Man’s best friend isn’t always friendly, and aside from car accident claims, dog bite injuries are some of the most common injuries personal injury lawyers deal with on a regular basis. In fact, animal bites or related injuries account for about one in three homeowners’ insurance claims in Minnesota every year. Not only has the amount of claims that occur risen in the past decade, but claim values have increased more than 90 percent since 2003.
So if you or a family member have been bitten or injured by a dog, you owe it to yourself to file a personal injury claim. And if you want to maximize that claim and get compensation for all aspects of your injury, you’ll want to contact an injury firm like Hey Workers. Here’s some more information about dog bite claims in Minnesota, and how we maximize awards for our clients.
Minnesota Personal Injuries Involving Animals
Bites are the most common injuries people suffer when dogs cause injuries, but they aren’t the only type of injury. Aside from punctures and lacerations, we’ve also assisted claims for individuals who suffered broken bones or head injuries as a result of being knocked over by the animal.
Once physical injuries are addressed, a good lawyer will also consider psychological trauma that has occurred. Sometimes animal attack victims suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or other psychological impairments that require treatment or therapy. All of these costs need to be considered when pursuing a dog bite claim in Minnesota.
Minnesota is pretty cut and dry when it comes to proving a dog bite injury occurred. Fault and negligence do not need to be proved in order for a victim to earn compensation. In most cases, the victim’s testimony and the existence of physical injuries are all that are needed in order to show that a party is liable for their dog’s actions. If there is question as to whether or not the bite was caused by a dog or if a person is faking an injury, medical testing can confirm what took place.
Dog Bite Defenses and Winning Compensation
As you can see, if a dog bite exists, there is a pretty clear path to compensation, but that doesn’t mean the other person’s homeowner’s insurance is going to readily accept the claim. They may be more willing to pay out for medical expenses related to the injury, but they are going to want clear and definitive evidence if they are going to give you money for things like pain, suffering and PTSD. The best way to prove these factors exist is with a personal injury lawyer who can put together a clear and convincing case.
Aside from relying on medical bills as a basis for their cases, personal injury lawyers have access to medical experts who can testify on your behalf about the extent of your injuries and the likelihood of unseen mental trauma. An insurance company will likely fight any PTSD claims, so you’re going to want a good legal team in your corner.
Another way in which insurance companies and dog owners fight back is by citing to provocation defense. This essentially means that the victim acted in such a way to elicit the violent response from the dog. That being said, something as simple as a child grabbing a dog’s toy isn’t enough of a provocation to have the injury claim dismissed.
Under Minnesota law, for provocation to exist, a person must have acted in such a manner that the animal had no other choice but to react violently. If you were hitting the dog with a belt, you wouldn’t be able to seek an injury claim against its owner if the dog bit you, but actions like fast movements, verbal teasing or grabbing their food dish are not considered actions that amount to a valid provocation defense.
As you can see, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to dog bite injuries. If you’ve been injured by a dog or another animal in Minnesota, be sure to maximize your compensation by calling Hey Workers.
