CT DOG bite statute

Many times, we have been contacted by individuals who have been attacked by a dog in Connecticut. The circumstances under which they are bitten by the dog are quite different and sometimes people want to know under what circumstances can they file a claim against the owner or keeper of the dog so they can recover money damages from the dog bite.

Connecticut’s dog bite statute can be found in Connecticut General Statute Section 22 – 357 and states as follows:

Damage to person or property. If any dog does any damage to either the body or property of any person, the owner or keeper, or, if the owner or keeper is a minor, the parent or guardian of such minor, shall be liable for such damage, except when such damage has been occasioned to the body or property of a person who, at the time such damage was sustained, was committing a trespass or other tort, or was teasing, tormenting or abusing such dog. If a minor, on whose behalf an action under this section is brought, was under seven years of age at the time the damage was done, it shall be presumed that such minor was not committing a trespass or other tort, or teasing, tormenting, or abusing such dog, and the burden of proof thereof shall be upon the defendant in such action.

Strict liability with limited exceptions

Generally speaking, the owner or keeper of the dog will be strictly liable for any injuries and damages caused or occasioned by the dog. It would therefore not be necessary to show that the person that was with the dog was exercising reasonable care or that the dog had bitten someone before so long as the injured party was not committing a trespass or other tort or was teasing, tormenting, or abusing such dog.

Seek Immediate Medical Care and call the dog warden

If you are attacked or bitten by a dog and your skin is broken then it is very important that you go to the hospital, or other medical care facilities, as soon as possible because one of the problems you can encounter is an infection or worse yet getting rabies. The authorities will have to be contacted as well so that an investigation can be made to determine if the dog was up-to-date on its rabies vaccination. The dog will also have to be quarantined for a period of time depending upon whether or not this happened on the property of the dog owner or keeper or off that person’s property.

If the bite is serious, insist on seeing a plastic surgeon

There are a great number of things that you should be doing after you have been bitten by a dog and there are still other things that you should not be doing. One of the most important considerations to keep in mind is that if you have a significant dog bite injury, especially if it is in a prominent location, you should insist that a plastic surgeon perform the necessary care and treatment rather than by an intern or some other doctor in the hospital.

Do not delay in contacting a CT dog bite lawyer

You should contact an experienced Connecticut dog bite injury lawyer at the earliest possible moment so that you do not make a mistake in allowing too much time to transpire which could create great problems for you, both in health risks and in not maximizing the amount of compensation you can recover for your dog bite injury.

To find out more about dog bite injuries in Connecticut and to determine what you should and should not be doing, please contact us.