Dog Bites

Dog Bites

Dog bites are a scary thing to have happen and can cause serious injuries both physically and emotionally. If you or a loved one has been injured or died due to a dog bite, contacting a personal injury lawyer is a beneficial step for helping your case legally, financially, and medically.

Steps You Should Take After A Dog Bite:

  • Stay calm: Don’t upset the animal any further. Instead, document any of your injuries, and determine why this may have happened.
  • Apply first aid and seek medical treatment: Clean the wound or wrap up the area and apply direct pressure to control the blood flow. Seek a doctor immediately to determine if your wound is infected and if it will require antibiotics or stitches.
  • Call animal control: If you are unfamiliar with the animal, call animal control to see if the dog has rabies. If the owner is present, exchange information to see if the dog has proper vaccinations.
  • Obtain information: Exchange insurance information with the dog’s owner. Many homeowners’ insurance policies cover the cost of medical treatment. Remember, consult an attorney BEFORE signing anything or discussing settlements.
  • Contact a lawyer: Seek an experienced attorney to help you navigate the legal process when it comes to suffering a dog bite.

In Massachusetts, the owner or keeper of the dog is liable for any damage caused to another person or property, unless the damage was sustained at the time during trespass or teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog.1  Similarly, in the state of Connecticut, the dog’s owner or keeper is liable for injuries caused by the dog to someone else’s person or property. This is a strict liability statute: it doesn’t require the victim to prove the dog’s owner knew the dog was vicious or was negligent.2
Our experienced team of lawyers at the Law Office of David Brunelle will help you with your dog bite case throughout the legal process, compensation, and medical treatment.

If you or a loved one has been victim of a dog bite in the Western MA or Northern CT area, call our office at 413-539-5959. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn about your rights after a dog bite.

Attorney David Brunelle handles personal injury cases related to dog bites in Western MA, including Springfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee, and in Northern CT, including Suffield, Enfield, and Somers.

References for Massachusetts and Connecticut:

1 Liability for damage caused by dog – Massachusetts: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter140/Section155

2 Dog Bite and Quarantine Law – Connecticut: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2018/rpt/pdf/2018-R-0023.pdf