A victim of a dog bite in the state of Georgia has the option of seeking compensation in court for his or her injuries. If you are considering taking legal action after receiving a dog bite, it is essential that you are aware of the rules and laws that apply to dog bite cases. Georgia’s laws concerning dog bites, how severely the victim was injured, and the specific circumstances of the incident all affect the result of the case.
If you’ve been injured by the aggressive actions of a dog in Savannah, Hinesville, or the surrounding Georgian community, our lawyers at Nye Law can help.
Statute of Limitations in Georgia
In the state of Georgia, the victim must file the claim within two years of the incident to comply with the statute of limitations. It is crucial to file your case before the time period expires in order for the case to make it to court.
Georgia’s dog bite statute states that if an individual owns an animal that is “vicious” or “dangerous” and that animal injures another party due to the owner’s careless actions, then the owner may be held liable for the damages. This does not apply to domesticated fowl or domesticated livestock.
In cases of dog bites, Georgia is a state that applies negligence, meaning that the victim must provide proof that the pet owner was aware that the dog posed a possible threat and did not take action to prevent the incident from occurring. If the animal was not on a leash, the injured party may use the leash ordinance that exists in the state of Georgia as evidence. If a dog is not on a leash in an area where leashes are required, that is enough to prove that the dog is dangerous in Georgia’s courts.
Possible Defenses in Georgia Dog Bite Cases
Many possible defenses exist in Georgia’s laws that the dog owner might employ in court.
Since Georgia is a “negligence” state, the owner is considered liable for any injuries their dog causes if they had previous knowledge that their dog is violent. The owner may try to show that they had no prior awareness of the dog’s violent tendencies and therefore are not liable.
The owner is also not considered responsible if the event was not caused by the owner’s inattentiveness towards the animal. In a situation where, for example, the dog was on a leash and was not free to roam around but managed to escape from the owner and bite someone, the owner may not be considered liable.
Another possible defense that the owner may take is showing that the injured party caused the incident to happen by provoking the dog. If the injured party was bitten as a result of irritating the animal in some manner, then the owner is not held responsible for those injuries.
Georgia Dog Bite Attorney
If you or a loved one have received a dog bite injury that was caused by the owner’s negligence, you have the opportunity to seek compensation. Contact the Nye Law Group for guidance in making your claim. Call us at (912) 200-5230 to get more information about your options.
