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Make sure you have a qualified dog bite injury attorney on your side to counter these arguments.

3 Arguments That Could Be Used Against You in a Dog Bite CaseHave you been bitten by a dog? Dog bites have the potential to cause serious injuries as well as psychological trauma. The good news is, under most circumstances dog owners or handlers are strictly liable for any harm caused by their pet. It does not matter if the dog had a history of biting or was otherwise known it be dangerous—in most cases, if it bites, the owner is liable.

However, there are a few exceptions to this standard, as well as some other arguments that dog owners may try to use against you in a dog bite injury case in order to deny or reduce your compensation:

You Provoked the Injury

If a dog owner or handler can show that your behavior or actions—rather than their own negligence—led to the bite, they are not liable for your injuries. For example, if you hit or teased a dog and it bit you, this would be considered provocation for the dog to attack. However, sometimes provocation is not so obvious. There have been cases where accidentally stepping on a dog’s tail or intervening in a dog fight was considered provocation for a bite.

You Knowingly Accepted the Risk of Injury

Another way an owner may avoid liability for a dog bite is by arguing that the victim knowingly and voluntarily took on the risk of being bitten. For example, veterinarians, groomers, dog walkers, and other professionals voluntarily take on risk whenever they interact with dogs for their work. If they get bitten, it is typically not possible to hold the owner liable. After all, a professional who has accepted a dog as a client is now in essence the handler or controller of that dog—making them the person responsible for the dog’s actions while under their control.

Your Injuries Are Not As Severe As You Say

If it is not possible to argue that you caused your own injury, dog owners will probably still resist your claim by trying to reduce the amount of compensation they owe you. They might bring in their own medical experts to argue that your injuries are not a serious or debilitating as you claim, which would result in your compensation for pain and suffering being dramatically reduced.

How to Defend Yourself

The best way to defend yourself against any objections from a dog owner is to make sure you have a dog bite injury attorney like Fernando D. Vargas working on your behalf as early in the case as possible. Attorney Vargas will gather evidence to prove exactly how and why the attack took place and show how serious and damaging your injuries really are. This will position him to negotiate effectively for a fair settlement that covers your pain and suffering.