CONNECTICUTDog Bite Lawyer

Dogs are the second most popular pet in the United States and are popularly referred to as “man’s best friend.” While many dogs are considered part of the family, any dog is capable of biting under the right conditions, and it is the owner’s job to protect their dog and other people. If you’ve been injured in a dog attack, you should consider whether you have a right to compensation. 

Pursuing compensation for an animal attack on your own can be difficult, but with the help of our Connecticut dog bite lawyer, we can fight for the compensation you deserve.  The Connecticut personal injury attorneys at Tehrani Law Group understand the complexities of these claims and how to maximize compensation for our clients.

Dog Bite Injuries Can Be Life-Changing

Dogs have powerful jaws and sharp teeth. To put bite force into perspective, Service Dog Training International explains that the bite force of an average person is around 160 pounds per square inch (PSI), while a bear is closer to about 1200 PSI. With a bite force of around 745 PSI, the Kangal has the strongest bite. 

While the bite force of the average family pet may not be a surefire way to break bones, it can certainly break the skin and cause damage to muscle, tendons, and nerves, leaving the victim with lasting injuries that may require ongoing care.

In most cases, dog attacks are not without warning, but the result of consistent disregard of the dog’s indicators of discomfort or distress. Ultimately, it is up to the owner to pay attention to these indicators and protect the dog’s space. When they fail to do this, it may result in a bite. 

Any dog will attack under the right circumstances. This may be due to pain or illness, anxiety, or perceived threat. Avoiding a bite can be dependent on recognizing some of these signs. According to the Connecticut Humane Society and the American Kennel Club, these may include:

• Licking their lips without food present
• Panting when they are not hot or thirsty 
• Move away from you 
• Wide eyes with the sclera showing 
• A dog with a hunched or offensive posture
• Raised hackles
• Pointedly looking away

Growling is a behavior that many owners will discipline or redirect. However, this is another indicator of an uncomfortable dog trying to warn those around them. Growling may be considered an appropriate escalation to let you know what is happening. However, if it is punished, the dog may be conditioned to simply attack without this warning. 

Common Injuries Following Dog Bites

Whether child or adult victims, some of the more common injuries our dog bite injury lawyer sees in these cases include:

• Fractures
• Nerve damage
• Puncture wounds
• Infections
• Scarring
• Concussion or brain injury (from being knocked down)
• Dental injuries
• Blood loss 

In addition to the physical injuries you may sustain following a dog bite, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a common response. One study regarding the psychological effects of dog bites in the pediatric population showed that PTSD was one of the more common occurrences, and adults are also vulnerable to PTSD after an attack. 

Disease Prevention in Greater Hartford Dog Attacks 

Even minor injuries can become life-threatening if you contract pathogens. Dogs’ mouths can carry a large array of disease-causing bacteria. Among the top concerns are general infection, Capnocytophaga, and Rabies. 

Capnocytophaga

Capnocytophaga is a disease that can be spread through a dog’s saliva. This is a relatively rare disease, but it can become life-threatening without treatment. Individuals who are immunocompromised might be more vulnerable to developing complications that may include sepsis, heart attack, or kidney failure. 

Rabies

Though vets recommend regular rabies vaccines, and many state and local ordinances require pets to be vaccinated if they are in public, this is not always what happens. If you cannot establish the vaccine status of the dog that bit you, it is advised to seek immediate medical attention to receive a rabies vaccine. Rabies can be contracted through the bloodstream and is 100% fatal once symptoms have started. 

Infection

The circumstances of a dog bite are often chaotic, and you likely have debris or other contaminants introduced into the wound that may cause infection. When you report to an emergency department, they will often provide prophylactic antibiotics to prevent infection. However, if you have concerns about the way your bites are healing, this should be immediately addressed with a physician.

Connecticut has passed a dog bite statute, located in Section 22-357. It states that a dog’s owner or keeper is liable for damage to any person or property, unless the person injured was trespassing, committing a tort (like assault), or abusing/teasing the dog.

This is a strict liability statute. In some states, an owner can’t be responsible unless the dog has bitten a person before. But that’s not the law in Connecticut. If you are legally on the property and not provoking the dog, you can sue for compensation to cover your injuries.

Unsurprisingly, many owners will allege you were teasing or tormenting the animal. This might include hitting him, pulling his tail, or trying to alarm the dog. Remember that provocation might be accidental. For example, you could have stepped through the door and accidentally onto the animal’s tail.

