Insurance Claims in Dog Bite Cases

Many people in the Cape Cod area own dogs as pets and regularly expose their dogs to people in their communities. Although many dogs are well-adjusted, some, unfortunately, are not and will bite people without warning. Dog owners can be held accountable for the harm caused by their dogs regardless of whether they acted negligently, however, and in many cases will turn to their insurance company to cover the cost of your damages. If you suffered injuries in an animal attack, a Cape Cod dog bite lawyer can identify potential sources of recovery for your harm. At the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, our legal team has over fifteen decades of combined experience helping injured people in the pursuit of damages. Our aggressive advocacy has helped us obtain numerous multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for our clients, and we understand how to work through insurance claims in dog bite cases.

Massachusetts’s dog bite law imposes strict liability on dog owners for damages caused by their dogs. This means that when a dog bites a person, the person does not have to prove that the owner of the dog knew or should have known that the dog was likely to bite someone or that the owner otherwise acted negligently in order to recover damages. Rather, a person injured by a dog bite can generally recover compensation from the owner of the dog for any damages caused by the bite, such as the cost of medical treatment, lost wages, and amounts for any suffering, pain, or mental distress caused by the bite. There are some exceptions to the imposition of strict liability, however. For example, if a person was bitten while trespassing or committing another tortious act, the dog owner may not be held accountable for the injuries caused by the dog. Similarly, if the victim was teasing or tormenting the dog, the dog owner may be excused from liability as well. Notably, if the victim was under the age of eighteen, the law presumes that he or she was not committing a tort or aggravating the dog at the time of the bite.

While a dog’s owner may ultimately be liable for the harm caused by a dog, in most instances, the owner’s insurance company will be the actual source of the compensation for the injured party. In other words, many homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies provide coverage for harm caused by dog bites. Often, however, certain breeds of dogs are excluded from coverage, as are dogs that have a history of biting people. Thus, in many cases, the dog owner’s insurance company may deny coverage for harm caused by a dog bite. In other instances, the insurance company will attempt to argue that the victim instigated the attack, or may dispute the extent of the harm caused by the attack. As such, it is prudent for dog bite victims to seek the assistance of an attorney when pursuing compensation. If a dog owner does not have an insurance policy that provides coverage for dog bites, the victim will have to pursue damages directly from the owner.

Dog bites can cause significant physical harm and emotional trauma, and in most cases, dog owners are liable for the harm caused by their pets. If you were the victim of an animal attack, you may be able to pursue legal claims. The diligent Cape Cod attorneys of the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, have the knowledge and skills to help you navigate the process involved with insurance claims in dog bite cases, and we will work diligently to help you pursue the full amount of damages recoverable under the law. We have obtained numerous verdicts and settlements in excess of a million dollars for our clients, and we proudly maintain a record of successful results. We represent people injured by dog bites in lawsuits in Cape Cod, and are available for consultations in Plymouth and Hyannis as well. You can schedule a complimentary and confidential consultation by contacting us via our form online or at 888-262-6664. Nós Falamos Português.