April 11, 2013

With the weather beginning to warm across the Delaware Valley with spring, the Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers with Lundy Law say the chances of being bitten or attacked by a dog also dramatically increases. Attorney, Leonard Lundy, recently spoke with CBS-Philadelphia News about this phenomenon and what the law holds an animal’s owner is responsible for.

Lundy points out that each state has a different set of regulations outlining the responsibilities and liabilities of a dog owner. He goes on to explain that if a person suffers a Pennsylvania Dog Bite Injury as the result of an attack, the one bite rule apples. This means the owner of the dog is only responsible for paying the victim’s medical expenses and cannot be required to pay any additional damages. The only exception to this rule is if the bite results in serious injury or death.

If the same attack was to occur in Delaware or New Jersey though, the owner of the responsible animal could be held strictly liable for any damages the animal may have caused.

Lundy explains dog owners should also be aware of laws in the area regarding the need to have a dog leashed or confined, even if on their own property. He goes on to explain that being educated on the laws regarding pet liability is the first step in preventing an injury as a result of an attack.