Nashville Dog Bite Attorney
Dog Bite Injury Attorney Proudly Serving Victims in Nashville and all of Middle Tennessee
Dog Bites Are a Common Source of Injury
Dog bites injure about 1,000 people each day. The American Humane Society estimates that nearly 5 million dog bites occur each year. More than half of all fatalities are caused by unrestrained canines on their owner’s property. Dog bite accidents often involve:
- Attacks on adults
- Maiming of children
- Mauling of extremities
- Injuries to head and neck
- Boys under 15 years of age
- Restrained unneutered males
- Harm by familiar family pets
- Unsupervised newborn babies
- Neighborhood kids (5-9 years)
The Centers for Disease Control report that 300,000 dog bite victims require emergency care each year. Over 82% of these patients are children under 15 years old. Kids between 5 and 9 suffer much higher injury rates; babies are 370 times more likely to be killed by a vicious dog.
Premises Liability Law
Unsupervised pets pose a serious danger to the entire neighborhood. Because injuries from dog bites and animal attacks are preventable, property owners can be held liable for damages. Premises liability law covers injuries caused by known dangers on someone’s property, and our dog bite attorneys can help you navigate this area of law in Nashville and elsewhere. Family pets, including aggressive dogs, are considered dangerous conditions. In Tennessee, owners have a legal duty to:
- Monitor children
- Leash or chain dogs
- Supervise interactions
- Provide needed barriers
- Restrain aggressive dogs
- Warn neighbors of danger
- Report serious bites by dogs
- Prevent canines from running loose
Beloved pets can also be dangerous watchdogs and lash out at perceived threats. The duty of dog owners to prevent unreasonable harm requires a bona fide effort to protect unsupervised kids and other invitees on the property from dog attacks. Dog owners are also potentially liable for injuries caused by this dangerous condition when their pet causes harm outside the premises, and our Nashville dog bite lawyers can help you seek compensation under these circumstances.
Damages for Premises Liability
Dog bite injuries can range from lacerations and open wounds to loss of limbs. Hospitalization and treatment for consequent tissue infections and complications can become very expensive. In fact, bite-related hospital stays average around $20,000, which is nearly 50% more expensive than treatment for other injuries. Injured victims are entitled to compensation for various damages, including:
- Lost income
- Hospital bills
- Emergency care
- Physical therapy
- Surgical procedures
- Follow-up treatment
- Potential lost earnings
- Prescription medication
- Mental pain and suffering
- Benefits for wrongful death
Under Tennessee law, negligent property owners are potentially liable for bodily injury or death caused by their pets where the owner is aware of the dog’s propensity toward biting. Even if the dog bite occurred outside the premises, owners may still be liable for the loose canine’s behavior. In addition to fines for violations of local ordinances and leash laws, pet owners must also bear the cost of bite-related injuries resulting from premises liability.
Call Nashville Dog Bite Attorney Matt Hardin Today
If you or someone you love has suffered a bite-related injury, call the Tennessee dog bite lawyers at Matt Hardin Law today. We are dedicated to pursuing coverage for all of your expenses, and fighting to secure your financial future. Always putting your needs first, our attorneys work diligently to win the compensation and justice you deserve after suffering a dog bite in Nashville or another local community. Call 1 (800) 777- MATT today for a free consultation or contact us online.