If you have been bitten by the dog of a friend, it is likely that you were very upset, and that you never expected such an event to occur. The experience was likely to be traumatizing, even. You probably also needed to pay for medical bills and may have lost wages.
If you tried to speak to your friend about the financial damages that you suffered as a result of the incident, you may have been surprised by their reaction. Instead of offering to pay for the costs, they may have been dismissive about the event, or shrugged it off.
They may even have become defensive and tried to argue that you provoked the dog in some way. If you are disappointed in the way that your friend responded to the incident, you may want to consider making a personal injury claim in order to successfully gain back the damages.
A dog owner has certain responsibilities
Dog owners have the responsibility to control their dog to a reasonable degree. They should keep the dog on a leash whenever it is appropriate. Additionally, they are ultimately responsible for the behavior of their dog.
You should do what is right for your situation
It is true that making a legal claim against a friend can cause drama and turmoil. However, it is important to reflect on the way in which the dog bite or attack has impacted your life. You may feel as though you are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This could even lead to a phobia of dogs, as well as avoidance behavior, such as being fearful of going to parks where dogs might be present.
Therefore, you should make sure that you do not forsake your legal rights in order to try and preserve a friendship. The financial damage is only one of the several types of compensation that you may be able to receive by taking legal action.
Under the Connecticut Leash and Dog Bite laws a dog’s owner or keeper is liable for any damage caused by his dog to a person’s body or property, unless the damage was sustained while the person was committing a trespass or other tort, or teasing, abusing, or tormenting the dog. The law presumes that anyone under the age of seven was not committing a trespass or teasing the dog unless the defendant can prove otherwise (CGS § 22-357). If damage has been caused by two or more dogs at the same time, their owners or keepers are jointly and severally liable for the entire damage (CGS § 22-356). Click here to completely view the Connecticut Leash and Dog Bite Law https://www.cga.ct.gov/2004/rpt/2004-R-0308.htm
