Georgia Dog Owners Beware
Most experienced injury lawyers agree that the owner of a chimpanzee shot and killed by police after it attacked a 55-year-old woman last week will likely be named in a lawsuit. The state could also be held liable in the incident because it should have known the animal was a risk to the public. The victim of the attack remains in critical condition at the Cleveland Clinic as doctors evaluate her injuries, according the the Hartford Courant.
In Georgia, a pet owner is held strictly liable for injuries caused by vicious wild animals belonging to her, because such animals are considered inherently dangerous. Candler v. Smith, 50 Ga.App. 667 (1935). A dog, as a matter of law, is not subject to the rules governing wild animals. Harper v. Robinson, 263 Ga. App. 727(1) (2003).
However, Georgia law provides for liability to pet owners who "knew or should have known of the [vicious] propensities." OCGA Code Section 51-2-7. While the commonly quoted "one bite rule", i.e., every dog is entitled to its first bite, illustrates one way in which an owner would be held liable, it is not the only way. For instance, even if a dog has never attacked or bitten someone before, the dog's owner could be liable for damage caused by the dog if "the animal was required to be at heel or on a leash by an ordinance of a city [or] county and the animal was at the time of the occurrence not at heel or on a leash." Id.
Dog bites can be very painful and, in some cases, they can inflict long-lasting emotional impacts on victims. Care should be taken by all responsible dog owners to ensure that their dogs are not left in a position to attack and hurt innocent victims.
If you have been seriously injured due to a dog bite attack and would like to discuss your case with one of our attorneys in complete confidence, please contact us. We are experienced Georgia injury lawyers who have successfully handled a number of serious dog bite cases. We are here to help.
