Webster City Dog Bite Injury Attorneys

When a dog inflicts injury, dog bite injury lawyers are dependable advocates for the victims. Their expertise in animal law allows them to manage the complexities of liability and compensation, ensuring justice and proper support.

Any veterinary office or kennel may be liable in a dog bite lawsuit if a dog attacked a third party at their facility. Veterinarians and kennel owners often protect their businesses by purchasing liability insurance for these cases. However, just because a dog at a kennel or veterinary office attacked you does not mean the facility is automatically liable for injuries or damages. The vet’s or dog kennel’s negligence as well as Iowa dog bite laws play an important role in the outcome.

Liability for a Dog Bite in a Vet’s Office or Dog Kennel

The bite will not be the victim’s responsibility unless the victim did something to provoke the dog, like pulling its tail or otherwise tormenting it. Bite victims should explore Iowa dog bite laws and the circumstances of the bite to determine liability in a dog bite lawsuit for damages like medical bills or pain and suffering.

For instance, imagine someone else’s dog bit you at a vet office while it was in the care of a veterinarian. The dog’s owner and the vet could potentially be liable. The dog was in the care of the vet, so the vet might be liable for damages, but the owner should communicate the dog’s temperament if he or she knows the dog’s temperament is malicious.

For example, if the owner of the dog that attacked a third party knew that the dog exhibited aggressive behavior before coming into the kennel or veterinary office, and the owner notified the kennel or veterinary office of the dog’s aggression, the victim may be able to prove that the kennel or veterinary office did not take precautions to protect its patrons from the dog.

Further, according to Iowa Code 351, an owner is strictly liable if his or her dog bites a person. However, a dog owner may not be strictly liable if the dog has rabies and the owner did not know at the time of the bite. If the owner knew the dog had rabies and could have reasonably prevented the bite, then the owner could be liable.

Discuss the Case with an Attorney Familiar with Iowa Dog Bite Cases

So talk to an attorney about liability in these cases to get a better idea about which party or parties may be liable if another person’s dog bit or attacked you while at a dog kennel or vet’s office. Much will depend on the details of the dog bite, including responsibility for the dog and whether the dog kennel or vet was negligent.

Do I Need Evidence for Dog Bite Claim? If So, What Kind?

The state of Iowa imposes a strict liability statute regarding dog bites. Strict liability means that the owner of a dog is liable for “all damages caused” by his or her dog unless the victim is performing an illegal act at the time of the attack.

Under statutory law, the dog bite victim does not need to prove negligence. Under case law, though, more evidence will be required. Here’s an overview of the types of evidence for dog bite claims you'll need.

Evidence Necessary Under Statutory Law

If you’re pursuing a dog bite claim under statutory law, the type of evidence you’ll need is relatively straightforward. Mostly, you’ll need to prove the following:

1. The dog in question was the dog that bit you.
2. That you suffered injuries as a result of the bite/attack.
3. That you were not doing anything illegal at the time of the bite/attack.

Other than these three items above, there is relatively little else that you’ll need to establish.

Evidence Necessary Under Case Law

To recover damages under the common law, or case law, however, you’ll need to establish the negligence of the dog owner. If you can prove negligence, you may be able to recover a greater damages amount, including damages for pain and suffering.

Courts consider a situation as dog owner negligence when the dog owner knows that the dog is dangerous but yet fails to restrain it. For example, if the dog had rabies and the owner knew or should have reasonably known about it but failed to control the dog, then the owner acted negligently. Or, if the dog had bitten someone in the past, and the owner didn’t restrain the dog properly, then the owner acted negligently.

To recover damages under case law, then, you’ll need to prove the following:

1. That the owner knew or should have known of the dangerous dog’s nature.
2. That the owner failed to take action to prevent the dog bite/attack.
3. That the dangerous dog bit or attacked you.
4. That you suffered injuries as a result of the bite/attack.

If you can prove the above, then you’ll be eligible to recover damages for the full extent of injuries suffered.

The 4 Stages of Rabies After a Dog Bite

Rabies is a life-threatening virus that affects hundreds of people each year. If you've contracted rabies due to a dog bite, you'll need to receive swift medical attention. You'll also want to discuss the incident with a dog bite attorney to see if you are within your legal rights to pursue a claim against the dog's owner.

Rabies is a zoonotic disease, meaning it is transferred from animals to humans. It attacks the central nervous system and becomes fatal if left untreated.

Rabies progresses through four stages:

1. Attachment - the bullet-shaped virus attaches itself to a nerve cell;
2. Penetration - the virus penetrates the cell;
3. Replication - the rabies virus then begins multiplying rapidly within the cell; and
4. Budding - it then spreads to other neurons and travels throughout the rest of the body.

If you or your child has been bitten by a dog, thoroughly clean the area, and immediately seek medical attention. If left untreated, rabies will cause paralysis, coma, and eventually death. However, if proper treatment is administered, it's almost always effective in eradicating the rabies virus.

Being attacked and bitten by a dog is dangerous and quite scary. Add to that the prospect of contracting rabies, and it becomes a truly traumatic event.

If you've suffered a dog bite in Iowa, you should consult an Iowa dog bite attorney to see if you can file a claim for your injuries. You might be able to receive compensation not only for your injuries but also for psychological trauma and loss of earnings.

When to Contact a Dog Bite Lawyer

For the complete list of things you should do if bitten by a dog you can request our FREE book, "Iowa Consumer's Guide to Dog Bites- Secrets to Not Get Bitten by Your Case" which is available to you with no risk or obligation by clicking here or by calling 641-792-3595. 

Why offer a Free Dog Bite Book?  Since 1997, I have been representing injured Iowans, including many dog bite victims from central Iowa and throughout the state.  I have heard too many horror stories about people making costly mistakes, causing them to lose thousands of dollars.  Before you talk to the insurance company you should know your rights and perhaps more importantly your responsibilities.   

If you need immediate assistance, contact us online or call us at (641) 792-3595. If you are not local to us, we will come to you.