Akita Bites

Akitas are large muscular dogs, often regarded as loyal and affectionate towards their owners. Unfortunately, they also have a reputation for being aggressive and are prone to attack without warning. Akita bites can cause significant physical and emotional trauma, and people attacked by Akitas often incur substantial medical bills. Fortunately, people hurt in dog attacks can often recover damages from the dog’s owner in civil lawsuits. If an Akita bit you, it is in your best interest to speak to an attorney as soon as possible. At the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, our skillful Cape Cod dog bite attorneys can advise you of your rights and aid you in pursuing the best legal result possible under the facts of your case. Our lawyers have more than fifteen decades of experience helping people hurt in dog attacks seek compensation for their losses, and our zealous representation has allowed us to obtain numerous multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for our clients.  

Akitas are powerful and dominant dogs that are often territorial and reserved with strangers. In many areas, they are considered dangerous dogs due to their propensity to attack people. Akita bites can cause substantial harm, including torn tendons, ligaments, and muscles. They can also lead to broken bones, hemorrhaging, and in some instances, fatal injuries. People attacked by Akitas often need medical care, including hospitalization and occupational and physical therapy, and may need treatment for psychological injuries as well. They also often suffer scarring.

In light of the fact that dog bites occur regularly throughout the state, Massachusetts enacted a dog bite law that holds dog owners strictly liable for harm caused by their pets. As such, a person injured by an Akita attack does not have to show that the dog’s owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous or otherwise caused the attack by behaving in a negligent manner in order to prove the owner’s liability. Rather, victims of Akita attacks only have to show that they sustained bodily harm or property damage because of the attack in order to recover damages.

Notably, however, some exceptions to the strict liability law exist. In other words, if the victim was trespassing or engaging in other tortious behavior at the time of the attack, the dog’s owner may be able to avoid strict liability. A court may also decline to hold an owner strictly liable if the victim was tormenting or teasing the dog prior to the attack. The dog bite law states that there is a presumption that the exceptions to strict liability do not apply if the victim of the attack is under seven, but the dog owner can introduce evidence to rebut this presumption. Victims of dog attacks can also pursue compensation via other claims, like negligence.

Massachusetts’ dog bite law does not specify what damages a person injured in a dog attack may recover but merely states that a dog’s handler or owner is liable for any and all damages the dog causes. The courts have interpreted this provision to mean that the handler or owner must compensate the victim for any economic harm suffered, including medical costs, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses. Victims can also typically recover damages for pain, suffering, and mental trauma as well.

Akitas are often devoted to their owners but aggressive towards people they don’t know, and if they attack, they can cause lasting trauma. If an Akita harmed you, it is advisable to meet with an attorney to discuss your potential claims. The experienced Cape Cod dog bite lawyers of The Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, are adept at helping people harmed in dog attacks recover damages for their losses, and if you hire us, we will work tirelessly on your behalf. We frequently represent people in dog bite cases on Cape Cod, and we can also meet with clients in Plymouth and Hyannis. You can contact us at (888) 262-6664 or through our online form to schedule a meeting.