Many people have dogs so that they have a companion. However, many people don’t understand the commitment that caring for a living animal requires. As a dog owner, you are responsible for caring for them, making sure they are healthy, and something that many people neglect to do—training them. When a dog is not properly trained, socialized, or looked after, then they could lash out and attack other people.
The city of Minneapolis, MN is no stranger to dog bite incidents. In 2020, the city government of Minneapolis mandated that all dogs must be on a leash outdoors or contained on the person’s own property per city ordinance, and owners who choose to take their dogs to an off-leash dog park must first possess an Off-Leash Dog Park Permit. City officials began to pay closer attention to this serious issue after a shocking 80% increase in incidents of dog bites or aggression from 2019 to 2020, according to Minneapolis Animal Care & Control.
When you’ve been bitten by a dog, there are probably many things going through your mind. You’re wondering if they’ve had their shots, where their owner is, and how badly you’re hurt. At Madia Law, we understand how stressful this situation can be. That’s why our Minneapolis dog bite lawyers are dedicated to helping you and getting you the justice you deserve for your injuries.
Minnesota Dog Bite Laws
When you own a dog in Minnesota, no matter how well they’re trained, you should know the state’s dog bite laws in case your dog ever attacks someone. According to Minnesota statutes, if your dog, unprovoked, attacks a person acting peacefully in a place where they are lawfully allowed to be, then you are liable for the damages your dog caused as their owner.
If you are not the owner of the dog and are just responsible for their care at the time, you are still partly liable. However, the owner is the person who is predominantly responsible for their dog’s behavior and paying for the full extent of damages and injuries that the victim of their dog suffered.
What’s important to note about this dog bite law, though, is that it specifically mentioned that the dog must be unprovoked, and the victim must be lawfully on the property. But when the dog is unprovoked and you were legally allowed on the property, Minnesota is a state that does the most for the victims of dog bites.
Since our state holds this statute with strict liability, a dog owner can’t argue comparative negligence against the victim of a dog bite. A dog owner can’t argue that a dog has had past good behavior, or that they were practicing reasonable care. If another person was looking after the dog, since they can also be held fully liable for the actions of the dog, the attack is less likely to go without repercussions.
The main verbiage that does the most work for victims in the statute is that the owner is liable for the damages of “the person so attacked or injured to the full amount of the injury sustained.” This means that as a victim, you’re entitled to recover the full amount of damages that you suffered from the attack, like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Your Minneapolis dog bite lawyer can help you determine how much you’re owed and exactly who is at fault for your dog attack injuries. We’ll fully investigate what happened and calculate your full and fair compensation.
For a legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving Minneapolis, call 612-349-2729
Common Dog Bite Injuries
When you’ve been attacked by a dog, you likely suffered from injuries. Regardless of the breed, you can sustain severe injuries or be infected by a disease or parasite through contact with a strange dog. Dogs have sharp teeth and strong jaws that can cause damage to your body and break your skin. If they are large and heavy, they can also overpower you and knock you to the ground, which could hurt you when they hit you and when you hit the ground.
In the Twin Cities region of Minnesota, a 2016 study found the following breeds to be the most popular:
- Labrador Retriever
- Golden Retriever
- German Shepherd
- German Shorthaired Pointer
- English Springer Spaniel
- Poodle
- Bulldog
- Siberian Husky
- French Bulldog
- Boxer
It is clear that dog-related injuries and illnesses can come from any breed. The likelihood that a dog will attack has infinitely more to do with the dog’s training, upbringing, and home environment than it does the dog’s breed. However, it is valuable to note that almost every breed on this list of popular breeds in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region is a large-sized dog bred for hunting skills. This means that if you are the victim of a canine attack, the injuries you sustain could be much more serious.
Let’s take a look at the more specific injuries you could suffer from a dog bite or attack:
- Abrasions and lacerations
- Puncture wounds
- Bruises
- Broken bones
- Eye and face trauma
- Crushing injuries
- Infections
- Rabies
- Tetanus
- Head and neck injuries
You’ll likely see the injuries you incurred in the list above, but if you don’t, you still can recover damages for any other harm caused by a dog bite in Minneapolis. For example, there are several diseases not included on the list which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states to be transferrable from dog to humans. These transmittable diseases include brucellosis, tapeworm, leptospirosis, MRSA, salmonellosis, and several tick-borne diseases. Even if the risk of infection is low, it is always a good idea to see a doctor immediately following an attack by an unknown dog. Many of the aforementioned diseases can go undetected in dogs, yet cause severe illness in humans.
A Minneapolis dog bite lawyer from Madia Law can help you determine what injuries you can financially recover while you focus on the physical and emotional healing. Let’s take a look at what you can be awarded more specifically.
Minneapolis Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me 612-349-2729
Dog Bite Injury Compensation
As mentioned above, you’re owed full compensation for the damages that you sustained from the dog attack. Your injuries could range from anywhere from mild to severe. When your skin is broken from the attack, there could be more extensive damage done below the surface. Other than skin injuries, your muscles, tendons, ligaments, and even bones could suffer damage if the bite was hard and deep enough.
You could require surgery for your injuries, which would cause you to accumulate even more medical bills. On top of that, there is a greater risk for post-injury infection and serious diseases like rabies which can cause long-lasting damage. This would make you require even more prescription medication and result in even more substantial medical bills. If you have permanent scarring, you might even have disfigurement for the rest of your life.
That’s why you deserve to be compensated for the injuries and treatment that you get as a result of your injuries. Your Minneapolis dog bite lawyer can help you determine what you’re owed from:
- Medical bills
- Treatment costs
- Surgical bills
- Medical equipment
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
A Minneapolis dog bite attorney will investigate what happened to you and compile all of the evidence of your injuries so that they can properly calculate what you’re owed. If you suffered from damages outside of what’s listed above, your dog bite lawyer will be able to determine if you can financially recover from those damages.
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Madia Law is Here for You
When you’ve been attacked by a dog that left you with physical and emotional injuries, you could use the help of a Minneapolis dog bite attorney. At Madia Law, we’re dedicated to getting you the compensation you deserve for the injuries and damages you suffered at the hand of another person’s negligence.
With a lawyer from our office on your side, you can feel confident in your claim and know that you’ll get full and fair compensation. Reach out to us today so we can get started on your free consultation.
Call 612-349-2729 or complete a Case Evaluation form
