Dog bites can happen anywhere, whether you’re in the Public Garden, walking in the West End, or visiting a friend’s home. Even familiar dogs can bite unexpectedly, especially if they feel scared, threatened, or protective. Any dog, no matter the breed or size, can bite under certain circumstances. If you’ve been injured, a dog bite lawyer in Boston can help you recover.
While some dog bites are minor, others inflict serious injuries and can even lead to death. Either way, under Massachusetts law, a dog owner may be held liable for damages their canine caused.
Jason Stone Injury Lawyers has been protecting the rights of injury victims since 2004. Over the years, we have served over 15K clients. Our Boston personal injury lawyers will help you get the compensation you need. To schedule a free consultation with experienced dog bite attorneys, Better Phone Stone®. There’s no obligation, just information®, guaranteed.
Strong Legal Support From Our Boston Dog Bite Attorneys
We understand the importance of community and the responsibility we have to protect our neighbors. Whether you’re in Boston or anywhere across the state, we can handle your case and offer peace of mind.
As locals, we know the state laws inside and out, and we help fellow Massachusetts residents get the compensation they deserve. When you work with us, you’re not just a client; you’re part of our community.
After a dog attack, you need a lawyer who delivers results. Our law firm has a track record of successful case results. We know how to use the available evidence to build a winning claim.
Understanding Massachusetts Dog Bite Law
Unfortunately, there are many dog bite cases in Boston, so it is important to understand the laws that apply to your case. Massachusetts has a rule of strict liability regarding dog bites or other animal injuries.
The owner is liable even if they took precautions to restrain the animal or prevent it from harming people. For example, if a dog was on a leash but managed to escape and knock someone over, the owner is responsible for the resulting injuries.
Under strict liability law, you don’t have to prove negligence on the part of the dog owner when filing a lawsuit, nor that the dog had a history of aggressive behavior. You only need to show that you were injured in a public place or lawfully in a private space when the dog attack occurred.
Our attorneys will investigate the incident and use all available evidence to establish liability in your dog attack case. Medical documentation can link your injuries directly to the dog attack. Also, testimonies from people who saw the attack can provide important context for what happened.
Liability When the Dog Owner Is Not Present
In Massachusetts, dog owners are responsible for their dog’s actions, even if they’re not present. This also applies to anyone temporarily in charge of the dog, like a pet sitter or friend, who is called a “keeper.”
However, suing a keeper can be difficult because they must have had control of the dog. Also, you can either sue the owner or the keeper, not both. A dog bite attorney in Boston can identify the legal strategy best suited for your situation.
Identifying the At-Fault Party
If a dog attacks you, you can sue. Still, you may be hesitant to file a claim against a dog owner. Maybe the dog owner is your neighbor or friend, and you don’t want to cause any problems. However, they may not need to pay out of pocket to cover your medical bills.
There may also be third parties involved with your case that could be held financially responsible. Your dog bite attorney with Jason Stone Injury Lawyers will investigate the animal attack and identify all parties that could be held liable.
Depending on the circumstances of your dog bite injury, your claim could be paid by:
- Dog’s owner: If the dog’s owner doesn’t have insurance that covers dog bites, they may have to pay out of pocket.
- Homeowner’s insurance: A homeowner’s insurance policy will typically cover dog bites sustained on the owner’s property.
- Animal insurance: There are insurance companies that sell coverage specifically for pet owners. If the dog’s owner has animal coverage, then this policy would cover your injuries.
- Animal keepers: Anyone who is responsible for the custody and care of an animal could be liable for injuries the dog caused. Examples include dog sitters and kennel workers.
- Car insurance: If a dog bites someone through the open window of a vehicle, then the owner’s insurance policy will typically cover the cost of damages.
- Landlords: If the owner of an apartment knew or should have known a tenant owned a dangerous dog, then the landlord could be held liable for the attack.
As your dog bite lawyers in Boston, we carefully analyze the incident to identify the negligent party. We determine if the dog’s owner is responsible or if someone else, like a person temporarily in charge of the dog, is liable.
We look at where and how the attack happened and whether the responsible person had control over the dog at the time. By gathering all the facts, we can determine who should be held accountable for your injuries.
Dog Bite Victims Can Get Compensation
In Massachusetts, dog owners can be held strictly liable for your medical treatment and other expenses, regardless of whether the dog that hurt you has a history of being vicious and attacking people. If the owner was negligent or the dog had a history of aggressiveness, you could be entitled to additional compensation.
If a dog bit you, you could get compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning potential
- Disfigurement
- Plastic or corrective surgery
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage
In some situations, a judge may award punitive damages to a Massachusetts dog bite victim. These types of damages are awarded as punishment for someone’s reckless or intentional misconduct.
For example, if someone knew a dog was vicious and repeatedly let it off its leash in a park where children played, if the dog attacked a child, punitive damages may be awarded.
Legal Guidance for Dog Bite Cases Involving Children
In Massachusetts, there are specific laws that apply to incidents involving minors. Parents should get an experienced dog bite lawyer for their injured children. After carefully reviewing the details of your case, a Boston dog bite attorney will explain how these local laws may affect your situation and your options for pursuing compensation.
As a parent, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next after a dog bites your child. Our legal team will give you all the information you need to make informed decisions about your child’s future. We will also simplify the legal process and handle your case so you can focus on what is most important: your child’s wellbeing.
When the Injured Victim Is a Minor
Unfortunately, many dog bite injury cases involve children. Young kids are often curious and may not fully understand how to interact safely with dogs. They might approach a dog without recognizing the signs of fear or aggression.
