Why and How You Should Ensure Your Dog Does Not Bite People

If you get bitten by someone’s dog in Wisconsin, you can hold its owner liable for injuries. The ‘strict liability’ dog bite takes such incidents very seriously and the court usually takes the victim’s side, irrespective of the nature of the dog and whether the owner knew the dog was dangerous or not.

Wisconsin is one of the few states that follows this law and it differs from the ‘one bite’ rule (the owner must know the dog is dangerous because it bit someone before they can be held liable) in a significant way. While it allows dog owners to be held liable for their pets’ actions, it also holds them accountable for damages if they knew their dog was dangerous.

In other words, if you live in Kenosha, Wisconsin, you should take measures to ensure your pooch does not take a bite out of your finances. Here are some ways you can do that:

– Oblige by leash rules;
– Have your dog in control around strangers and children;
– Enroll your dog in an obedience school;
– Have your dog regularly visit a vet to check for undiagnosed condition, which may make your dog aggressive. Some dogs can get irritable if they are in constant pain and will lash out indiscriminately, and;
– Make sure your dog is vaccinated on time to prevent rabies in case it bites someone.

There are some defenses that dog owners can raise in case their dog bites someone. For instance, they may argue the bite was provoked by the victim due to negligence. This is called comparative negligence where the victim is deemed partially responsible for a dog bite claim they make. If proven, the owner can reduce the damages they need to pay for the bite and if the victim was to blame completely, they may not have to pay at all.

If you have been bitten by a dog in Kenosha, Wisconsin the attorneys at the Law Offices of John V. O’Connor can ensure you recover the damages you deserve. With more than 30 years representing victims like you, we leave no stone unturned irrespective of the seriousness of the injuries. This includes investigating the animal’s past to determine how dangerous it is and how negligent the owner was. Get in touch with us today for a consultation.