Hamilton County Dog Bite Lawyer

Dogs are beloved family pets but have the potential to also inflict serious injury – especially on young children, who account for a majority of dog bite injuries in the United States each year. In addition to causing extreme pain, tissue damage, and scarring, a dog bite could lead to infection and a host of additional problems, such as loss of sensation, swollen lymph nodes, fever, fatigue, and difficulty breathing.

Following a dog bite injury, it is a good idea for you to speak with a Hamilton County dog bite lawyer who could determine whether you should take legal action. While it may be difficult in Tennessee to force the owner of the dog that attacked you to pay damages, it certainly is possible with help from the right personal injury attorney. It is important to act quickly, though, so reach out when you are able.

Types of Dog Bite Injuries

Ask any Hamilton County dog bite lawyer and he or she is certain to tell you that not all dog bites are created equally. Here is a look at some of the different types:

Abrasions

An abrasion is a superficial dog bite injury that typically does not require medical attention.

Lacerations

Lacerations are deep cuts that go past the epidermis and potentially into muscle and bone. Dog bite lacerations warrant prompt medical attention and stitches in many cases.

Punctures

Although often smaller than lacerations, dog bite punctures could be equally if not more serious, as they tend to be very deep and prone to serious infection.

Infections

Ten to 15 percent of all dog bites lead to infection. A dog bite could become infected either due to bacteria in the animal’s mouth or on the skin of the victim.

Rabies

While uncommon in the United States these days, contracting rabies due to a dog bite is always a possibility.

State Dog Bite Law

Determining whether one is likely to qualify for compensation following a dog bite should ideally be done by first consulting a Hamilton County dog bite lawyer. In general, though, it could be useful for a dog bite victim to understand that state law requires a highly fact-specific analysis as liability often hinges on where and how a dog bite happened.

The Tennessee dog bite statute – found at TENN. CODE § 44-8-413 – imposes either strict liability or one-bite liability depending on the circumstances of a dog-related injury. A dog owner could, for example, be held strictly liable if his or her animal injured someone while the victim was either on public property or lawfully on a third party’s private property. By contrast, the one-bite liability rule applies if the victim was on residential property either owned or rented by the animal’s owner. The one-bite liability rule requires the plaintiff to prove that the dog’s owner either knew or should have known about the dog’s propensity to act aggressively toward humans.

Fortunately for dog owners, TENN. CODE § 44-8-413 specifically enumerates a number of defenses available to them should want to try evade liability for a dog bite. These include lack of knowledge of dangerousness (in one-bite liability situations), trespassing, provocation, and working dog behavior – such as a bite inflicted by a police or rescue dog while the animal was performing work duties.

Contact a Hamilton County Dog Bite Attorney Today

Being bitten or otherwise attacked by a dog is a traumatic event – especially for a young child who may go on to develop a fear of dogs, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other adverse psychological conditions. Contact a Hamilton County dog bite lawyer if you would like to discuss your legal options following a dog bite.