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Being attacked by a dog is a terrifying experience, especially when it happens to a child. If you or someone you love was bitten by a dog in Arizona, you will want apply first aid and seek immediate medical care. You must also report any dog bite to county health officials right away.
As soon as the person who was bitten has been treated by a doctor, you will want to contact an experienced dog bite attorney to talk about your rights and find out how you can get compensation to cover the cost of your medical care.
What to Do After a Dog Attack
Once you are certain that the dog bite victim has received the necessary treatment, it’s important to get the names and contact information from the dog’s owner and everyone who witnessed the attack. Although you may feel bad about reporting a friend or neighbor, you don’t have any choice. Everyone who witnesses a dog attack, including the victim, witnesses, and the dog’s owner is legally required to report the incident.
To document the extent of the injuries, you will want to take pictures of the victim’s wounds and keep records for all medical treatment and maintain copies of other written records such as the incident report. Any other expenses caused by the dog bite such as lost wages or travel costs should also be recorded.
Whether the victim was a child or an adult, they may be subject to lingering trauma and even PTSD. Ask your doctor about the type of counseling they recommend in these situations and keep records for all counseling visits.
Dog Bite Liability in Arizona
The dog bite law in Arizona is strict liability for the dog’s owner. That means the dog’s owner is legally responsible even if the dog was on a leash and it had never bit anyone before. It doesn’t matter if the bite occurred in a public place or on a private property.
Even if the dog never displayed any aggressive behavior towards people in the past, the owner is responsible for any injury, damage, or loss that results when their dog bites a person. The only exceptions to the strict liability dog bite laws are for police dogs, military dogs, and if the person who got bit was taunting the dog before the incident.
Aggressive and Violent Dogs
Your lawyer is not required to prove that the dog that bit you had a history of aggressive or violent behavior. You are entitled to compensation from the dog’s owner even if you were the first person the dog ever bit under Arizona’s strict liability law.
Arizona has strict laws regarding violent and aggressive dogs. Dogs are not permitted to roam free, and if a vicious dog escapes an enclosed area and bites someone while it is at-large, the owner may be charged with a class 3 misdemeanor in addition to paying civil penalties. A vicious dog is a dog that:
- Is known to bite people
- Bites without provocation
- Injures domestic animals when at-large
- Has a pattern of causing injury, intimidation, and apprehension
Did a Dog Bite Someone You Love?
Dog bites cause serious injuries and scarring that may require extensive treatment. Dog owners must be vigilant in protecting others from this horrible event.
If you or a loved one were attacked by a dog, an experienced legal team can help you recover the financial losses you have suffered. Call The Husband & Wife Legal Team today at (602) 457-6222 for a FREE case evaluation. We’re here to help.
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