Las Vegas Dog Bite Lawyer
Dog bites can cause serious injuries to innocent victims, including bite marks, broken bones, scarring, and disfiguration. A bite from a large dog to the face or head can cause major injuries. Thus, dog bite victims are often in need of serious medical treatment, including, in worst-case scenarios, reconstructive or cosmetic surgery.
Under Nevada law, dog owners can be held responsible for their dog’s actions, and dog bite victims are entitled to compensation for their injuries and damages. Injured by a bite from a dog? A Las Vegas dog bite attorney can try to fight for your right to compensation. It may be critical to call an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as you have been attacked.
Dangerous Dogs
Nevada law distinguishes between “dangerous dogs” and “vicious dogs.”
Dangerous dog – one that, without provocation by pain or torment, behaves:
- Menacingly on two separate occasions within 18 months of each other
- To a degree that would lead a reasonable person to protect themselves against substantial bodily harm
- Menacingly while it is off the owner’s or keeper’s premises – or while not otherwise contained in a cage, pen, or vehicle
Under Las Vegas dog bite accident law, it is not a crime to keep a dangerous dog. However, anyone physically injured by a dangerous dog may bring a civil lawsuit for damages against the owner. The injured person may receive compensation for:
- Medical treatment.
- Pain and also suffering.
- Missed time from work.
- Permanent disfigurement.
- Lastly, other types of economic and non-economic damages.
Defining Vicious
If a “vicious” dog attacks someone and causes substantial bodily harm/death to that person, the owner may face a felony charge.
Under Nevada law, a vicious dog is one that, without provocation kills or inflicts serious bodily harm on a person or was previously declared a “dangerous dog” and continued to behave in a menacing manner.
Under Nevada law, if a dog owner has notice of a dog’s vicious propensities, and the dog attacks someone; it is a criminal misdemeanor for that dog owner to knowingly transfer ownership of the dog to someone else or to keep the dog for more than seven days.
Role of the Dog Owner
Under Nevada law, a dog owner has various defenses to claims resulting from a dog bite. When a person provokes or torments the dog, and causes the dog to bite that person and inflict injury. The dog bite victim could have some responsibility for the dog bite incident; and also held fully or partially responsible for their resulting injuries.
The following defenses may also apply under certain circumstances such as lack of evidence and lack of notice. Lack of notice means that the dog owner was unaware of their pet’s vicious propensities. Despite case exceptions, most dog bite victims suffer serious injuries as a result of a dog owner’s negligence. Injured in a dog bite accident? You should receive legal compensation. Our Las Vegas dog bite attorney is ready and willing to help. So, don’t wait and contact us today!