Dog bite laws allow the bitten person to gather damages from the dog’s owner. It may not be easy for a dog bite victim to sue the dog’s owner unless the attack occurred within the precise circumstances under North Carolina law. North Carolina dog bite laws can be complex as state, county, and city laws govern them.
While one owner may be liable for a bite in Raleigh, a dog owner in Fayetteville may not be. A North Carolina dog bite victim may recover compensation under the limited dog bite statutes. These statutes apply to dogs that are over six months old, were running at large at night and have a history of violence.
Negligence
A dog bite victim may receive compensation on the traditional grounds of negligence. If proved to have breached a duty of care, the dog’s owner may be liable for negligence. If the dog is not a registered “dangerous” dog but the owner failed to control them, negligence is probable.
One bite rule
The one-bite rule generally protects the dog owner from liability if it is a first-time bite. After the dog has been involved in a single biting or attack, the owner will be liable for any future incidents.
If you or someone you know is victim to a dog bite, you may need to prepare to file a dog bite liability claim. You’ll want to seek medical treatment for even minor injuries. Liability does not always apply to a dog bite injury case if trespassing, animal abuse or crime was present.
