Did your dog accidentally bite someone, and you need legal advice? Or have you suffered from a dog bite while walking through a dog park in Minnesota? If so, you may have a claim to make.
You can potentially generate financial damages for your case. However, you will first need to learn more about Minnesota dog bite laws and seek the assistance of a personal injury lawyer. You may benefit from speaking with one of the expert dog bite lawyers at NicoletLaw.com.
However, before you move forward with legal assistance, you should find out how Minnesota dog bite laws impact the amount of money you will receive as compensation for the accident.
Ready to learn all about these critical Minnesota laws? Let’s get started!
Minnesota dog bite law states dogs cannot be provoked
The dog bite law in Minnesota requires that those bitten by a dog should not have started the canine in any way. If you can prove that your dog only bit someone after they hit them or yelled at the pup, you may not have to pay much to compensate for the dog bite.
If you’re seeking compensation, you must prove that you acted peacefully and calmly in the dog’s presence. For instance, you should verify that you never hit the dog with a stick or tried to scare the canine.
Those bitten must “act peaceably”
The dog bite law in Minnesota also states that the injured party must have acted peaceably. If you can prove you were calm and peaceful around the pup, you can likely show that the dog owner is liable for your damages and the dog bite accident. Therefore, you can probably get more compensation for the claim.
“Strict liability” clause for dog owners
The “strict liability” clause in the Minnesota dog bite law means that if the dog owner did not know the canine would attack, bite, or act aggressively, they are still liable for covering the financial damages of the dog bite accident.
Minnesota does not follow the “one bite” rule, which means that dog owners are only liable if they already know of an instance showing the dog’s aggressive nature. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if the canine owner is unaware of the dog’s likelihood of attacking a person.
Compensation due to negligence
You do not necessarily need to prove negligence to get compensation in a dog bite case. However, Minnesota law does allow victims to get compensation after a canine bite due to negligence. Essentially, you would have to prove that the dog owner is negligent with the pet and does not use enough care to control the dog’s behavior.
Yet, if you are liable for your dog’s attack on another person, you can prove that you acted carefully and exercised control over your canine.
The injured person must lawfully enter location where bitten
If you have a case against you for a dog bite, you can prove that you’re not liable for any damages by showing that the injured person did not legally enter the place where injured. Essentially, is the person who got bit someone who trespassed on your property?
If so, you can prove you don’t need to cover medical costs or other fees. You can likely avoid having to settle.
However, if you’re the victim, you must show that the dog bite happened on public property like a dog park or when you were legally present on the dog owner’s property. That way, you will gain compensation for your injuries.
Wrap up on Minnesota dog bite laws
These clauses and statutes in the Minnesota dog bite law will help determine the compensation you can gain after a dog bite injury. With the help of a personal injury lawyer, you can prove that the dog owner is at fault and gain the compensation you deserve.