Dogs are considered as loving companions. However, they can also be dangerous and a wisconsin attack can lead to serious injuries. If you are a dog bite victim, you need a skilled attorney to help you pursue legal action against the owner of the dog who attacked you. This way, you can seek compensation for your injuries and other losses.
Wisconsin Dog Bite Liability
As a victim of a dog bite, you can pursue financial compensation for the injuries and losses you sustained from the owner of the dog, a landlord, or a pet sitter. Wisconsin dog owners should prevent their dogs from harming other people or pets. They should be liable for the injuries or damages their pets may cause. This occurs even if they are not aware of the dog’s dangerous or aggressive tendencies.
But there are cases when dog owners avoid dog bite liability. This can occur if the victim provoked the dog before it attacked. In this case, the victim cannot recover damages when they are at least 51 percent at fault for their injuries.
Reasons Dogs May Bite
A lot of dogs are friendly and can bite when stressed, threatened, scared, or sick. Also, a dog may bite when they defend their puppies, territories, or possessions. Animal attacks can result in infections, amputations, facial injuries, muscle impairments, scarring, broken bones, nerve damage, or even death. If you sustained injuries after a dog attack, you must consult an attorney to help you maximize your possible compensation that you can use for getting medical care and alleviate your pain and suffering.
Kinds of Compensation You May Receive
Dog bite cases are unique, so the amount and kind of compensation you may recover depends on the seriousness of your injuries and their impact on your life. In general, recoverable damages include the following:
- Economic damages. These refer to the out-of-pocket costs that result from your injuries like medical bills, lost wages, and prescription medicines. Examples include prescribed medications, medical costs, hospital stays, doctor visits, surgeries, psychological counseling, and others.
- Non-economic damages. These intangible damages include physical pain and suffering, mental trauma, emotional anguish, loss of consortium, physical impairment, physical scarring or disfigurement, and loss of life enjoyment.
How Long Can You File a Dog Bite Claim?
In Wisconsin, you have three years from the attack to file a claim. You need to file a claim within this period if you don’t want to lose your chance of getting monetary compensation from the person responsible for the dog. However, there are exceptions to the statute of limitations. So, you should speak with an attorney who specializes in your type of case about your possible claim.
