Articles Posted in Personal Injury

An increase number of dog bites across the country has led to increase number of lawsuits filed against dog owners. Some dog owners face specific penalties if their dog is considered a “dangerous” dog under local or state statute.

Dangerous or vicious dogs are sometimes identified by their breed. Dog breeds commonly considered by local and state lawmakers as dangerous or vicious breeds include pit bulls, rottweilers, wolf breed (husky), presa canarios, mastiff varieties, American bulldog, and doberman pinschers.

In other instances, such in Austin, Tx., a dog is labeled as “dangerous or vicious” not by its breed but instead by the individual dog’s history. In Austin, a dog that has attacked an animal or person without the dog being provoked could be labeled as a “dangerous dog.”

A dog owner can usually be held legally responsible when their dog causes an injury, such as a dog bite, or causes damage to your property.

Sometimes, a fair settlement of the issue can be reached without having to file a lawsuit, but often the injured party will need to sue the dog owner to hold him or her liable to the full extent that the law allows – or to get an insurance company to move on the case.

In some states and local jurisdictions, certain dogs are considered dangerous due to their breed. When a person is bitten by a dog breed deemed dangerous by some kind of local or state law, the dog owner is much more likely to be found liable in a lawsuit. Dog breeds commonly considered by local and state legislators as dangerous breeds include pit bulls, rottweilers, wolf breed (husky), presa canarios, mastiff variations, American bulldog, and doberman pinschers.