Asheville Dog Bite Lawyers
Helping Clients Who Have Been Injured By Dogs in North Carolina
You’re out with your spouse or significant other, walking the dog on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. But your pleasant walk turns ugly when a bigger dog gets loose and comes after you and your pup. Injuries are suffered.
Perhaps you were invited to a friend’s house for dinner. Their dog got a little nasty and bit you. In either case, there are damages that have been suffered. Our lawyer at Hensley Cloninger & Greer, P.C. can help you get appropriate compensation.
Call (828) 383-8414 or contact us online to set up a free consultation with our Asheville dog bite attorney.
Strict Liability for Dog Bites in North Carolina
Those who have suffered from a dog bite have a legal advantage. North Carolina law uses strict liability for these cases. This means the simple fact you were injured is enough to form the basis of a lawsuit.
Most personal injury cases, by contrast, require that the plaintiff prove that the defendant was negligent. But dog bites are different. Even if the owner of the guilty dog was acting perfectly reasonably, the mere fact the dog bit you means the owner can be liable for your injuries.
There are exceptions to this rule. Trespassers are not protected. You can’t walk on someone’s lawn uninvited, get bitten, and then file a lawsuit under strict liability. The same goes if the injured party antagonized the dog. Let’s say you’re at a cookout and start playing a little too rough with the host’s dog. If the host can prove that your actions incited the dog, then strict liability will not apply. Dogs that work for law enforcement are also protected.
For the most part, though, if you’re bitten by a dog, you’ll probably have the protection of strict liability and be spared the burden of proving negligence in court.