In fact, it can be difficult to prove that a dog owner was negligent and therefore liable for your injuries unless the animal has previously been classified as “dangerous” or “menacing” due to aggressive behaviour. ... Courts are permitted under provincial law to take into consideration the conduct of the victim in provoking the bite or attack. Dog rushes at, attacks, bites, harasses or chases any person or animal (other than vermin), whether or not any injury is caused to the person or animal as a result of a reckless act or omission by the dog’s owner or another person in charge of the dog at the time of the attack: s.16(1AA) 2 years and/or: 200 penalty units/$22,000 You could go to court under a dog bite statute, or under another liability statute. A restricted breed dog is a breed that is banned from import into Australia because it might be dangerous. Essentially, for a dog bite claim to be successful, your legal team will need to prove: That the owner of the dog owed you a duty of care “There are very few exceptions to this rule. Currently, dog bites or attacks are held to a strict liability standard. What this means is that in some states, the laws as they relate to dog bites don’t have much to do with the other liability laws. It is important to remember that a pet is considered, at law, to be a persons property. The Australian Companion Animal Council Inc. has estimated that more than 100,000 persons in Australia are attacked by dogs each year, with an estimated 12,000–14,000 individuals requiring treatment for dog bite injuries, and around 10% of those being hospitalised each year. “This means dog owners are responsible for the actions of their dogs, no ifs or buts,” he says. Depending on the state where you live, laws vary on how dog bites are handled. Each state and territory has its own laws that apply to dog bite compensation cases. However, dog bite compensation law is complicated. Essentially, this means that the victim of a dog bite or attack only has to prove that they were bitten or attacked by your dog. If you are injured by a dog you can potentially sue the dog owner via their home and contents insurance for failing to properly control their dog. All states have liability laws. The law surrounding dog bite claims can be quite complex so it's best to speak to expert lawyers like ourselves when it comes to the litigation process and the complexities involved in making a claim. Level 3: The dog’s bite penetrates the victim’s skin, but the wound is shallower than the length of a canine tooth. Level 2: The dog actually bites the victim and achieves tooth on skin contact, but causes no puncture wound. Five breeds have been banned but only the American Pit Bull Terrier is known to exist in Victoria. With nearly 90 million pet dogs in the U.S. and about 4.5 million dog bites every year, it’s no surprise that lawsuits over the resulting injuries are also common. Level 4: The dog not only bites, but he clamps down and/or shakes his head too. This means the owner of a dog that bites someone faces liability in a civil lawsuit for the victim’s injuries even if the animal has never bitten before and the owner had no reason to believe the animal was dangerous.. California dog bite law imposes strict liability on owners. There appears to be a growing number of incidents involving dogs or other pets or animals causing damage to property in Queensland. A menacing dog is a dog that has: attacked another animal chased or rushed at a person bitten a person, but not seriously. Not all have dog-specific laws. In Queensland, dog laws are not as strict as in other states and owners will not automatically be liable for your injuries if either you or your dog receives a dog bite. 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