Animal Bite Lawyers in Hartford

Helping Victims & Their Families Seek Fair Compensation

Dog bites are probably the most common claim for injuries caused by animals. These injuries happen more than they should, often to children. Injuries from these bites can cause infection or permanent scarring, and some victims may have to undergo a painful series of vaccinations against rabies.

If you or a loved one were the target of an animal attack, our Hartford animal bite attorneys may be able to help. Call us at (860) 245-2412 to schedule a free initial consultation.

What Is the Animal’s Owner Liable For?

You often don’t need evidence of prior bad behavior by a dog to seek compensation for a dog attack in Hartford, Connecticut. In fact, Connecticut has a law on the books that imposes a form of strict liability upon the owner or keeper of the dog. The owner or keeper is responsible for injury caused by the dog regardless of whether or not there was any prior evidence that the dog had a tendency to bite*.

The owner or keeper is liable as long as the victim was not committing a trespass, or tort, and was not teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog. The statute, Section 22-357, also applies to a variety of other injuries or damage inflicted by dogs and is not necessarily limited to biting.

It is important to note, Connecticut’s strict liability statute for injuries caused by dogs may not apply in all situations. There may be times when a negligence claim is made also, or instead. Sometimes, a landlord may have been negligent in allowing a dangerous dog to roam his premises, even if it involves a dog owned by someone else. Depending upon the facts, we may be able to help you by pursuing a negligence claim in such situations.