Legal Consequences of Dog Bites in PhiladelphiaPersonal Injury Law

Philadelphia has been named among the top ten cities in the country for dog bite attacks. State Farm Insurance ranks the city fifth in the number of dog bites in the nation. The U.S. Postal Serviceranks Philadelphia as sixth on the list of dog bites. These statistics highlight the responsibility of dog owners both for the safety of residents of the city and their own legal protection.

Legal Consequences of Dog Bites

Owners of dogs may be liable for compensation for injuries caused by their pet. The victim of a dog bite that causes minor injuries is entitled to compensation for medical expenses related to the bite. More serious injuries may include other types of compensation. The “one bite rule” states that a victim is entitled to compensation if the owner knew or should have known that the animal was aggressive and prone to biting and didn’t take proper precautions to prevent an injury.

Due Care For Confinement

Pennsylvania, like many states, has a confinement law that requires all animals to be kept within the premises of the owner or securely collared and chained in an outdoor area. However, in Pennsylvania, the owner may not be liable if the owner exercised due care, and the animal escaped from its confinement.

Consequences For the Dog

A dog that has caused a personal injury or wrong death to a person or other pet can be put into quarantine. The animal may be ordered by a judge to be euthanized, particularly if the injuries to the victim are severe or the animal has a history of attacks. Legally, the owner should have known of the risk and taken due care to prevent the biting incident from occurring. Animals that have been determined to be dangerous dogs must receive a certificate of registration from the state. The owner must hold $50,000 in insurance in case the animal causes a personal injury to others. In addition, these dogs must be kept in a suitable enclosure with warning signs and must wear a muzzle when outside the enclosure.

Statute of Limitations on Dog Bites

The State of Pennsylvania has a two-year statute of limitations on dog bite or attack injuries. If a suit is not filed within the two-year period, the victim loses the right to sue for compensation for the injury. If the victim is a minor, the suit must be filed within two years of his or her eighteenth birthday.

If You Are BittenIf you are a victim of a dog attack, you should get medical attention for the injury immediately. To protect your legal rights and then take a number of additional steps:

· Write down a clear description of the animal that bit you.

· Find out whether the dog is wild, a stray or someone’s pet.

· Determine who owns the dog and get their name and address.

· Compose a description of how the biting incident occurred.

· Discuss your case with a Philadelphia dog bite lawyer.