Cranston Dog Bite Lawyer

A dog bite can be one of the most traumatic events in a person’s life, especially when the injury happens to a child.  The trauma and the scarring of a dog bite injury can permanently impair the victim for the rest of their life, both physically and mentally.  If you, or your child, has been bitten or attacked by a dog in Cranston, RI, your most important concern after getting hurt is seeking immediate medical attention.  Secondly, contact the experienced RI personal injury team at Tapalian Law to help you.  Attorney David Tapalian is a skilled Cranston Dog Bite Attorney well-versed in the complex laws of Rhode Island surrounding dog bite injuries and will instruct you how to proceed in order to hold the animal’s owner liable for your injuries and get the compensation you are entitled to.

After a dog bite injury, seek immediate medical help either via ambulance to the hospital or by visiting your physician or a medical walk-in center. It is extremely important to get professional medical help right away, even if you don’t think it’s necessary. Case in point: an adult man was bit by a dog and washed and dressed his own wound. Three days later he developed a low-grade fever, listlessness, and shortness of breath. When he finally sought professional help, his physician found he had contracted an infection from the dog bite and had to perform an emergency aortic valve replacement on the man. Although this may be unusual, Tapalian Law stresses the importance of seeking professional medical treatment regardless of the seriousness of your injuries. Once you have sought medical treatment, contact Cranston Dog Bite Lawyer David Tapalian to discuss the next steps to take to hold the dog’s owner liable for your damages and recoup your losses from medical bills and time lost from work.

Following a dog attack in RI, if you are safely able to, get the dog owner’s name and address. If the dog is unaccompanied or running loose, and you are in a safe position to do so, make note of whether the dog returns to a specific house where it may have escaped its yard or enclosure.  If you can’t determine who the dog belongs to, contact the local police department to work with animal control officers to capture the dog so its rabies status can be determined. The dog’s rabies status is important to know to ensure you get appropriate medical treatment.

The City of Cranston has its own set of rules relating to dog ownership including licensing requirements, rabies shots, and waste disposal guidelines.  Relative to RI dog bites that happen in Cranston, state law applies. Rhode Island law applies strict liability to bites that occur outside of the animal’s enclosure. The RI Supreme Court defines an enclosure as, “a fence, physical obstruction or any other condition that gives reasonable notice to third parties that the area is private”. Dog bites that occur outside of a dog’s enclosure in Rhode Island, on public property for example, are always the responsibility of the pet owner.

Rhode Island’s “One-Bite Rule”

If you are hurt by a dog on its owner’s property in RI, such as a friend’s house, the injury may still be subject to strict liability if your attorney can prove the dog has prior vicious tendencies that its owner was aware of. For example, a previous incident where the same animal bit a person. So, even if the assault took place in the dog owner’s home, the owner of the pet may still be held responsible and liable for your damages. The victim may even be awarded double compensation if the owner was aware of the dog’s malicious inclinations.  It’s important to speak with a qualified Cranston Dog Bite Attorney who can expertly navigate the complexities of the dog bite law in RI. Some homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance policies will cover dog bite injuries, depending on the breed of dog and the particular circumstances.

Being attacked by a dog is extremely scary and upsetting. Physically, the bite may get infected, require surgery, and leave permanent scarring. For a child, subsequent surgeries for scarring may be required as the child’s body grows and changes. Even after the physical wounds have healed, the dog attack victim may still suffer emotionally. If the dog bite happened to a child, the long-term psychological effects are frequently more severe. A parent or sibling that witnessed the attack may also be greatly affected. It is not unusual for a dog bite victim to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and require counseling. The physical and emotional repercussions of a canine attack can be life-long. A well-qualified Cranston dog bite lawyer will seek damages to include not only existing medical expenses incurred from the injury, but also future expenses including the need for additional surgery, physical therapy, and counseling.

If you, or someone you know, was bitten or attacked by a dog in Cranston, it is important to contact an attorney experienced with RI dog bite laws. Attorney David Tapalian has successfully helped dog bite victims in Rhode Island and Massachusetts win maximum compensation for their RI & MA dog bite injuries. The Cranston personal injury team at Tapalian Law will help to protect your legal rights and seek maximum compensation for you or your child’s dog bite injury, including future medical needs. We offer a free consultation to discuss your personal injury claim and there is no fee unless we win you money. Call Tapalian Law’s main office in Providence, RI today at 401-552-5000, or use our online form to schedule your free case review.