The vast majority of animal bite cases in Arizona involve dog attack injuries. However, there are a lot of different kinds of animals in the world and a lot of them have teeth, fangs, claws, hooves and other dangerous body parts that they can hurt you with. So what happens if you are injured by one of a non-canine animal?
What are the rules for dog bites?
First of all, it is important to note that the majority of states have laws on the books governing dog attacks. This is likely because dogs tend to be more aggressive, more common and more capable of hurting us. Some states have a “one-bite” rule where the dog can bite at least one person before the owner begins to be liable.
Other states have strict liability rules that apply to the first bite — in other words, the dog owner will be strictly liable and responsible for any injuries and/or damages that his or her dog causes to another person body or property. Nevertheless, in some situations, if the dog owner shows that the injured party provoked the animal or was trespassing, the dog owner will probably not be liable.
What are the rules for horse and other domestic animal attacks?
Fortunately, horses do not usually go around biting people, but they do have hooves, and a kick from a horse can cause serious and fatal injuries. While most states have not enacted laws governing horse kicks or other types of domestic animal attacks, standard negligence rules will usually apply. In other words, if the horse owner’s negligence led to an individual being kicked and seriously injured — or if a cat owner’s negligence led to an individual being scratched and blinded — then the owner could be liable in certain cases.
Other factors also come into play in non-canine animal attack cases. For example, wild animal owners are typically subjected to strict liability laws similar to dog owners — i.e., if a pet tiger harms a next-door neighbor, the tiger owner may be strictly liable like a dog owner would. By evaluating the extent of injuries relating to animal bites, and the circumstances surrounding the attack, it will reveal whether a viable claim for damages exists. It will also reveal best strategy for pursuing financial restitution.
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