Cambridge Dog Bite

Everyone knows the saying – dogs are a man’s best friend. Until, that is, they aren’t. Dog bites can result in debilitating, life-altering injuries and may even possibly be life threatening. Depending on the severity of injuries, you may be facing significant medical expenses, and even if the bite is not severe, you may still be able to pursue a claim against the owner of the dog that harmed you. Contact an expert dog bite attorney from Altman & Altman LLP today if you are bitten by a dog in Cambridge, Boston or elsewhere in Massachusetts.

There were an estimated 78 million dogs in the country in 2016. According to the CDC, there are about 4.5 million dog bites every year in the United States, equaling about 12,300 bites every single day. OF these dog bites, approximately 900,000 will get infected each year. An infected dog bite, depending on when treatment is received, can create much worse problems and result in costly medical bills.

A severe dog bite may, by itself, be enough to cause severe physical wounds that prevent you from being able to work and collect a normal paycheck, in addition to the costly medical expenses it may incur. An infected dog wound may result in even worse consequences, including extended hospital stays, total loss of function in the part of body bitten or even amputations. Although rare, deaths can occur from infected dog bites or as the result of a particularly vicious dog attack.

Massachusetts law dictates that dog owners are responsible for keeping their dogs in a way that prevents them from harming other people. This normally means keeping the dog on a leash and not allowing them to run unobstructed around a street or neighborhood without any supervision. However, a dog owner will not be at fault for a dog bite if you are bitten while trespassing, committing another crime or are taunting or provoking the dog to attack.

It is useful to know that dog bite laws in Massachusetts not only cover bites, but also any injuries caused by an unsupervised dog. Say, for example, your elderly mother is jumped on by an unattended Great Dane and falls, breaking her hip or being otherwise injured. The dog owner is liable for those damages because they have a legal responsibility to prevent their dog from causing harm while the dog is out in public.

In some cases, you may choose to file a claim based on negligence, meaning that the dog owner did not take reasonable steps to prevent a bite or other means of injury. This could mean not muzzling a dog that is known to have aggression issues or not leashing a dog that is prone to jumping on people in excitement. It is also good to know that dog owners can be held liable even if a biting incident is the first time a dog has bitten anyone – Massachusetts law does not factor in prior history of bites.

Whether you were bitten or harmed in some other way by someone else’s dog, contact the professional dog bite attorneys at Altman & Altman LLP today. We have over 50 years of experience advocating on behalf of our clients who were bitten by dogs or suffered injuries due to a negligent dog owner.

Dogs can be great pets and some even consider them members of the family, however dog owners take on a serious responsibility when they take their dog into public to ensure it isn’t a threat to others. If you have been bitten by a dog or otherwise injured by one, and you feel the owner should be held liable, call today.

Call for a free consultation to go over the details of your case at 617-492-3000 or toll-free at 800-481-6199. We are available 24/7.