If you don’t train and control a dog properly, it can cause serious and life-changing harm to other people and animals. Fortunately, Pennsylvania law requires dog owners to pay the medical bills of anyone their pet injures, even when it is an accident. Under certain circumstances, you may also have the right to demand money for other losses.
Support from a seasoned Hershey dog bite lawyer will make a big difference in the outcome of your claim. Beyond ensuring your case covers all the losses you’re eligible to seek recovery for, Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers will help you navigate the legal roadblocks that might keep you from getting the compensation you deserve.
Managing Partner Rich Godshall and the rest of our seasoned legal team have successfully represented countless injured victims like you across Pennsylvania. In a recent Lehigh County case, we won $375,000 for a client who required surgery for a broken hip after an attack by a pit bull. Let us put our experience to work for you.
Holding Someone Liable for a Dog Bite
If a dog bites and injures you, Pennsylvania law holds the dog’s owner “strictly liable” for the cost of any medical care you must seek because of the incident. “Strict liability” means that it doesn’t matter how serious the injury was, whether the dog had a history of violent behavior, or even whether the owner did any specifically reckless or careless. The owner is still on the hook for your medical bills unless you were harassing the dog, trespassing, or doing something else illegal when the bite happened.
If you wish to recover for other damages like lost work wages, physical pain, and psychological trauma, you and your Hershey attorney generally must prove that the dog owner was reckless or careless in some way. This usually means proving that the dog owner knew their dog had violent tendencies and didn’t do enough to keep their dog contained on their property. Guidance from a winning lawyer at our firm can be crucial to getting a positive result from a dog bite case.
Legal Time Limits for Dog Bite Lawsuits in Hershey
Regardless of the severity of your injuries or the extent to which they will impact your life, you have a limited amount of time under Pennsylvania law to file a lawsuit. Specifically, 42 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes §5524 gives most people two years after getting hurt to start any civil claim they intend to file.
There are few exceptions to this “statute of limitations.” Anyone who waits until the deadline expires to start the legal process will likely have their case thrown out of court. Contacting an experienced lawyer as soon as possible is vital to protecting your rights after a dog attack in Hershey.
Speak with a Hershey Dog Bite Attorney Today
While most dogs are friendly and lovable animals, the ones that aren’t can cause painful and devastating injuries if their owners fail to control them. If another person’s dog harmed you, you have legal options for holding the owner liable for your losses.
A conversation with a Hershey dog bite lawyer will give you the information you need to enforce your legal rights effectively. Call Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers today to get the dedicated representation you deserve.
