We often receive calls from individuals who have been attacked by dogs. Dog attacks are their own unique cases because there is something very visceral and scary about being attacked by an animal.
The cases of dog attacks we have handled range from a simple bite on the hand to severe cases where children have had a significant portion of their face ripped apart. Dog bite cases have specific criteria that we must evaluate. For example, in Wyoming, all drivers are required by law to have at least $25,000 in liability coverage in case they hurt someone in a car crash. However, this is not the case with dog owners as they are not obliged to carry any insurance if their dog hurts someone. This makes it difficult to collect compensation from the dog owner if there is no insurance, regardless of the severity of the attack.
To begin, we first check if the dog owner has a homeowner’s insurance policy. If they do, we closely examine the policy to determine what it covers. Sometimes, the policy may not cover dog attacks, exclude coverage for injuries caused by specific types of dogs like pit bulls or Dobermans, or have a cap on the compensation amount for a dog attack (generally, we have seen caps of $50,000). However, in some cases, the policy may have sufficient funds to compensate the injured party.
Once we determine if there is homeowner’s coverage, the next question is what knowledge the owner had regarding the dog’s vicious propensities. The type of dog and its history of aggressiveness, such as previous complaints made to animal control, are relevant factors in determining whether the owner can be held liable for injuries caused by their pet.
If you have been injured by a dog attack, please contact us to discuss your options. If we can assist you, we will.