The liability statute about dog bites in Kentucky holds dog owners responsible for their pets. Contrary to how some other states consider the one bite rule, Kentucky doesn’t, and thus, this can’t affect your case negatively.
You qualify for fair compensation for the injuries caused by the dog. However, you must prove that the dog owner is liable by providing evidence. Once you have this, you can get in touch with the best dog bite lawyer to help with your claim. The following are six types of evidence you need in a dog bite lawsuit:
1) Photographs
A photo tells a thousand words by just looking at it. When the injury of a dog leads to bruised, avulsed, or lacerated skin, take pictures. You need to ensure that the photographs are admissible.
Luckily, a lawyer is responsible for ensuring that the evidence is acceptable by presenting them to court in a pretrial. Also, your lawyer will confirm the size in which the evidence should be submitted to ensure your photos are admissible.
2) Testimony the Dog Bit You
Most are the times that only the victim and the dog are present when the dog bites. So you can admit the dog bit you. However, if the case involves a child, the defense may question the competence of the child’s testament. Yet, a lawyer can handle this in different ways.
If, for example, there lacks other evidence about the bite, the child’s doctor may be called to testify that the damages are from a dog. You should hire a lawyer to advise you on how to approach the issue.
3) Torn and Bloody Clothes
Keep damaged items or torn clothes from the attack in a safe box labeled the date of the attack. Remember not to alter the state of the evidence by washing the clothes or repairing it. Your attorney will use this evidence to show how dangerous and violent the dog was.
4) Medical Bills and Records
Another admissible evidence you need in a dog bite lawsuit is the medical records and bills. Ask your physician to provide copies of the diagnosis, treatment, and other documents proving you were at the hospital for dog bite treatment.
5) A Witness Statement
Talk to people who live near the dog owner’s home to determine whether they have negative experiences with the dog. Neighbors can tell you whether the said dog is aggressive and even give statements detailing their experience with the dog.
Also, if there was anyone present at the time of the bite that could vouch for you about the dog attacking you, ask for a written statement with contact information from them.
6) Show Liability
If you can prove that the owner of the dog knows and should have known the aggressive tendencies of their dog yet did nothing to prevent the attack, you prove liability. Dog owners should take steps to prevent their dog from harming anyone, following observation of how it behaves.
If a dog in Kentucky bites you when you’re not doing anything illegal or in someone’s compound illegally, you might want compensation. However, getting compensated is not easy because dog bite cases are complicated. For example, even with evidence the dog bit you; the insurance company might refuse to compensate you or may pay a low settlement. But, when you hire a Lexington dog bite lawyer, you will turn things around and get considerable compensation.
