Attorney Joe Paulozzi has been my “go-to” counsel for the last couple decades any time I need legal advice or representation. He has always gone above and beyond and delivered his services in a timely and efficient manner. I always refer my friends and acquaintances to Joe because I know he will faithfully discharge his duties as an Attorney and Counselor at Law to the very best of his knowledge and ability.
Dogs are arguably the most popular pets in the United States. While most of them are perfectly safe, there are times when dogs bite and severely injure people. At Paulozzi LPA, our team thoroughly understands these incidents and is ready to help if you or a loved one have been bitten and injured by a dog. Our dog bite injury attorneys will investigate what happened and work to secure any compensation you are entitled to.
Dogs have very powerful jaws that can cause extensive damage, including severed veins, arteries, ligaments, and muscles. They can also cause broken bones or even amputations (usually of the fingers). Each year in the United States, there are approximately 4.5 million dog bites. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that approximately 20% of all dog bite victims require medical assistance.
Pennsylvania has what is called a “strict liability” statute in place regarding dog bite injuries. This means that dog owners are responsible for most dog bite injuries, even if that dog does not have a history of aggression or if the owner not negligent. In Pennsylvania, the dog owner must pay all of the victim’s medical bills for injuries caused by a dog bite.
In order to recover anything other than medical expenses for your injuries, you will need to pursue compensation from the dog owner through a personal injury lawsuit. However, this will only be successful in cases when the dog had “unmistakably vicious tendencies,” and the owner failed to control it.
When we look at the injuries listed above, we see only those caused by bites. However, during a dog bite attack, there may be injuries that are not directly caused by the bite. In fact, a dog does not even have to bite somebody to cause them harm. Large dogs could knock somebody over, or somebody could trip and fall out of fear that a dog is going to bite them. This could lead to serious injuries such as broken bones, head trauma, lacerations, and more.
Pennsylvania’s strict liability dog bite law will not cover these injuries. If you or somebody you care about has sustained an injury caused by a dog, but not caused by a dog bite, you may have to file a personal injury lawsuit in order to recover compensation.
If you or somebody you care about has been bitten and injured by a dog, you should seek legal assistance as soon as possible. You could be entitled to compensation, and the team at Paulozzi LPA is ready to help. Our goal is to secure coverage for:
When you need a dog bite injury attorney in Youngstown, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 888-710-0040.
