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Dog Bites On Friday, April 18, 2025
Getting attacked by a dog can be a truly traumatic and unforgettable experience. It can change your entire outlook on pets. It’s safe to say that most people in this country love or at least tolerate dogs to some degree. They can be fiercely loyal and friendly companions. Some people may even consider them members of the family. That doesn’t mean they can’t randomly attack, even when they’re unprovoked. Understanding Connecticut dog bite laws can be beneficial.
When it comes to pursuing legal action against a negligent dog owner, the legal team at Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C. can provide you with the necessary resources to maximize your settlement amount and ensure the right people are held accountable for what happened to you.
You may be counting on your settlement package to cover your medical expenses. Depending on the nature of the attack, you may require ongoing medical care for quite some time or even permanent scarring.
A study by the Connecticut Department of Public Health showed that there were over 36 animals that tested positive for rabies in the state. Those are just the ones that were caught and dealt with. There may be many more that remain at large, including dogs. It’s not uncommon for a dog to contract rabies and become a dangerous threat. It’s also worth pointing out that a dog doesn’t need rabies to attack you. Rabies may be one reasonable explanation.
If you are struggling to accept what happened to you, you may want to consider speaking with someone about it. Surviving an animal attack can invite mental and emotional trauma into your life alongside your physical injuries. Seeking out a local mental health support group like NAMI Connecticut can be very beneficial to your healing process.
After all, if you were a dog lover before this, the last thing you may want is to be afraid of dogs for the rest of your life. This may help.
Connecticut state law is very clear about the amount of responsibility the dog’s owner has in situations like this. If you are attacked by a dog and the owner knows the dog is dangerous but does nothing, you can take legal action against the owner for negligence. It will be the owner’s responsibility to reimburse you for any damages caused by their dog, including medical costs, property damages, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
If you are attacked by a dog, particularly a larger breed, it is vital to your health that you clean the wound out as well as you can before going to a doctor for a more thorough cleaning and further treatment.
Deciding to proceed with legal action is a big deal. When you choose to take that leap, it is vital to your case’s survival that you make sure it adheres to Connecticut’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims. In most instances, you have two years to put together a strong case, gather the necessary evidence, engage a Cheshire dog bite lawyer, and file a legal claim to recover damages.
If, for whatever reason, you are not able to bring your case to fruition before two years have passed, you may have to accept the unfortunate fact that compensation is not in your future. Your case will be thrown out, and no legal action will be taken. It can be disheartening to learn that your case is no longer valid because you missed the required window of opportunity. Building a case can take a long time, so you should get started as soon as you can.
A: When a dog bites someone in Connecticut, the dog’s owner is generally found liable for any damages caused by the dog. The only exceptions are if the victim was trespassing on the owner’s private property or if the victim was abusing or tormenting the dog right before the attack. In that case, the victim is responsible for essentially causing their own attack. The dog may also be quarantined for a number of days, just in case.
A: The most recent legislation involving dog bites in Connecticut includes additional liability to the animal’s owner if the animal attacks another person’s service animal. Now, the owner will likely also be responsible for the service animal’s veterinary care, rehabilitation, or replacement if the animal is killed or is no longer able to work as a service animal. Additionally, if the dog owner is a minor, the owner’s parents are held responsible for damages.
A: Yes, in Connecticut, you can legally kill a dog that is attacking you. When you are being viciously attacked by an animal, regardless of whether the owner is present or not, you may not have a lot of time to think of a plan. You may react emotionally or out of self-preservation. There’s nothing wrong with defending yourself against an attacker, whether it’s a person or a dog.
A: Depending on the details of the case itself, you can get many different kinds of compensation for your dog bite. You can seek compensation for your medical expenses, property damages, lost wages, and even emotional distress. The size of your settlement package may be directly influenced by the severity of your injuries and the evidence you have of owner negligence.
Surviving an animal attack can be a traumatic but eye-opening experience. It may make you far more wary around larger animals, particularly dogs. A good lawyer can help you pursue damages for what happened to you and make sure nobody tries to take advantage of you if you file a legal claim.
At Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C., we can represent your interests as we help you pursue legal action against the negligent dog owner. Contact us to speak with a member of our experienced legal team.
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