Every state has its own laws when it comes to dog bites and Nevada is no different. If you are bitten or attacked by a dog in Nevada, you are entitled to compensation. Often times, the dog who bites you is owned by a stranger. However, there are times when the dog that bites you belongs to a friend or family member. This can be awkward.
Whether or not you know the dog who bites you can make a difference when it comes to pursuing a claim for damages. There are certain things you are expected to know about familiar dogs, such as:
- Has the dog reacted negatively to you before?
- Does the dog have a reputation for being aggressive?
- Has the dog’s owner warned you before that the dog bites?
You can’t be expected to know this information when it comes to a stranger’s pet.
Dog Bite Laws in Las Vegas are Based on Negligence
Just like most other personal injury cases, dog bit cases are based on negligence. This means that the person who owns the dog owes you a duty of care. If they breach this duty and you are hurt as a result, you are entitled to compensation. The duty in this type of case is to keep their dog on a leash and in an area that won’t allow them to attack people. It also means that, if they have a dog in their house, they warn people if the dog is aggressive.
In a dog bite case, you need to prove that the dog owner did indeed breach this duty of care. It isn’t always as easy as you may think. Dog owners cannot read their pet’s mind. They don’t know ahead of time that a dog intends to bite you. They are, however, responsible for knowing their dog’s temperament. If their dog is aggressive, they need to be aware of this and warn people of this.
Personal Injury Attorneys in Las Vegas Handle Negligence Per Se Cases
Nevada is strict when it comes to their animal control laws. If a dog owner violated one of Nevada’s animal control laws and someone is hurt, the owner is held strictly liable. This means they are liable no matter what. So, for example, the law requires that dogs be on a leash when in public. If a dog owner lets their dog roam without a leash and someone gets attacked, the owner is responsible. The dog owner cannot say they didn’t realize the dog was going to bite someone.
If you have been bitten by a dog that was roaming the town without a leash, you want to call a personal injury lawyer immediately. The dog owner should be responsible for your injuries. Even if the dog was on the owner’s pavement at the time of the attack, if he wasn’t wearing a leash, it counts as negligence per se.
The One Bite Rule
Nevada doesn’t actually have a dog bite statute. They decide cases on an individual basis for the most part. Of course, they do have negligence per se as described above. They also have something called the “one bite rule.” In Nevada, you are entitled to compensation for a dog attack if you can prove the following:
- The dog previously bit someone or acted like it wanted to or
- The dog owner was aware of this previous conduct.
The problem with this rule is that it basically lets the dog owner off the hook for the first bite. So, if you’re unlucky enough to be the dog’s first victim, you may not get paid for your injuries. This is where an experienced dog bite lawyer comes into play.
An experienced dog bite lawyer will work hard to prove that either the dog owner was aware of the dog’s prior aggressive behavior or that the dog acted like it wanted to bite someone else previously. If you can prove either of these things, the defendant may be held liable for your injuries.
Contact a Nevada Dog Bite Lawyer
If you’ve been bitten or attacked by a dog, you need to contact a personal injury lawyer right away. It is important that you get medical treatment immediately to document your injuries. It’s also important that your lawyer has ample time to prepare your case against the dog owner. An experienced personal injury lawyer knows the animal control laws in your town and can check to see if there have been any violations. They can also research the history of the dog’s possible attacks on other victims. Call a personal injury lawyer today. The initial consultation is absolutely free and you pay nothing until you get paid.
