Did you know that roughly 1,000 Americans head to the emergency room every single day because of dog bite injuries? Although they are often portrayed as “man’s best friend,” dogs can cause significant physical injuries with a single bite. If you have been injured by a dog in Minnesota, know that you have legal options. In today’s blog, we discuss dog bite injuries and explain what you should do if you’ve just been bitten by a dog for the first time.
Dog Bite Injury Compensation
In Minnesota, it’s doesn’t matter if the dog has a violent history or it’s the first time they’ve ever bitten someone – unless extenuating circumstances exist, and we’ll touch on those below, the dog’s owner is going to be fully responsible for compensating the injured party for the damages they incur. This can include direct and indirect economic and non-economic expenses. For example, you may be able to collect compensation for damages such as:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Diagnosed mental health issues (anxiety, PTSD, etc.)
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Damages for gross negligence (repeat or egregious offenses)
Minnesota takes dog bite injuries seriously, holding the dog’s owner strictly liable for injuries caused by their dog. As the law states,
““If a dog, without provocation, attacks or injures any person who is acting peaceably in any place where the person may lawfully be, the owner of the dog is liable in damages to the person so attacked or injured to the full amount of the injury sustained.”
The key here is the clause “without provocation.” If it turns out that you provoked the dog, you could be deemed partially or fully responsible for the consequences of your actions, potentially limiting your ability to collect compensation. In order to provoke a dog in the eyes of the law, you need to do more than just show up on the property. For example, a mailman walking up a front porch may “provoke” a dog, but that normal action would not be considered a provocation that would exempt an owner from responsibility for their dog’s actions. Provocation, in this sense, means to tease, torment or abuse a dog in such a manner that it feels compelled to defend itself. Whether or not your actions rise to the level of provocation will be determined on a case by case basis.
Another exception to Minnesota’s strict dog bite liability is when it comes to lawful behavior. If a person is trespassing or breaking into a residence, and they are bit by a guard dog, they aren’t going to be able to seek personal injury compensation. Again, a mailman or a Girl Scout troop knocking on your door isn’t considered trespassing, even if you did not give them express permission to be there. If someone enters your property for nefarious purposes or their actions are not considered reasonable and expected, then strict liability may not be enforced.
Whether it’s your first time being bitten by a dog or you’re no stranger to dog bites, the single smartest thing you can do after a dog attack is to connect with a lawyer once your wounds have been professionally addressed. Dog bites can take a significant physical and emotional toll on a person, and you deserve to pursue all compensation options available to you. You probably don’t know all of your options or the best way to pursue them, but we do. We will hold irresponsible dog owners accountable for their dog’s actions and get you the compensation you deserve.
For more information about dog bite injuries or a different type of injury compensation claim, connect with Dean and the team at Margolis Law Firm today at (952) 230-2700.
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