Dogs, despite being loving pets, are still fundamentally animals with primal instincts and animal responses, including sometimes violent ones. Many states, such as Massachusetts, hold a dog’s owner strictly liable if they bite someone. This means if the victim sues the owner, all they have to prove in order to prevail in their case is that the defendant did, in fact, own the dog at the time of the dog bite and that they were injured. So long as they did not provoke or antagonize the dog, they will be awarded monetary damages for their pain and suffering and medical bills. Many times, a successful personal injury lawsuit is the only way a dog bite victim may recover for their medical expenses and injuries.
That is what one woman had to do after her friend’s pit bull attacker her, causing her serious personal injuries. The woman was visiting her friend, as she had done multiple times before. Despite having met the pit bull before without incident, the dog attacked the woman without provocation or reason.
As a result of the attack, the woman had to undergo multiple surgeries and incurred over $115,000 in medical expense. In order to pay her medical expenses, the woman filed a personal injury lawsuit against her friend, who had an insurance policy covering the incident. The friend’s insurance coverage was capped at $305,000, which the insurance company agreed to pay, most likely at least in small part because of the strict liability nature of dog bite claims.
In Massachusetts, a homeowner’s insurance policy often covers liability for bodily injuries caused by a dog attack, and may also pay for the injured party’s medical bills. If you have been injured by a dog bite, you may be able to recover for your personal injuries. Some insurance companies have recently adopted exclusions in their policies for injuries caused by a dog, and many dog owners do not own their residence and thus have no homeowner’s insurance. If the dog owner does not have insurance, or their policy does not cover injuries caused by dogs, then the only remedy may be to file a lawsuit against the owner of the dog. It is important you know your legal options. Contact our dog bite injury lawyer specialists at 617-787-3700 or email us at info@gilhoylaw.com for your free and private consultation.
