Blog Post
3 Animal Bite Injury Cases to Consider (Other Than Dog Bite Cases)
Admin • Mar 31, 2020
In the world of personal injury, dog bites are some of the most common cases seen. Not all of the personal injury cases are related to dogs, though. While you cannot blame a person for a wild animal like a bird or deer biting you, any animal a person harbors could fall under the same legal limits as a dog bite injury case.
While dogs receive most of the blame for bites and injuries, cats have injured people as well. While less prone to biting, a cat's claws may create some pretty painful injuries. Flesh could rip open and require stitches. A cat claw to the eye could create permanent visual damage. When a cat attacks, the pet owner may be held liable for the injury.
Farm animals are much larger than dogs and may cause even worse injuries. Cattle, horses, goats, and sheep may not just bite; they may use other attack methods on victims. The animals may charge and ram at an innocent victim. A single kick from a cow or horse could lead to broken bones or internal injuries.
Learn how other animals could cause injuries and ways to move forward with a personal injury case.
1. Cat Bites and Scratches
While dog cases may move more freely through the court system, sometimes cat cases must go through a one bite rule. Basically, if the cat has tried to scratch or bite a person in the past, then the cat's owner could be held liable. If aggressive behavior has not occurred before, then the cat owner may not be liable for the injury.
A look into the past history with the owner and pet will help give more details in the case. For example, a lawyer could interview family, friends, and neighbors for more history on the cat and the animal's possible aggressive nature in the past.
While laws may be in place for dog bites, lawyers may look into other cat bite cases to help prove your case. Just because the injury occurred from an animal besides a dog doesn't mean you should ignore the problem and pay for your own medical expenses.
2. Farm Animal Attacks
As long as you didn't provoke the animal, the farm owner could be held liable for the injury case. One of the more common ways the owners are held liable is when animals escape the farm and cause injuries. Without proper fencing and protections, the farm animals could create havoc in the nearby area.
Not only could a random bystander become injured by a loose farm animal, but the animals could cause car accident injuries if they wander into the middle of the road.
3. Exotic Animal Injuries
In many cases, an exotic animal bite could have an even stronger case than a dog bite. With exotic animals like snakes, tigers, and alligators, the owners of the animals may have obtained the animals illegally. The illegal nature of the ownership could make the owner liable for presenting dangers to anyone who encountered the animal.
Even with private zoo ownership, exotic animals present a lot of danger. Improper safety precautions and dangerous situations could lead to injuries. Every case is different, so if you've been injured by an exotic animal, you should keep track of the exact details.
What type of animal injured you? Where did the injury take place? What happened before or after the animal caused the injury? Have any other incidents occurred before or since your injury took place? All of these elements will impact the way your case moves forward. Providing evidence and details goes a long way to making a case for your injuries.
For more information on animal bites and possible legal representation, contact us at Borbi, Clancy Patrizi, LLC.
We will use our experience to help guide you through the proper steps of a personal injury case.