Celeste Law Firm, PA.

• Workers' Compensation
• Veterans' Disability
• Social Security Disability
• Personal Injury
• Animal/Dog Bites
• Auto Accident
• Product Liability
• Slip and Fall
• Workers' Retaliation
• Wrongful Death

Animal/Dog Bites

If you have been bitten by an animal or a dog you may legally be entitled to recover damages from the animal’s owner or the responsible party. Animal keepers, parents of minors, property owners, and landlords can also be held liable.

If you are bitten you should get the owners name and phone number. You should also take pictures of your bite. If there are any witnesses try and get their names and contact information.

The first thing that needs to be determined is whether the owner knew the animal can be dangerous. This can be difficult to prove. In some states the owner is legally responsible for an animal bite, regardless of the circumstances. In other states the animal is not considered dangerous until it attacks one time.

Even if the animal is dangerous, the owner is not necessarily at fault. If the injured person’s behavior is negligent, and fails to exercise the degree of care for his/her safety, than they are at fault. For instance, if the owner warns you there is a dangerous animal and tries to keep you away, and you ignore the warnings, the owner might not be at fault. Also, if you provoke the animal, such as threatening gestures or physical abuse, this could negate the owner’s liability.

Depending of the type of injuries, and the severity, you may be entitled to recover damages such as: Medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. In some situations where the person at fault is more than negligent you may also be entitled to punitive damages.

If you are a loved one has been bitten by an animal, you may be entitled to recover damages for the resulting injuries. To ensure that you receive the proper compensation you should contact an experienced attorney. Celeste Law Firm, PA. has handled hundreds of animal bite cases. Call us today!