Dog Bite Lawyers: How a Virginia Beach Attorney Can Help You
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Virginia is a one-bite state, meaning that a dog owner does not hold liability when their dog bites an individual the first time. If, however, the dog bites an individual repeatedly, the owner will be held responsible.The State of Virginia alsoholds you accountable if you violate an animal control law. According to the law, an owner is anyone who owns an animal, keeps an animal, cares for an animal, or acts as a caregiver for an animal. Dog owners in Virginia should have knowledge about their dog or animal’s tendency to harm others.
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If the dog’sowner is aware of this fact, or if their dog was previously adjudicated as a dangerous dog or a vicious dog, the owner is required to take measures to prevent their dog frominjuring another personor another pet. The law will hold you,as the pet owner,responsible for the injuries caused by your dog or pet, and owners can face severe punishment if they knew beforehand of their pet’s tendency to harm others, but still failed to take any measures to prevent dog bites or injuriesfrom occurring.
The dog or pet could also be put down if the dog bite injury they caused is severe.
What You Need To Know About Dog Bite Lawyers: A Virginia Beach Dog Bite Lawyer Can Help You Win Your Animal Personal Injury Case
Virginia’s Animal Cruelty Laws
The operative animal cruelty law of Virginia states that pet owners who keep their pets such as dogs in an unsanitary environment, void of love and care, will be held accountable for animal neglect.
Other instances of animal abuse and cruelty include:
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Intentional cruelty such as physically harming or injuring an animal (mutilations, killing, and torture)
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Failing to provide them with food, water, shelter, and veterinary care
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Treating them in an inhumane manner
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Using them for entertainment or sports purposes against their will
If you suspect a person is mistreating their dog or any other pet, you should consult with The Coastal Virginia Law Firm. You should immediately alert animal control to seize and control the situation, especially if the dog has turned violent due to the pain inflicted on it from its owner. We love dogs and animals of all kinds and will love nothing more than to fight on behalf of a dog’s wellbeing.
What Are Dog Bite Laws in Virginia?
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The State of Virginia has what is known as a “one bite” rule. In many cases, an owner can be found negligent if he or she knew the dog was dangerous and did not take precautions to prevent the animal attack. Such situations may include if a friend or neighbor had been previously bitten and can testify, or the owner had been cited by animal control for having a dangerous and aggressive animal.
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Even if the owner claims they had no idea the dog was dangerous, this may not be an adequate defense in a Virginia Beach dog injury case. What is known as negligence per se can be used as a successful tool to claim compensation in cases where the owner failed to take basic precautions to avoid dog bites and other injuries.
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Such situations could be something as simple as an owner not leashing their dog while on a walk, in accordance with local leash laws. If the unleashed dog, in violation of the law, becomes suddenly aggressive on a walk and attacks an adult or child, the owner can be held liable for the injuries.
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Another common situation is in cases where local Virginia Beach laws or ordinances require dogs to be kept in a fenced area or on a chain when in the yard. Failure to follow these rules leading to a dog bite are all possible avenues to seek compensation under negligence per se.
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What Every Virginia Beach Resident Should Know About Dog Bite LawyersHow Much Can Be Claimed as Compensation in a Virginia Beach Dog Bite Case?
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Dog bite injuries are serious, and any reasonable expenses you may have related to the dog bite, can be claimed and be compensation sought from the dog’s owner. This can include, but is not limited to:
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Medical bills related to the bite
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Funeral expenses in the case of wrongful death of the victim
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Lost wages due to time off work for recovery and hospitalization
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Additional damages that may help to pay for plastic surgery in the case of disfigurement
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Pain and suffering damages, or damages related to necessary psychological help
These dollar amounts can end up being in the tens of thousands – or even hundreds of thousands – when lost wages from work, severe injury, or emotional distress come as a result of a dog bite. A Virginia Beach attorney can help you determine how much compensation of expect from your case.
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How Long Does a Dog Bite Case Take?
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While it is difficult to estimate the time a claim can take as it makes its way through the court system, the most important thing that needs to happen is a speedy investigation after getting a dog bite.
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It is absolutely critical to begin the investigation immediately in any dog bite case so that any CCTV footage, evidence of animal cruelty or abuse, outright negligence, or improper cautionary measures can be obtained and documented right away. This evidence can be used by your attorney in your Virginia Beach case.
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The longer the time is between the bite incident and claim being made, the more likely the potential loss of evidence becomes – such as CCTV footage being erased, evidence of animal abuse or neglect being covered up, or even increased difficulty filing a claim coming about due to the state’s statute of limitations laws.
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It should be noted that the statute of limitations on personal injury liability claims in the State of Virginia is two years; however, extenuating circumstances can sometimes be considered in order to file a dog bite claim beyond this period in Virginia Beach. You can talk to an attorney to determine if you are eligible to file a case for a dog bite that occurred more than two years ago.