer will explain your rights and advise you on the best way to proceed with your legal action.
Building a strong case to fix the liability on the defendant
The services of an experienced personal injury lawyer will be crucial in establishing the negligence of the defendant in court. In the above example, where the injuries were the result of the fall when the dog charged at the victim, it will be difficult to establish the owner’s liability. In such cases, your lawyer will systematically build a strong case on your behalf by collecting the CCTV footage, witness statements, and prior record of any similar cases against the defendant.
Fighting for a good compensation package for you
A serious dog bite injury might cost you many days or weeks away from your work until you make a full recovery. You will have to pay for your medical expenses and take a full course of antibiotics or vaccines to prevent infections from the bite. All your financial costs, like medical expenses, lost earnings, and any other expenses you incurred because of the injury, might be reimbursed in the event of a successful litigation.
You will also be compensated for the pain and suffering, mental trauma, scarring, or disability caused by the incident. Your lawyer will make sure that your claim covers your future medical care needs as well.
We can Help
Contact our personal injury lawyers for the speedy resolution of your dog bite injury claim. Schedule an appointment with our personal injury team for a consultation today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue the pet owner for the dog bite?
Yes. Canadian law holds the owner of the pet liable for the injuries caused by the pet. However, there are a few exceptions. For example, if you got attacked when trespassing on your neighbour’s property without any criminal intentions, you can still sue the pet owner for damages. But the liability of the pet owner will be significantly reduced. On the other hand, if the victim was trespassing on the pet owner’s property with the intention of vandalism or theft, or if he ignored the warning sign about the dog on the premises, such dog bite injury claims are likely to be rejected. At Nanda and Associate Lawyers, our Personal Injury Lawyers can help you assess the validity of your claim and fight to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation available under law.
I was chased by my neighbour’s dog. I fell and got injured. Can I sue the pet owner for the damages?
Yes. An animal attack does not necessarily have to be a direct bite from the animal. If you fell and got injured when the dog was charging at you or chasing you, that is also considered an animal attack legally. You have a valid personal injury claim for damages against the pet owner in such a case. Under the law, it is the responsibility of the pet owner to restrain or supervise the pet properly to prevent such incidents. Connect with our personal injury lawyers to proceed with your claim against the pet owner for damages.
What are the different levels of dog bite injuries?
This is a reference to the Dunbar Dog Bite Scale, which classifies dog bite injuries into six levels based on the seriousness of the victim’s injuries. These are as follows:
Level 1: The dog growls, charges, or chases the person, but there is no actual contact with the victim.
Level 2: The dog attacks the victim, and there is actual contact resulting in minor bruises or scratches, but there are no puncture wounds.
Level 3: The attack results in minor injuries and bruises that puncture the skin. But the injuries are of a less severe nature, requiring only minor medical treatment.
Level 4: The attack results in deep wounds requiring medical intervention.
Level 5: The attack results in multiple bites, resulting in deep wounds and serious tissue damage.
Level 6: This refers to a fatal injury caused by a dog bite. This happens only in rare cases. While the Dunbar scale is widely used to assess the injuries in dog bite cases, it is worth noting that it is not part of the legal framework.
How much compensation can I claim for my dog bite injury?
This depends entirely on the particular circumstances of the case, and it is not possible to generalize the amount of compensation. The final compensation amount will depend on the nature of the victim’s injuries and their impact on their life. For example, there have been cases where dog bite injuries have resulted in disfigurement or disability of the victim. In such cases, the court will also take into consideration the victim’s loss of earning potential before deciding on the final compensation amount. Our personal injury lawyers at Nanda and Associate Lawyers will help you assess the appropriate compensation amount for your claim.
What will happen to my pet if it is declared dangerous in the dog bite case?
Depending on the severity of the injury and frequency of the reported cases, the court will require the pet owner to take measures to prevent such attacks in the future. You will have to ensure that the dog is always restrained and kept on a leash when it is outside the premises. In serious cases, the dog will be temporarily quarantined and retrained before it is released back to the owner. In extreme cases, if the dog is found to be posing a serious danger to others, it may be ordered to be euthanized.
Do I need a personal injury lawyer for my dog bite claim?
Yes. It is highly recommended that you hire a personal injury lawyer to handle your dog bite injury case from the beginning. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you assess the validity of your claim and the appropriate compensation amount, depending on the circumstances of your case. He can also build a strong case by gathering the necessary evidence, such as CCTV footage, statements from witnesses, and testimonies from experts, such as the medical professionals who treated you. At Nanda and Associate Lawyers, our personal injury lawyers can provide you with the legal guidance and assistance required in your case.
Can I sue the owner when the attack happened on his property?
Yes. As long as you were not trespassing on his property and had a legally valid reason to be there as a guest or a delivery guy, you have the right to file a lawsuit against the owner for damages. As mentioned earlier, the law gives priority to the rights of the injured person in such cases. But if you had no business being there in the first place, then the court is likely to reject your claim regardless of the seriousness of your injuries. If the defendant can prove that you were trespassing on his property with the intention of vandalism or theft, they will not be held accountable for the damages.
Is there a limit on the amount of compensation you can claim?
No. The amount of compensation depends entirely on the severity of your injuries and the pain and suffering you had to go through as a result. There have been cases where the dog bite resulted in the permanent disability or disfigurement of the victim. As such, the amount of compensation to be claimed is decided on a case-by-case basis. Our Personal Injury lawyer will help you with calculating the appropriate amount of compensation for you.
Can the landlord be held liable for the dog bite from a tenant’s dog?
This varies from case to case. If the landlord knowingly allowed a tenant to keep a dangerous pet on his premises, putting the other tenants in danger, then he may also be held liable for the damages. The same applies to a situation in which the landlord fails to take action against the pet owner, despite receiving repeated complaints from the other tenants. However, if a tenant has ignored the landlord’s instructions and snuck a dangerous pet into the apartment without his knowledge, then he is not likely to be held liable for this.
