Holding Wisconsin Pet Owners Accountable For Dog Bites And Animal Attacks
Dog bites can be severe and even deadly. A dog attack also takes an emotional toll on victims and their families, which can last a lifetime. If a dog recently bit or attacked you or a loved one, the experienced dog bite lawyers of Lindner Law, LLC, in Milwaukee, will protect your rights. For more than 40 years, we have fought for compensation for dog bite victims. We are ready to work for you and handle every aspect of your case.
Determining Liability Is Not Always Easy
While it may seem like a dog bite case is easy to resolve, that’s not necessarily true. Insurance companies may try to blame you for provoking the dog or may make a settlement offer that is far less than what you need to cover the medical expenses, lost wages and other expenses you encounter. You may be entitled to double damages under the law if the offending dog previously bit another person, something the insurance company will never voluntarily tell you about. At Lindner Law, LLC, our attorneys know how and where to obtain records from government agencies in order to uncover prior dog bites. Also, our investigator will contact all of the surrounding neighbors to see if they have knowledge of the dog’s prior bite history.
We also have the resources to investigate every aspect of your case, including:
- Determinations as to whether there was proper restraint of the dog
- Determinations as to whether any other person may be liable for the bite (a “harborer” or “keeper” of the dog, not just the legal “owner”)
- Determining the severity of the injuries and obtaining expert plastic surgical consultations on your behalf
- Refuting insurance company arguments that you were somehow at fault for the dog biting you
We will identify and collect all evidence that supports your claim, and we will challenge any defenses that the dog owner, keeper or harborer tries to argue. For instance, we will know how to respond if the dog owner claims that you trespassed at the time of the attack or provoked the dog. We will always aggressively stand up for you.
What Are Wisconsin’s Dog Bite Laws?
In Wisconsin, the owner is strictly liable for the full amount of damages caused by the dog, subject to the defense of comparative negligence. However, Wisconsin law also recognizes that children under the age of seven are incapable of being guilty of negligence. For those children, the fact that the dog may have been teased or provoked is not a defense.
Wisconsin law states that if the owner knew that the animal had attacked or injured a person in a previous incident to the extent that it left a permanent scar or disfigurement, then the owner is liable for two times the full damages. Further, the law provides statutory penalties up to $500 if the owner had no prior notice of the dog causing previous injury and up to $1,000 if the owner had notice. Dog owners need to be vigilant in order to avoid the damage they can inflict, especially to children. Families need to know that sometimes the family pet can do serious harm.
Case Result:
$300,000 Settlement – Child attacked by dog
Policy limits 1 ½-year-old child mauled by Rottweiler.
Case Result:
$300,000 Settlement – Mom and child attacked by dogs
Policy limits obtained for mom and child attacked by two Rottweilers at a bus stop.
Case Result:
$225,000 Settlement – in Dog Bite Case
Woman bitten on the nose requiring reconstructive surgery.
Case Result:
$112,500 Settlement – Woman attacked by dog on arm
Woman attacked by dog while at tavern, suffers left arm scarring and PTSD.
Case Result:
$77,500 Settlement – Child attacked by dog – face injury
3 ½-year-old bitten in face by German Shepherd while playing in her front yard.
Case Result:
$75,000 Settlement – Woman attacked by dog – leg injury
27-year-old bitten in left upper thigh while jogging; initially offered $4,478.51.
Case Result:
$60,000 Settlement – Man injured in dog chase
Man crashes bicycle and injures knee trying to evade menacing dog.
Case Result:
$53,000 Settlement – Woman attacked by dog – leg injury
Woman bitten in leg by German Shepherd in Oconto County.
Case Result:
$41,700 Settlement – Child attacked by dog – face injury
2 ½-year-old bitten in the left cheek while at restaurant’s outside dining area.
Case Result:
$35,000 Settlement – Woman attacked by dog – leg injury
Unsupervised dog plowed into woman’s right leg causing injury.
Case Result:
$33,750 Settlement – Child attacked by dog
A dog bit a young child while at grandmother’s house, suffers nightmares.
Case Result:
$27,200 Settlement – Male attacked by dog – arm injury
Client suffered bites to his right arm and left hand.
Case Result:
$15,000 settlement attacked by dog – ankle injury
Plaintiff was walking down alleyway, bitten in the right ankle.
Case Result:
Female & male clients attacked by dog
Elderly couple injured while trying to protect their small dog from an attacking Pitbull.
Case Result:
Male client attacked by dog
Plaintiff attacked by dog, counseling needed for psychological injuries and sleep issues.
Case Result:
Female client attacked by dog – hand injury
Oneida County Settlement – neighbor’s dog wandered next door, attacked client’s dog, bit the client in her hand as she was trying to pry the attacking dog off of her dog. In addition to physical injuries, the bloody aftermath caused emotional trauma for client.
Case Result:
Female client attacked by dog – leg injury
Plaintiff was walking up driveway, bitten in leg by neighbor’s dog.
What Are Common Dog Bite Injuries?
Dog-bite facts from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
- 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year.
- Almost one in five of those who are bitten – a total of 885,000 – require medical attention for dog bite-related injuries.
- In 2006, more than 31,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery as a result of being bitten by dogs.
A dog bite injury can range from mild to catastrophic. Doctors can address some dog bite wounds with minimal medical care. In the worst cases, victims can suffer horrific injuries that include:
- Disfigurement, scarring and internal organ damage
- Punctures and infections
- Tendon, ligament and nerve damage
- Eye injuries
- Emotional distress
Dog bites can be traumatic for everyone involved. A large percentage of dog bite cases involve children as well as parents or family members who witnessed the attack. Our legal team will consider all aspects of your case and identify all sources of compensation available to you and your loved ones.
Dog bite cases often lead to significant bills for medical treatment, rehabilitation, surgeries, future operations and nursing care. At Lindner Law, LLC, we can help you manage your medical bills and gather your medical evidence. We can also assist you in paying your medical bills through health insurance or other coverage. Finally, we will work with your medical care providers to prevent bill collectors from harassing you during your recovery.
Our goal will be to fully calculate your losses and pursue a settlement that provides maximum compensation to you. However, we will be ready to fight for you at trial if that’s what it takes.
Speak With Us About Your Case
Regardless of whether you hire our firm to handle your claim, we can help you understand your options so you can make an informed decision about your next steps. Please don’t wait to contact us by calling 414-488-6870 or 888-217-1625 toll-free to set up a free initial consultation.