Many dog bite cases go unpaid without legal intervention, so if you suffer a bite by a dog, get the help of a Las Vegas dog bite lawyer. Hiring a lawyer increases your chances of getting the compensation you deserve. But what if a service dog bites you?
Service Dogs Defined
‘Service dog’ refers to dogs that have gone through special training to help people with disabilities. Their training must be particular to their handler’s disability. This definition is according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The most common types of service dogs are seeing dogs and hearing dogs. Other types of service dogs exist as well, such as: psychiatric service dogs that stop self-harming and offer a calming influence against their handlers’ panic attacks. There are also allergen alert dogs that detect deadly substances for their handlers, mobility assistance dogs that offer balance and stability for their handlers while walking, and medical alert dogs that respond to their hander’s emergencies like epileptic seizures. These dogs undergo specialized training that makes them highly disciplined.
What Nevada Law Says about Service Dogs
Under Nevada law, people with disabilities can legally bring their service dogs to all places of public accommodation. The state’s definition of public accommodation is quite broad; it includes casinos, restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals, offices, etc. As long as the general public has access to the place, it is a public accommodation, and therefore, is open to people with disabilities and their service animals. This means that in a popular tourist spot like Las Vegas, you can expect to come across people with disabilities accompanied by their service dogs. However, not every dog in a vest you encounter on the Las Vegas Strip is legally a service dog.
Pets or Emotional Support Animals?
Most of the time, legitimate service dogs do not pose a danger. They have the training for their purpose, and unless agitated or provoked, they do not bite. But there are people who try to pass off their pets as a kind of service dog falling under the category ‘emotional support animals’. These animals still provide a service to their owner, yet they have not undertaken any special training to perform a specific task. This lack of specialized training is the difference between the two categories.
However, there is no mention of legal protection for emotional support animals in Nevada law. Nor is there mention in the ADA about allowing such animals to places of public accommodation. Nevertheless,the public accommodation may not question the disability or service performed by the dog. They also can not demand forms of proof of the animal’s training. As a result, tourists will still sometimes bring their insufficiently trained pets to the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas. It should not be a surprise if their dog end up biting someone. The sensory overload and croawds of Sin City can be much more than a regular pet is able to handle.
When to Contact a Las Vegas Dog Bite Lawyer
If you ever get bitten by a dog – service dog or otherwise – and need a Las Vegas dog bite lawyer, we at Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys are here to help. As one of the most well-known law firms in Nevada, we bring experience, skill, and passion to your case. Additionally, we offer consultations for free and we only collect fees after you win. Since we do not get payment until you do, you should have a good idea of our drive and determination towards your case. To learn more about what we can do for you, send us a message on our contact form or talk to us through our LiveChat feature. You can also call us at 844-977-1900. Our office is open from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., but we can take your calls 24/7. One call, that’s all!