Dangerous Dog Breeds

Although any dog can bite under the right circumstances, some breeds are disproportionately responsible for bites compared to others. We cannot adequately protect ourselves or our family from dog bites by relying on the numbers alone without considering all contributing factors. However, among the top ten most dangerous breeds are:

• Pit-Bull 
• Rottweiler
• German Shepherd
• American Bulldog
• Doberman
• Chow Chow
• Husky
• Bullmastiff
• Boxer
• Labrador Retriever

Some of the dogs on this list may seem surprising, including labs and boxers. However, Boxers are known to have a protective streak that may make them more likely to attack if they perceive a threat. The above-cited source reports that labs accounted for 2.1% of all bites in a 12-year monitoring period. However, according to Embark DNA testing, more than 7% of dogs have lab ancestry.

Connecticut Leash Laws

Owners must have control of their animals when off their property. According to dog laws in Connecticut,  you must have your dog leashed in public. This includes the sidewalk, parks, or parking lots. Failure to leash your dog can result in a $50 fine pursuant to Hartford civil code 6-2.

Furthermore, you can’t let your dog roam on someone else’s property without their permission. This might mean keeping your dog inside and only allowing it outside if the owner cannot consistently trust that the dog will remain on their property. 

Penalties Increase for Letting a Known Vicious Dog Roam

If this is your second violation in a year, you can be fined $1,000 and jailed for up to 6 months if you recklessly or intentionally let your dog roam and it bites someone. For example, your dog might have bitten someone seven months ago. If you continue to let him run through the park unleashed, where he bites a second person, you may face these more severe penalties. 

Dog Bite Statistics

Given the number of dogs in the United States, it is not surprising that dog bites are incredibly common. In fact, according to Dogs Bite, roughly 4.5 million dog bites occur each year, nearly 100 of which were fatal in recent years. This number is higher than in any previous year. Additionally, recent years have shown the first reports of adult fatalities surpassing children 0-4.

Unsurprisingly, young children are often the most common victims of dog bites. This is often due to their unpredictable behavior, squealing noises, and a lack of understanding how to read body language and respect an animal’s space. 

Additionally, young children are more likely to be eye or face level with a dog. This means that dog bite injuries to the face are far more common in children, along with co-occurring risks and complications. Unfortunately, the direct access the animal has to major body parts such as the face, throat, and torso leaves children at a much higher risk of death from dog attacks.

What to Do After a Dog Bite

Dog attacks are scary experiences. Many people are shocked after being bitten, especially if they know the animal, and most dogs who bite are known. However, there are a few things you can do to protect your well-being and support a favorable outcome in your case. 

The first priority is safety, which includes assessing any wounds, calling 911 for police and EMS response, and addressing bleeding. You can often clean shallow wounds with soap and water. However, if the dog’s teeth puncture deeper layers of tissue or hit arteries such as the neck or thighs, you may need to follow emergency first aid recommendations and wait for medical attention to arrive. 

Documentation is another important step. This begins with identifying the dog, or at least its breed and color. If you can, take photos of your injuries and the area and try to identify possible witnesses. Calling the police to the scene can provide additional documentation that may be beneficial to your case. 

In most cases, when you call the police, they will involve animal control, who will speak with the owners. Standard procedure often includes quarantining the dog to monitor for signs of rabies, infections, or illness. Additionally, depending on the circumstances of the bite, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture may choose to confiscate or euthanize the animal.

Making a Claim for Compensation

The key will be to identify the animal that bit you. If you are on someone’s property, that might be easy, since the dog probably lives there. But if you are bitten by an animal roaming in public, then identifying the owner might be more complicated. Animal control may help track down the animal and its owner. If you are having trouble identifying the animal, a dog bite attorney may offer additional resources for identification. 

You might be unsure of what to expect when you claim compensation from a dog attack. This can vary significantly based on whether a homeowner’s insurance policy covers the owner or whether you are negotiating with them as an individual. Additionally, settling outside of court will look very different from taking the case to court, which our team at Tehrani Law Group is prepared to do if necessary. 

However, the first steps will always include investigating the attack to determine liability and valuing your damages. Some damages you may consider in your claim for compensation include medical bills, therapy costs for psychological injuries, lost wages for time out of work due to the attack, and recovering from injuries, and other tangible costs of the attack. Additionally, you may choose to claim damages for pain and suffering, as well as any lingering distress due to scarring or long-term disability.  

Deadlines for Bringing a Lawsuit

You must file a lawsuit before the expiration of the statute of limitations. In most cases, Connecticut provides a statute of limitations of two years from the date of the dog attack. The same is likely true if you are considering a lawsuit for wrongful death. In any event, contact an attorney quickly to avoid wasting valuable time. 

Our founding attorney, Payman Tehrani, Esq., has settled many animal attack cases and has the experience you need from Connecticut dog bite attorneys. We offer free case consultations that allow us to review the details of your case. 

Dog bite cases can be tricky if the other person is claiming you were harassing or hurting the animal, or they may lack the resources to cover your costs fully. You need the support of an experienced attorney to help you build a convincing case to secure the compensation that you need and deserve. You do not have to navigate this alone. Contact us today online or by phone at (860) 467-1305.