Experienced Reno Dog Bite Lawyers
4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, and up to twenty percent of dog bites result in injuries that require medical attention. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 31,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery in order to repair the damages of dog bites in 2006. Being aware of Nevada’s dog bite laws is essential in getting through the complications that often occur after a bite. The injury attorneys of Reno, Nevada’s Beckett, Yott, McCarty & Spann have decades of experience in the handling and trial of dog bite claims.
Let experienced Reno dog bite injury attorneys Beckett, Yott, McCarty & Spann assess your case in a free consultation.
Nevada is one of sixteen “one-bite states” establishing: a dog that is dangerous or vicious toward people, and a person who kept the dog after learning about the dog to know that it was dangerous or vicious toward people may be held liable for any harm inflicted on another. According to Nevada law, dangerousness and viciousness are two different things. The Nevada statute (NRS 202.500) defines a “dangerous dog” as a dog, without provocation, in two separate instances within 18 months, that behaves menacingly to a degree that would lead a reasonable person to defend him or herself against substantial bodily harm. A dog can then become “vicious” if, without provocation, it kills or inflicts substantial bodily harm upon a human being.
Such behavior must occur when the dog is either off the premises of its owner or keeper, or when the dog is not confined in a cage, pen, or vehicle. In such instances, a dog owner can be not only found criminally liable, but also may be sued by the victim in a personal injury lawsuit.If an owner is found to have failed their duty to maintain a certain degree of safety with their dog, the victim must be compensated for their injuries, as well as any necessary medical treatment occurring as a result of a dog bite.
If you have been injured by a dog bite in Reno, or elsewhere in Nevada, call the personal injury attorneys at Beckett, Yott, McCarty & Spann and schedule a free consultation today.
