Pittsburgh Dog Bite Lawyers

Pennsylvania Personal Injury Attorney Represents Victims of Animal Attacks

In Pennsylvania, the victims of dog bite injuries may be entitled to compensation for their injuries, though the law is rather complicated — the plaintiff-victim may be entitled to a range of damages, depending on the nature of the injury, the dangerous propensities of the dog itself, and the negligence of the owner. If you have suffered a dog bite injury, you may be entitled to recover damages pursuant to Pennsylvania law. To ensure that your case is litigated effectively, it’s critical that you work with Pittsburgh dog bite lawyers who has experience litigating these types of cases.

Fill out our online contact form or call our office to speak with one of the Pittsburgh dog bite attorneys here at Goodrich & Geist, P.C. today.

Liability for Severe Injuries Sustained in PA Animal Attacks

As a plaintiff, your claims (and potential damage recovery) will change based on the nature of your injuries. Put in simpler terms: a severe injury will entitle you to access a broader range of damages than a minor injury.

If you suffered a severe injury — defined in Pennsylvania statutory law as “any physical injury that results in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations requiring multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery” — then you may be entitled to recover your damages in full. If you suffered a minor injury, on the other hand, then you may still file a lawsuit against the owner, but you will only be entitled to recover damages for your medical expenses.

Dangerous Dog Liability in Pennsylvania

If you were injured by a “dangerous dog,” as defined by the Pennsylvania dangerous dog statute, then you will be entitled to recover damages for all your relevant losses, including but not limited to wage loss, loss of future earning capacity, medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more.

What constitutes a dangerous dog?

A dangerous dog is a dog that has:

• caused severe injury to a human without provocation;
• attacked a human without provocation;
• caused severe injury (or death) to another domestic animal or pet without provocation and while outside of their owner’s property; or
• was used to help commit a crime

The dangerous dog must also demonstrate a history of attacking others without provocation, or demonstrate a propensity for doing so. The dog need not have actually completed an attack and caused an injury in the past — you need only show that the dog was engaged in an attack, thus demonstrating their dangerous propensity.

Defenses in Pittsburgh, PA Dog Bite Injury Cases

There are two primary defenses utilized in dog bite injury cases: trespassing and provocation. If you were trespassing on the defendant dog owner’s property at the time of the injury, then you probably cannot hold the dog owner liable for the injuries you suffered as a result of their dog biting you. Similarly, if you provoked the defendant’s dog — thus causing the dog to bite you — then you cannot subsequently hold the defendant dog owner liable for the injuries suffered as a result.

Consult with an Experienced Pittsburgh Dog Bite Lawyer Today

Though dog bite injury litigation may initially appear straightforward, the circumstances of your injury can quickly give rise to complex issues that require consistent, well-informed advocacy to secure a favorable result. When seeking out legal aid, it’s important that you consult with an attorney who has a track record of success in litigating dog bite injury lawsuits. Attorneys without adequate experience navigating the complications of Pennsylvania dog bite litigation will not have the confidence or ability to effectively resolve the case in your favor.

The attorneys at Goodrich & Geist, P.C. have taken over 100 cases to trial and have numerous favorable case results, including those relating to dog bite injuries. We have successfully litigated cases throughout Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh, Erie, and Beaver, PA. Call (412) 766-1455, or fill out the online contact form, to schedule a free consultation with one of the Pittsburgh dog bite attorneys here at Goodrich & Geist, P.C.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Bites