Additionally, children are smaller and more vulnerable than adults, making them more susceptible to serious injuries if a dog bites, including deep puncture wounds. Additionally, their skin is thinner and more delicate, which can lead to greater tissue damage and a higher risk of infection.
If a dog bites a child under the age of seven, the General Law – Part I, Title XX, Chapter 140, Section 155 assumes that the child was not trespassing, teasing, or harming the dog. In such cases, the burden of proof shifts to the dog owner. It is their responsibility to demonstrate that the child was, in fact, engaging in one of these behaviors at the time of the bite.
When the Dog Owner Is a Minor
When a dog owner or keeper is a minor, the parents or guardians of that minor are legally liable for any injuries or damages caused by the dog. If the dog bites someone or causes property damage, the parents or guardians can be held responsible for covering the costs.
Compassionate Legal Support After a Fatal Dog Attack
If you lost a loved one to fatal injuries after a dog attack, we offer our deepest condolences. The untimely loss of a loved one can be devastating, especially when it happens under such tragic circumstances. As experienced wrongful death lawyers in Boston, we have offered compassionate legal support for many families.
Wrongful Death Compensation
When someone else’s negligence leads to death, surviving family members may claim compensation from the negligent party. The amount of money you recover can help you and your loved ones be financially secure and build a better life together.
In Massachusetts, wrongful death compensation includes:
- The victim’s lost wages
- Loss of the deceased victim’s services, protection, and assistance
- Loss of the decedent’s care, companionship, guidance, advice, and comfort
- Funeral and burial expenses
Compensation can also include payment for the conscious suffering the deceased experienced from the dog bite before they died. This type of compensation provides some financial comfort to those who lost their loved ones.
While getting compensated for funeral expenses is usually simple because you have records of those costs, calculating pain and suffering is more complex. Our Boston wrongful death attorneys will use your experiences and testimonies from friends and family to determine a fair amount for these intangible losses.
How Long Do You Have to File a Dog Bite Case in Massachusetts?
The statute of limitations (also known as the amount of time you have to file a personal injury claim) on dog bite cases differs from state to state. Massachusetts dog bite law sets the limit at 3 years from the date of injury.
While this may seem like a long time, it’s best to start your claim immediately after the dog bite incident. This allows your personal injury attorney to file all required paperwork on time and gather needed evidence before it is lost or destroyed.
After suffering bodily injury from a dog bite, filing a personal injury claim may be the furthest thing from your mind. Your focus is on your recovery and getting your life back from before the animal attack. If you wait too long, you could miss the chance to recover the money needed to cover your medical expenses and other losses.
The sooner you contact Jason Stone Injury Lawyers, the sooner a dog bite lawyer can begin building a solid case on your behalf. After reviewing your case, we can determine exactly how much time you have to file a dog bite case in Massachusetts.
Common Injuries Caused by Dog Attacks
Dog attack injuries vary in form and severity, sometimes causing psychological trauma on top of physical harm. Common dog bite injuries include punctures and emotional trauma, among other things. Our Boston dog bite lawyers understand the long-term consequences of dog attacks. We can help you get medical care and handle the health insurance company logistics.
Puncture Wounds
A puncture wound could initially appear like a minor injury that doesn’t require medical attention. However, these types of wounds are prone to infection, which can lead to serious complications.
Puncture wounds can result in nerve damage that could have a lasting impact on your day-to-day life or conditions such as blood poisoning, tetanus, or rabies.
Neck and Head Injuries
A neck or head injury could result from a dog running and knocking someone over, circling the victim with a leash and causing them to trip and fall, biting the person, or a number of other scenarios.
An injury to the head or neck could result in:
- Concussion or another traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Fractured skull or jawbone
- Broken nose or orbital bones
- Facial lacerations or cuts
- Puncture wounds to the neck
- Eye injuries
- Facial scarring or disfigurement
Dog bite injuries to the head, face, or neck can be extremely traumatizing. You may require multiple plastic surgeries and procedures to heal.
Leg, Arm, and Hand Injuries
Typically, when being attacked by dogs, victims have the instinct to immediately put their hands up to protect their head and face. Powerful dogs such as pit bulls may latch onto a person’s limbs, tearing through skin and muscle tissue. Some dogs may even have jaws strong enough to break through bone.
Emotional Trauma
Immediately after a dog bite or animal attack, your physical health is of primary concern. You want to ensure that you, your child, or another loved one receives the medical care needed. Meanwhile, in the weeks and months following the dog attack, the emotional and psychological effects may begin to manifest themselves.
The emotional consequences of dog attacks might include:
- Intense fear of dogs
- Fear of going outdoors
- Low self-esteem
- Depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
The emotional effects of dog bites and animal attacks can be even more severe in children. After all, kids are smaller, more vulnerable, and still developing mentally and emotionally. However, it should be acknowledged that both children and adults may need counseling or therapy to work through the psychological effects of a dog attack.
Contact Our Massachusetts Dog Bite Attorneys Today
If you’ve suffered a dog bite in Massachusetts, the attorneys at Jason Stone Injury Lawyers are here to help. We will examine the individual circumstances of your dog attack and determine whether the owner may be held financially liable. Our legal team can also seek out other liable parties to maximize your compensation.
As part of our Stone Cold Guarantee® to our clients, you’ll never pay any out-of-pocket fees. We only get paid if you’re awarded a monetary settlement. Because each dog bite attorney at our law firm believes that everyone is entitled to excellent legal representation regardless of their current financial situation.
Schedule your free consultation with Jason Stone Injury Lawyers at a time and location convenient to you. We can also arrange for a session by phone, Skype, Zoom, or Google Voice. Start a live chat on our website or call us.
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