Kansas Injury Law

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Kansas Personal Injury

Verdicts and Settlements

Dog Owner Liability

Kansas Dog Bite Lawyers

There are several Kansas dog bite laws that make the owner of the dog liable for any personal injury or damage it causes to an individual.

Many states have dog bite statues that make the owner legally responsible for bites and/or injuries. These laws make the dog owners liable without proving fault on the owner’s behalf. To win a case under this statute, the dog bite victim must prove that he or she was indeed injured by a dog; the defendant is the owner; the victim did not provoke the attack; and the victim had a right to be present at the property where the injury was sustained.

The One-Bite Rule states that an owner or keeper is liable for the dog bite or injury only if the owner/keeper knew that the dog was likely to cause injury. This statute comes into effect if the state does not have a dog bite statute or if it doesn’t apply. (Depending on the state, the dog bite statute may only cover dog injuries or dog bites, but not both.) This one-bite statute does not mean that each dog is entitled to one “free” bite before its owner can know that it has a dangerous tendency. An owner can be aware of the dog’s risk of attacking by other signs such as growing or snapping. Factors that hold up in court to prove the owner knew that the dog was dangerous include:

• Previous bites
• Growling, barking or snapping at strangers
• Jumping on people
• Frightening/Chasing people
• Fighting with other dogs or receiving fight training
• Neighborhood complaints about the dog
• Dog’s breed (especially pitbulls and rottweilers, which in some states are legally defined as dangerous)
• Beware of dog signs

The dog owner’s negligence is the third reason an owner can become liable. If an injury is likely to occur and the owner shows carelessness in preventing this injury, he or she can be held accountable. In defining negligence, it varies depending on each situation. An owner, however, can be deemed negligent if a dog bite or injury occurs after breaking a law. For instance, if the owner lets the dog run free and it injures someone, the owner becomes liable if the community has a leash law.

The above laws protect Kansas dog bite victims. These were created so that those who choose to own dogs may be held accountable for the damage the animal may cause. If you or a loved one has experienced a dog bite or injury, contact a Kansas dog bite attorney to get the compensation you deserve.