Bullmastiff Dog Bites

Bullmastiffs are often viewed as gentle giants with mild and docile personalities. While that is true in many cases, bullmastiffs, like all dogs, can unexpectedly attack people, and when they do, they typically cause significant injuries. People who are injured by bullmastiff dog bites are often owed compensation from the animals’ owners, and anyone hurt in a dog attack should promptly speak to an attorney. Jointly, the dedicated Cape Cod dog bite lawyers of The Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, have more than 150 years of experience aiding people harmed in dog attacks in the pursuit of justice, and if we represent you, we will develop a compelling case in favor of your recovery of damages. Our assertive advocacy has helped us to recover multiple multimillion dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients.

Bullmastiffs are among the biggest and strongest domesticated dogs, with large mouths and a bite force that has one of the highest pounds per square inch. As such, if a bull mastiff bites a person, it is likely to cause fractures, torn ligaments, tendons, and muscles, and hemorrhages. In extreme cases, bull mastiff bites can cause fatal injuries. Frequently, people who are bitten by bull mastiffs require extensive medical care, including surgery, and physical and occupational therapy. In many cases, people develop scars from dog attacks and suffer from significant mental and emotional trauma long after their physical wounds have healed.

The Massachusetts legislature recognized that people should be held accountable for any harm caused by their pets and passed what is known as the dog bite law. The law is a strict liability statute, which means that victims of dog attacks do not have to demonstrate that the dog’s owner or handler was negligent in order to recover damages. In other words, they do not have to prove the dog was dangerous or that the owner knew or should have known that the dog was prone to attacking people. Instead, the victim is only required to show it suffered bodily injuries or property damage because of the dog.

There are exceptions to the imposition of strict liability on a dog’s owner for harm caused by the dog, though. For example, if the victim was engaging in a tortious act, like trespassing, the owner may not be deemed strictly liable for the harm caused by the dog. Similarly, an owner that can show that a victim was teasing or tormenting a dog before the dog bit the victim may avoid strict liability as well. The dog bite law presumes that none of the exceptions to strict liability apply if the victim is under the age of seven, but the owner can produce evidence to rebut this presumption. Even if a dog owner manages to evade strict liability for harm caused by a dog, a victim may recover damages under other theories of liability, like negligence.

Pursuant to the dog bite law, the person that owns or handles a dog that imposes bodily harm on another individual is liable for any and all damages the dog causes. While the dog bite law does not expressly define damages, courts have found that the term means economic losses, such as the costs of medical care, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses, as well as intangible harm, like suffering, pain, and mental anguish.

Bullmastiffs are typically lovable creatures, but they can cause extensive physical and emotional trauma when they become aggressive. If a bullmastiff attacked you, you should speak to an attorney about your right to pursue claims against the dog’s owner. The trusted Cape Cod attorneys of the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, possess the skills and resources needed to help you seek a favorable outcome, and if you engage our services, we will work tirelessly on your behalf. We have a record of obtaining successful results for our clients, including settlements and verdicts exceeding one million dollars. We regularly represent parties in dog bite cases on Cape Cod. We are also available to meet for consultations in Hyannis and Plymouth. You can reach us via our online form or at 888-262-6664 to set up a meeting.