Murfreesboro Dog Bite Lawyer

Even the most well-trained dogs can attack and cause serious injury if they believe a person or another animal poses a threat. If a dog is not well-trained or is naturally aggressive, it is more likely to cause serious and potentially life-threatening harm, especially if the person it attacks is a young child or elderly adult.

Fortunately, state law affords dog bite victims significant rights when it comes to suing for their injuries, and a seasoned personal injury attorney can help enforce those rights. No matter who was responsible for the dog that attacked you or what losses you sustained as a result, a Murfreesboro dog bite lawyer from Ponce Law can help you achieve the best possible outcome from your settlement demand or lawsuit.

What Makes a Dog Owner Liable for a Bite Injury?

Some states hold dog owners strictly liable for all injuries their dogs cause by biting other people or animals. Other states follow what is commonly known as a “one-bite rule” and only impose strict liability if a dog owner knew their dog was dangerous based on at least one previous bite incident. As our Murfreesboro dog bite attorneys can further explain, Tennessee employs a unique combination of both systems, and a dog owner’s liability for a bite varies depending on where the bite occurred.

If a dog bites and injures someone who is in a public place or lawfully in a private one because its owner failed to keep it under control or allowed it to “run at large,” the owner is strictly liable for the bitten person’s medical bills regardless of the dog’s history. However, if a bite occurs on a dog owner’s private property, something akin to a standard one-bite rule applies.

Combating Common Defenses to Dog Bite Liability

There are also several defenses that dog owners can raise against being held civilly liable for bite injuries, such as:

• The dog bit someone who was unlawfully trespassing or intended to commit a criminal act on the dog owner’s private property
• The bite victim was provoking, harassing, or disturbing the dog when they were attacked
• The dog bit someone in order to protect its owner or a family member of the owner from violent conduct by the bite victim
• The dog was locked in a kennel or other enclosure when the bite occurred
• The dog was a herding, hunting, or police dog engaged in a related task when the bite occurred

Guidance from a seasoned dog bite lawyer in Murfreesboro can be key to contesting arguments along these lines during a lawsuit or settlement demand.

Get Help With Your Dog Bite Case From a Murfreesboro Attorney Today

Dogs have a reputation of being man’s best friend, but any animal has the potential to act violently under certain circumstances. If someone’s dog injured you, you may be able to hold that dog’s owner liable for your damages—but only if you understand and effectively enforce your rights under state law.

A Murfreesboro dog bite lawyer from Ponce Law can help you pursue the compensation you need. Call today to learn why we have been repeatedly named Nashville’s Best Law Firm in the Tennessean’s Best of Music City Awards.