Dog Bite Statistics

Virginia Laws About Dangerous & Vicious Dogs

Many states have laws regarding dangerous and vicious dogs. In Virginia, a dog is only considered dangerous after its displayed physically aggressive behavior. Simply put, a dog isn’t dangerous until it has caused harm one time. These acts of aggression do not have to always be bites. Any form of physical aggression that causes harm to a person or another animal can be considered dangerous behavior in Virginia.

Virginia code has several requirements and exceptions within this rule.

• The bite must be more severe than a minor scratch or abrasion
• It must not have occurred at a lawful hunting or dog handling event
• The victim must not have been trespassing or committing any other crime on the owner’s property 
• The dog isn’t considered dangerous if the attack involves an animal owned by the same owner
• If the dog is teased or attacked, it is up to a judge to decide between an attack or self defense on the part of the animal 

In Virginia, a dog is not allowed to be labeled as dangerous or vicious based on its breed with no prior history of aggressive behavior. 

In Virginia, once a dog is judged as a dangerous dog, the owner must register it in the Dangerous Dog Registry. Once on the registry the owner is responsible for a few things including:

• Keeping the dog on a leash or in an enclosed yard at all times
• Signs posted on the property warning that there is a dangerous dog on property
• Have liability insurance that covers dog bites up to $100,000
• The dog always has a tag that identifies it as a dangerous dog
• The dog is immediately reported to animal control if it escapes or is rehired

Do You Have a Virginia Dog Bite Lawsuit?

Were you attacked by someone’s dog? Did the dog cause physical injuries that required medical intervention? You might have a dog bite lawsuit in Virginia if the owner of the dogs has broken any of the agreed upon terms of owning a dangerous dog with a history of aggression. Some of these might be:

• No signs on property warning the dog is dangerous 
• The dog is loose on or off property without being animal control being notified 
• The dog doesn’t have a tag identifying it as dangerous 
• The owner doesn’t have the proper liability insurance for their dog
• The dog was rehomed without notification of it’s status on the dangerous dog registry 
• A dog bite injury requires medical care beyond a small abrasion or scratch
• The dog attacked unprovoked and it can be proven that the dog wasn’t acting in self defense and the victim was not unlawfully on the owners property

Types of Injuries Most Common With Dog Bites

Dog bite injuries are frequently put into six levels, with Level 1 being the least severe and Level 6 being the most severe. 

Level 1 bites usually mean that the dog didn’t cause any physical harm to a person, but was trying to scare the person off. In Level 2 bites the dog makes contact with the person’s skin but the skin is not punctured. Attacks from dogs at these levels are not frequently classified as dangerous. Bites at Level 3 and above generally mean that the dog will be put on the dangerous dog registry. A Level 6 bite is a bite that results in the fatality of a person or another animal. 

There are some injuries that are most common with dog bites:

If you’ve suffered a dog bite injury, call Ed Booth now at (757) 304-8424.

Contributory Negligence In Dog Bite Cases

Virginia is a state where contributory negligence can affect a dog bite case drastically. Contributory Negligence is where the victim can not be the least bit responsible for their injury. If the owner of the dog can prove that the victim was even slightly at fault for the dog bite, the courts can dismiss the case in its entirety. While this doctrine no longer exists in many states, it does apply in the State of Virginia, as well as the surrounding Maryland and District of Columbia. Examples of this may be:

• Teasing the dog or egging it on in any way
• Trespassing on private property 
• Ignoring posted signage 
• Committing a crime on private property
• Threatening the dog in a way in which it feels the need to protect itself

What To Do After A Dog Bite?

If a person has experienced a dog bite accident in the state of Virginia, the first step is to contact the local authorities and seek medical attention. The police or animal control will fill out an accident report to document the bite and the surrounding circumstances. Take photos of any injuries that a person may have sustained as well as the physical location of where the bite occurred, as well as getting any witnesses to confirm. If the person chooses not to go to the hospital in an ambulance after the bite, make sure to seek medical treatment as soon as possible to have documentation of injuries and treatments.

After the victim has completed their medical treatment, the first step to filing a claim is to contact an attorney that specializes in dog bite cases. The dog bite  attorney will work to collect the necessary information to prove that the victim was entirely innocent in the attack. In Virginia, the dog bite attorney must prove that there is no contributory negligence on the part of the victim in order for the claim to go further. Once a claim is confirmed the attorney will work to calculate all the damages incurred by the victim and determine the full worth of the claim. 

Having a professional like Attorney Ed Booth by your side can help to ease the stress and duress one may experience after a dog bite. The Booth Law Firm provides due diligence, care and great consideration for all of their clients, in the utmost respectful manner. Call (757) 304-8424.

Ed Booth: Virginia Dog Bite Lawyer

How Much is Your Dog Bite Case Worth?

The value of a dog bite incident in Virginia can vary based on many variables. The main variable is medical expenses. These can range from doctor visits, to any procedures needed, reconstructive surgery, therapies or any adaptive equipment that may be needed after a dog bite incident.  In some cases, this might be relatively simple, such as a course of doctors visits to reset a simple laceration or physical therapy appointments. In other cases of catastrophic bodily harm, this could include long term hospital stays, rehabilitation treatment, assistive devices and other therapies or accommodations. Other damages such as lost wages or loss of future employment directly due to the dog bite can be included in the compensation as well as any other miscellaneous costs that may have been created from the dog bite accident.

Advantages of Hiring a Virginia Dog Bite Lawyer

Attorney Ed Booth will give you a free consultation to provide you with an honest evaluation about your case. Working on a contingency fee, all expenses come out of the settlement – you don’t pay, unless you win. As a recognized dog bite accident law firm in Virginia with multiple honors and recognitions within the state, Ed Booth will help to guide you through the process and will work to get the maximum compensation you deserve for your dog bite accident in the state of Virginia. 

Experienced dog bite accident attorney Ed Booth has served injured victims, obtaining settlements ranging from $440,000 to $3.5 million in vehicle based injury claims.

Why Should You Hire a Dog Bite Attorney?

There are many advantages to hiring a dog bite attorney. One such advantage is the assistance in dealing with the insurance companies and claims made through the insurance companies. An insurance company will have to find all possible moments of fault for both parties, which could work against the victim and their claim. An attorney will be able to help the victim with reasons why they were not the negligent party in the accident. A dog bite attorney will help the injured party get the maximum compensation from the responsible party, insurance, etc.

Guidance from an experienced dog bite lawyer could mean the difference between partial and complete compensation that the injured party might be entitled to.

Contact Ed Booth For Help With Your Dog Bite Case (757) 304-8424

Attorney Ed Booth will give you a free consultation to provide you with an honest evaluation about your case. Working on a contingency fee, all expenses come out of the settlement – you don’t pay, unless you win. As a recognized injury law firm in Virginia with multiple honors and recognitions within the state, Ed Booth will help to guide you through the process and will work to get the maximum compensation you deserve for your dog bite accident in the state of Virginia. 

Experienced dog bite attorney Ed Booth has served injured victims, obtaining settlements ranging from $440,000 to $3.5 million in injury claims.

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