contractors - protect yourself from legal liabilities

contractors - protect yourself from legal liabilities

When Fido Bites: Are You Liable?

Lawrence Ross

When it comes to personal injury cases, most people think of car accidents or getting hurt at work. But a common issue in personal injury law involves people suffering from dog bites. Whether it's a loose animal or someone's pet gone awry, dog bites can be quite serious and cause people to lose time from work, have stitches or even face more intense surgery. Rabies are also a possibility. If you're a dog owner, it's important to know what you are liable for in the event your dog bites someone.

The One-Bite Rule

Some dogs may have the propensity to bite more than others, and if an owner is aware of this fact, they could face serious penalties if someone gets bitten by their dog. The victim must be able to prove that the dog owner was aware that their dog had a tendency to lash out or bite. If the victim and their personal injury attorney can prove that you knew your furry friend could bite, you could be left paying for their medical costs and even pain and suffering. This liability is often referred to as the "one-bite rule."

Negligence

If your dog is let out onto the street without a leash or proper enclosures and bites someone, you will definitely be held liable if it can be proven that you acted carelessly or negligently. All dog owners have a responsibility to keep their pets close at hand at all times. Most localities have strict leash laws, and if your dog is off its leash and ends up biting someone, you're definitely facing a liability issue. Keep your dog in the yard with a locked, high fence, and when you take your pet for a walk, make sure it's on a short leash where you can keep it under control to avoid mishaps.

Ownership Liability

In general, you're almost always liable if your dog bites someone else just by being its owner. Even if your dog is friendly, if it happens to bite another human being, that person can sue you and try to be compensated for any damages. If the person who gets bitten is acting calmly and without provocation but your dog still bites them, odds are that the victim will win the court case. On the other hand, if you can prove that the victim harassed or provoked your dog, you might be able to be cleared of any liability charges. As a dog owner, it's important for you to be responsible with your pet so that you can avoid any personal injury liability issues due to bites. 


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About Me
contractors - protect yourself from legal liabilities

My husband has worked in the construction industry for nearly twenty years. Three years ago, he decided to open his own business performing renovation work. Having so much experience helped him land clients and showed him that he has to protect himself from the clients that aren't so easy to please. We started working with an attorney in the beginning to have all of the contracts drawn up and have called when things go badly with clients. This blog will show you what you need to do to protect yourself from legal liabilities when you work as a contractor in today's world.

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