If a dog bites you in someone’s home, perhaps at a party with friends or a family gathering, you can seek recovery support from the dog owner’s homeowners insurance or renter’s insurance.
You may feel conflicted about filing a claim against someone you know, but that’s not the way to think about a personal injury claim. When you file a claim, it’s not targeting the dog’s owner. Money to help you with your medical bills and your lost time at work will come from the insurance company. An accident like a dog bite is why homeowners pay their insurance premiums.
It’s also likely true that a family member or friend would want you to have the money to pay for the best care available without going into a financial hole.
Unfortunately, insurance adjusters can make it difficult for you to secure all the support you need to recover physically and financially. Having a skilled Louisville Dog Bite Lawyer on your side can help you protect your claim and often results in more money in a settlement check.
Who Is Responsible for Dog Bites in Kentucky?
Kentucky follows “strict liability” when it comes to dog bites. It means that dog owners are almost always going to be responsible when their dogs bite someone. In our state, it doesn’t matter if the dog has never bitten anyone before. The dog owner is liable for recovery costs, even if the dog has no history of aggression.
There are a few circumstances that might reduce the amount of support a dog owner would have to provide. The dog owner might not be fully responsible for the consequences of a dog bite if:
- Victims were trespassing when they got bitten
- Victims provoked the dog
In the case of a bite that occurs while you are visiting someone, it’s usually assumed that you weren’t trespassing. You were likely invited in.
The owners of dogs who invite people into their yards or into their homes must be aware of their responsibilities. They must protect visitors from their dogs. They should restrain their pets or confine them to a kennel or a separate room. If homeowners allow their pets to roam free while visitors, like a family member, are over, they must accept the risk involved because they will usually be financially responsible if a bite occurs.
What If My Child Is Bitten While at Someone’s House?
Children are too often the victims of a dangerous bite. Their curiosity and energy can frighten dogs. This may be true, but it’s still up to dog owners to protect young visitors from a potential bite injury.
Children aren’t usually considered to have the mental capacity to exercise good judgment around a pet. The dog owner would still usually be responsible for keeping a dog out of situations with a child that may lead to a bite.
This is another situation where parents should not feel bad for filing an injury claim against a friend or family member. The child should receive the financial support to get the best care available, and family and friends should want to help.
That compensation will come from the insurance company and not directly from the dog owner’s savings. Parents shouldn’t feel regret for asking for help with medical bills.
Children often require more care than adults after a bite. Their smaller bodies can suffer more damage in a bite incident. They may also require extended medical care in the years ahead as they grow. A broken bone or a deep wound can affect the way they mature and cause developmental issues in their teen years. Additional surgeries may be needed, and victims should have the money to cover any further treatment and physical therapy necessary.
Contact a Louisville Dog Bite Lawyer
Dog bite victims in Kentucky have only one year to file an injury claim. It’s best to act as quickly as possible to make sure you receive help with your recovery costs before you hit serious financial issues.
Contact Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC for an absolutely free consultation on your case. It’s a no-stress way to determine who you should hold responsible for your hand wounds and how much in compensation you should demand. If you decide our attorneys can help you recover more in support, you won’t need any money now. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement an insurance company must award your family.
