Owners are responsible for dangerous dogs.
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DOG BITES —
Most dogs are good neighbors. But a dog bite or attack can cause deep puncture wounds, infections, nerve damage, broken bones and scars that last a lifetime. Children are especially at risk because bites often happen at face level. Some victims are also hurt when a dog knocks them down or chases them into traffic.
Stephen J. Hecker helps dog bite victims and their families recover the costs of their injuries, usually through the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance.
Under Louisiana Civil Code article 2321, a dog’s owner is responsible for injuries the dog causes to people that the owner could have prevented and that were not caused by the injured person provoking the dog. The Louisiana Supreme Court has also said the injured person must show the dog posed an unreasonable risk of harm.
In plain terms: you generally do not have to prove the owner knew the dog had bitten before, but provocation and the specific facts of the attack matter. We investigate both.
Homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies often cover dog bite claims, even when the bite happened away from the owner’s home. Landlords and others who keep or control a dog may also be responsible in some situations.
In Louisiana, most injury claims from accidents on or after July 1, 2024 must be filed within two years. Injuries before that date generally had only one year. Evidence also disappears fast, so don’t wait.
Talk to Stephen J. Hecker today. The consultation is free.
FAQ —
Not for dogs. Louisiana holds dog owners responsible for injuries they could have prevented, as long as the victim didn’t provoke the dog and the dog posed an unreasonable risk of harm. A prior bite isn’t required.
Most dog bite claims are paid by the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, not out of the owner’s pocket.
Get medical care, document the injuries with photos, report the bite to animal control and call us. Children’s claims can include the cost of future scar treatment and counseling.
For most bites on or after July 1, 2024, you have two years to file suit in Louisiana.
PRACTICE AREAS
We help injured drivers, passengers and families get the compensation they deserve.
We take on trucking companies and their insurers after 18-wheeler crashes.
Riders get blamed first. We push back and work to show what really happened.
