If you are bringing forward an injury claim for a dog bite, there are several Pennsylvania dog bite statutes that you should be aware of. Contact our experienced Pittsburgh injury lawyers today to arrange a free consultation and discuss your best options.
Pennsylvania Dog Bite Statutes | Statute of Limitations
In Pennsylvania, an adult victim of a dog attack generally has a 2-year statute of limitations in which to pursue their case. A statute of limitations is simply a filing deadline. If one has not reached a settlement for their injures with the liable parties, they must file a lawsuit in court within 2 years of the date of their injury, or they will be forever precluded from pursuing their case, thereby losing the opportunity to get properly compensated. The statute of limitations may be extended if the dog bite victim is under 18 years of age. It is important to retain legal representation from an experienced dog bite attorney as soon as possible after the incident to be sure to ascertain the correct filing deadlines to protect your cause of action.
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Pennsylvania Dog Bite Statutes | Strict Liability
Pennsylvania dog bite laws are controlled by statute and case law. Generally speaking, the law imposes a limited strict liability upon a dog owner for a victim’s medical bills only. In other words, Pennsylvania holds a dog owner liable for the medical costs of a victim absent a showing that the owner had any prior knowledge of the dog’s vicious tendencies or propensities anytime a dog attacks or bites someone. It is important to note that, under these circumstances, the only damages a victim may recover are for their medical costs.
Pennsylvania Dog Bite Statutes | Hire an Attorney
Retaining a skilled dog bite attorney as soon as possible is also important because it affords your attorney the opportunity to conduct an early and thorough examination of your case. In conducting our initial investigation, we are meticulous about interviewing all witnesses and people with prior knowledge of the dog’s past vicious propensities. Too many attorneys fail to conduct thorough evaluations at the outset of the case. As a result, they do harm to their client’s cases, as vital physical evidence is lost or destroyed, along with crucial witness testimony that is forgotten or lost due to the witness relocating or becoming hard to find. Our aggressive and uncompromising investigative diligence sets us apart from other attorneys and firms and allows us to swiftly secure lucrative outcomes in even the toughest of cases.
Contact our Pittsburgh dog bite lawyers today to get the compensation you deserve. Call our office to schedule a free consultation.