Dog Bites

ccording to an American Humane Association report, an estimated 4.7 million dog bites occur in the United States each year, with nearly 800,000 bites requiring medical attention. Approximately two-thirds of all dog bites occur on or near the victim’s property and a majority of victims know the dog. Approximately half of all dog attacks involve children under the age of 12 and 70% of dog-bite fatalities occur among children under the age of 10.

Dog bites injuries can be extremely traumatic. They can result in permanent scarring, nerve damage, risk of infection, long-term disability, and even death. Often psychological harm accompanies such an injury, especially if the victim is a child. One who is bitten by a dog should immediately seek medical attention and report the dog bite to the local animal care authorities.

Under Nebraska law, dog bites are considered to be hazardous activities for which the doctrine of strict liability applies. For a victim to recover damages for a dog bite, the victim need not prove that the dog owner was negligent. A common misconception is the "one bite rule," that the dog owner has no liability for the first time the dog bites. This is not the law in Nebraska. In this state, the victim is simply required to prove that the dog bite occurred, that the dog bite was the cause of damage to the victim, and the nature and extent of that damage.

An injured Nebraska victim of a dog bite has the right to legal compensation. Often the dog owner's homeowner's insurance applies as a source of recovery for these damages. If the victim is a child, the sums recovered as damages for the child are required to be placed in a trust fund for the child until he or she reaches the age of 19 years.

The extent of damages from a dog bite may not be evident until years later, especially when a child is involved. Even if has been years since the bite occurred, you should consult with an attorney about the timeliness of a potential claim.

In order to maximize recovery for dog bite claims, find a viable source of funds for recovery and ensure that the injured party is fully protected, it is vital to obtain experienced legal counsel to assist in the claim. If you or a loved one have been attacked and bitten by a vicious dog, contact us. The Nebraska attorneys at Parker, Grossart & Bahensky, L.L.P. have many years of experience pursuing claims for victim's injuries, such as those caused by dog bites.