What Compensation Are You Entitled To If You Received A Dog Bite At Work?
Posted on: 17 June 2020
Dogs tend to be friendly and enjoy meeting new people and having a fun encounter. Other dogs tend to be shyer or reserved or even have a reputation for being aggressive. In some cases, those coming onto other's properties could be placed at risk for a dog bite that could end up being serious enough to prevent them from working or enjoying life in their normal manner. Damages you could receive from getting bitten include medical treatment, pain and suffering, and loss of income due to not being able to work.
What happens if you were bitten by a dog while at work? How can you receive compensation for being injured while simply doing your job? You could be entitled to worker's compensation from either the dog owner or the property owner. Here is more information on what you need to prove to get worker's compensation in the event of a dog bite at work.
Dog Owner Liability
The dog owner can be sued under a third-party liability suit if their dog is responsible for your injuries. A dog owner is responsible for controlling their dog by keeping it on a leash while walking down the street. They also need to be able to control the dog by using voice commands if they are outside, or if the dog has gotten out of their own yard. If they have traveled to a neighbor's yard and then became aggressive and bit you while you were working there, the dog owner may be sued for damages.
Also, if the dog owner knew their dog was aggressive or had a history of aggression, this can help you prove your case. In many states, aggressive dog owners need to register their dog and carry insurance in the event their dog is aggressive toward others and causes damages.
Property Owner Liability
The property owner could also have some liability in the event that an aggressive dog came onto their property and bit you causing injuries. A property owner has a responsibility to protect their property and those on it, even while doing work there, against any animal entering the space and causing damage.
This could be due to a faulty fence that allowed the dog to gain access to the property or if the front door was left open and a dog came into the home. If the property owner owned the dog, they will have liability as the dog owner as well as the liability of protecting those who are working on their property.
For more information, reach out to a personal injury attorney like one at The Harris Law Firm.
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