10 Facts About Dog Bites
- A landlord can be responsible if the tenant’s dog bites someone. The landlord would have to know that the dog could have been a problem.
- You should keep your dog on a leash when walking him/her because most towns/city/counties have leash laws.
- Oregon has what is known as a “one bite rule” for dog bites. Some interpret this to mean your dog can bite one time and the owner won’t be legally responsible for injuries. This is not necessarily accurate. If the owner knows or should know their dog might bite someone, they can be responsible for injuries even though the dog has not bitten before.
- Statistically, the Pit Bull is the most aggressive breed in Oregon in terms of reported bite incidents.
- Homeowner’s insurance and renter’s insurance covers dog bite injuries.
- It’s best to supervise your child if they are meeting a new dog. If the dog is “provoked” and bites, the owner may not be responsible for any injury.
- Don’t disturb a sleeping dog.
- Always wait for a dog to come to you to be petted.
- Don’t approach or pet a dog you don’t know.
- Most people are bitten by a dog they know.
There are many good reasons to hire a lawyer to handle a dog bite claim. One of the best reasons is that less than 1% of dog bite victims get compensated. Dogs bite at least 4.7 million Americans per year, but insurance companies pay only 15,000 to 16,000 victims.
