DOG BITE LAWYER MINNESOTA – BIT BY DOG AT FRIEND’S HOUSE ATTORNEYS
A dog bite can happen anywhere, but most often occurs in the home where the dog lives. When you call our office regarding a Minnesota dog bite, an experienced lawyer will advise you of your rights. Most importantly, we make sure you get the compensation you are entitled to.
In one recent case, our attorney represented a five year-old boy bit in the face by a dog. The dog owner’s daughter and the boy’s older sister were friends from school. It was the night of the high school prom, and several families had been invited to the dog owner’s home to take photographs before the dinner and dance.
CHILD BIT BY DOG
When the young boy’s family arrived at the dog owner’s home, they were invited inside as the girls got ready. Apparently, the friend’s mother had two dogs in the house. However, the dog owner confined the dogs to a bedroom as the girls got ready. The door to the room with the dogs was shut, so that they would not get in the way. Eventually, the group moved outside to take the pictures. However, our client stayed in the house with another young neighbor boy, the owner’s grandson. At that point, the dogs were still confined to a room in the house.
One of the dogs, “Callie” began scratching at the bedroom door to get out. The dog owner’s grandson decided to open the door to tell Callie to stop scratching. Unfortunately, Callie got out of the room. Callie ran into the living room and jumped onto the couch next to where our five year-old client was sitting. It then bit him in the face. This child now has scarring on his face because of the dog bite at a friend’s house. Our dog bite lawyers were retained to get compensation for the medical bills, plastic surgery and whatever else was needed.
MN DOG BITE LAW
Minnesota dog bite statute, Minn. Stat. § 347.22, provides in pertinent part:
If a dog, without provocation, attacks or injures any person who is acting peaceably in any place where the person may lawfully be, the owner of the dog is liable.
When its elements are established, this statute imposes absolute liability upon the dog owner. Seim v. Garavalia, 306 N.W.2d 806, 812 (Minn. 1981). Neither common-law affirmative defenses nor statutory comparative fault are available to a dog owner. It makes no difference that the dog owner may have used reasonable care; negligence is irrelevant.
HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE FOR DOG BITE
The dog owner and her attorney suggested three potential defenses they may raise at trial:
- They claimed comparative fault on the part of our client’s parents for leaving him in the house. However, the clear language of the statute does not allow this as a defense. Further, they didn’t say how our five year-old did anything wrong.
- They claimed a provocation defense because our client “put his face too close to Callie.” The police report states that the other boy told the officer that after Callie jumped on the couch, our client leaned down and was near an area dogs wouldn’t like. However, there are many cases saying this does not rise to the level of provocation. Our top dog bite lawyer ultimately prevailed on this issue on summary judgment. Although, it was tempting to watch them tell a jury how a very cute five year-old boy sitting peacefully on a couch is at fault for having his face too close to the dog that jumped up next to him and then bit him.
- They also indicated that the friend dog owner is not negligent because she did not know that our client stayed in the house when everyone else went outside. We were not sure if this was a trespass defense against the five year-old boy who was invited into the house. However, neither he nor his parents were ever told he had to leave. The court dismissed that defense as well.
TOP RATED DOG BITE HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE LAWYERS MN
In most cases when a person suffers a dog bite at a friend’s house or because of a friend’s dog, the dog owner will have homeowners insurance. One benefit of homeowners insurance is that it will pay for a dog bite. No one wants to sue their friend, but a dog bite can be serious. Most of the time, (especially with children) the bite is to the face. It will often leave a scar that may need future treatment or will affect the person for the rest of their life. The dog owner should be happy and relieved to compensate their friend in any way possible.
If you or a family member have been bitten or attacked by a friend’s dog please call us and speak with a lawyer for a free consultation. Our best dog bite attorneys have more than 25 years’ experience. We have successfully represented hundreds of people who have been bitten or attacked by a dog throughout Minnesota. We have offices where you can discuss your dog bite case with a lawyer in Minneapolis, Woodbury, Edina, and St. Louis Park. A top dog bite lawyer will also meet you at your home in Maple Grove, Plymouth, Chaska, Chanhassen, Rogers, Hopkins, Apple Valley, and Lakeville. Also, St. Paul, Roseville, Forest Lake, and other cities throughout Minnesota.