A dog bite attack can have devastating physical, financial and emotional consequences for victims. For that reason, personal injury legal remedies are available to help victims with their damages whether the damages they have suffered are physical, financial, emotional or all of them.
North Carolina dog bite laws and protections for victims
North Carolina dog bite laws ensure victims of dog bites are protected when they have been harmed. Dog owners and pet owners are held strictly liable for bites and other injuries caused by their dog if the dog is considered a dangerous dog and the dog injured a victim or destroyed personal property belonging to the victim. The definition of dangerous dog is considered one that has inflicted severe injury on a person or has killed a person without provocation.
There are several exceptions to dog bite laws including if the dog is being used by law enforcement to carry out official law enforcement duties; if the dog is being used in a lawful hunt; if a domestic animal was harmed while the dog was working as a hunting, herding or predator control dog on the property of its owner; or if the individual who was injured was trespassing or committing a tort at the time they were bitten or was tormenting, assaulting or abusing the dog or if the individual was attempting to commit a crime at the time of the bite.
Personal injury legal protections can help victims of dog bites obtain compensation for their damages from the liable dog owner. Due to the potentially extensive nature of dog bite injuries, it is essential for victims to be familiar with these important legal protections.