Understanding Dog Bite Law in CT
According to dog bite law in Connecticut, a dog owner – or keeper – is responsible for any damage committed by their canine companion to either the body or property of any individual. “Property” also includes a pet owned by another person.
However, a dog owner is not liable for any injuries caused to a person who was trespassing on the owner’s property. In addition, any person who teases, torments, or abuses the dog prior to being attacked is not eligible to file a lawsuit against the owner.
Strict Liability vs. Negligence:
There are two ways you can approach your dog bite lawsuit: strict liability or negligence. Strict liability means that a dog’s owner can be held liable despite the fact that he or she took reasonable care to prevent the injury, and even if the dog has never acted in an aggressive manner before. On the other hand, negligence can be proven if the injured individual demonstrates that the dog’s owner had a duty of care to prevent the injury, but failed to use reasonable care under the circumstances, resulting in injury.
The statute of limitations in Connecticut gives an injured party two years from the date of the incident to file a case in court.
If you suffered a serious injury from a dog bite or attack, request a free consultation with our Hartford personal injury attorneys at Zayas Law Firm today. Our attorneys are experts on dog bite law in CT and can help win your case.