Dog Bites

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Dog attacks represent some of the most gruesome personal injuries that are suffered, particularly where a child is involved (as is often the case). In its most recent study, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that at least 27 people died as the result of dog bite attacks (18 people in 1997 and 9 in 1998; See wicontent/dog_data.asp')">Dog Bite Data). Of 27 human dog bite related fatalities (DBRF), 19 (70%) were children (1 was 30 days old, 3 were between 7 and 11 months old, 9 were between 1 and 4 years old, and 6 were between 5 and 11 years old), and 8 were adults (ages 17, 44, 64, 70, 73, 75, 75, and 87). It is important to teach children to be safe around dogs to wicontent/dog_prevent.asp')">prevent these catastrophic events from occurring.

Wisconsin has a wicontent/prod_liability.asp')">strict liability dog bite statute that states that the owner of a dog is liable for damages inflicted by his/her dog if it bites a person who is either in a public place or lawfully on the dog owner's property (invitee or guest). Wis. Stat. § 174.02. The dog owner is liable regardless of whether the dog had ever been vicious before and regardless of whether the owner had reason to believe it would behave in a vicious manner. The dog does not get "one free bite". In fact, if the owner has notice that the dog previously injured someone, the owner is liable for twice the damages caused by the dog. Wis. Stat. § 174.02. The only defenses to the strict liability statute arise where the injured party provoked the dog. Alwin v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, 234 Wis. 2d 441, 610 N.W.2d 218 (Wis. 2001). In essence, the dog’s owner is an insurer of the dog.

If a stray bites you, you have little legal recourse because you must file your claim against a dog's owner or keeper. Your municipality is not responsible for the dog, even if you have called the animal warden several times to pick up the stray.

In all dog bite cases it is essential that measures be taken to treat the injured victim and notify the appropriate authorities. If you or a loved one is a victim of a dog bite, call <%= Session("company") %> now at <%= Session("phone") %> or CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A SIMPLE CASE FORM. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to accept your case, we will work on a wicontent/contin_fees.asp')">contingent fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary award or recovery of funds. Don’t delay! You may have a valid claim and be entitled to wicontent/damages.asp')">compensation for your injuries, but a lawsuit must be filed before the wicontent/statute_limit.asp')">statute of limitations expires.