The Responsibilities of Dog Owners

Dogs make wonderful companions and are among the most popular pets in the United States. People must understand however, that owning a dog bestows a lot of responsibilities on them as well. As owners, it is our duty to train these animals and ensure that they are not involved in any incident and are not prone to biting people on our property.

However, to be completely safe from the hassles involved in such scenarios, it is best to obtain pet insurance. It can be difficult to cover the costs of different problems associated with dogs without ample insurance cover.

What’s more, in case of any or all biting incidents, the owner will always share some of the responsibility of causing an injury to a person regardless of the circumstances.

Dog Bite Injuries

Dog bite injuries are no more a rare occurrence. Research shows that around 5 million people are bitten by dogs in the United States. Although most injuries are not serious, some 15 to 20 people lose their lives each year due to dog bite injuries. Children are especially at risk as over 90% children bitten by dogs require medical treatment.

Dog bite injuries produce both physical as well as psychological effects. You need to understand that you do not have to bear the medical expense in the case of a dog bite. You can hire an experienced legal representative who will be able to assess the damages that you can face due to a dog bite injury, and ensure that you can go through a particular channel to get the needed compensation.

Dog Bite Injury Claims

Dog bite injury claims often come under homeowners’ insurance because most accidents happen on the premises of the owner of the dog. There are also some accidents that occur when the dog is present in an alien environment such as at the house of a relative. Such situations represent complex legal issues which can only be resolved and simplified by an experienced lawyer.

The Reporting Period

All injuries that occur due to a dog bite must be reported within a period of two years from the incident. Minors though, can report such an incident when they turn of legal age and their period of the statute extends to two further years. Any report that is filed after this period is simply barred from presentation.

Most dog bite cases though, are recorded immediately and owners need to ensure that they actively take part in resolving these cases. Otherwise, they may face problems when an injured person builds up a strong claim and stands against them in a court of law.

Limiting the Financial Burden

In most cases, the financial burden of a dog bite is shared primarily by the owner. The owner though can buy different insurance policies and regularly take care of the animal to avoid such an injury.

If you or someone you know is the victim of a dog bite injury, contact our offices today at (847) 395-2200 to schedule a free initial consultation with attorney Robert Edens.