Archive for February, 2014

Does a Dog Actually Have to Bite Someone for its Owner to be Liable for Injuries?

Posted on: February 26th, 2014       Attorney Thomas Newell

On 2/19/14, Attorney Thomas J. Newell received a telephone call from a concerned dog owner. Someone opened the front door that morning and the family dog ran out into the street and chased a young boy. While the dog never actually bit the child, he did fall and sustained an injury to his arm.

DOG RUNNING

The Allentown dog bite attorney informed the dog owner that he would be responsible for the injuries the boy sustained. Neither the PA Dog Law nor Pennsylvania personal injury law requires an actual bite for legal liability to be assessed to the dog owner.

Attacked by a dog? Attorney Newell has represented dog bite victims in 19 different Pennsylvania Counties. Call him today at 800-980-4842 for a free HOME consultation. Put his 32 years of experience to work for you. Visit his website @ www.NewellLaw.com. Follow him on Twitter:  www.twitter.com/DogAttackLawyer.

 

What Dog Attack Victims Should & Should NOT Do After They’ve Been Bitten

Posted on: February 17th, 2014       Attorney Thomas Newell

On Feb. 15, 2014, I received a call from a Lackawanna County dog bite victim requesting my legal assistance. Unfortunately, I could not accept her dog bite case. This is an ideal time for me to discuss mistakes some dog bite victims make:

#10

  • NEVER listen to the plea/demand of the dog owner to not get medical care and not report the attack to the PA Dog Warden/Police.
  • ALWAYS seek immediate medical care and report the attack ASAP to the dog warden/police.
  • NEVER assume that you won’t be making a legal claim for your medical bills/injuries.
  • ALWAYS take pictures before AND after your ER care just in case they are needed to document your injuries.
  • NEVER act as your own legal counsel.
  • ALWAYS remember that the defense adjuster’s job is to pay you as little as possible – a task made much easier when dealing with an “amateur” lawyer.
  • NEVER assume that just any lawyer can handle your PA dog bite claim with expert legal advocacy.
  • ALWAYS remember the old proverb:  “A jack of all trades is a master of none.”  Hire an attorney who fights for PA dog attack victims every day.

 
Attacked by a dog? Hire a PA dog bite lawyer who has represented dog attack victims in 19 different Pennsylvania Counties. Call Attorney Newell today @ 800-980-4842 for your free HOME consultation. See his website: www.NewellLaw.com and follow him on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/DogAttackLawyer.

How Can a Dog Owner Reduce the Chance Their Dog Will Bite a Child?

Posted on: February 11th, 2014       Attorney Thomas Newell
  1. When your guests arrive with children, put your dog in a closed room and make the room off-limits to all of your visitors.
  2. If you allow your dog to interact with company, strongly consider always having adult supervision.
  3. Never let kids interfere with your dog if the dog is interacting with her puppies.
  4. Children shouldn’t be anywhere near a dog when it is eating.
  5. Children don’t like it when an adult invades their “face space.”  They should be taught the same applies to dogs.
  6. Kids can jump on top off, pull ears and grab the tails of stuffed animals.  That conduct is never acceptable when it involves a family pet.
  7. People hug, dogs don’t!  Most dogs dislike it when a person tries to hug them.
  8. Screaming children running at/near a dog can startle or make the dog nervous – never a good thing!

Attorney Thomas J. Newell represents dog attack victims throughout PA.  Call him today at 800-980-4842 to set up your free HOME consultation.  Visit his website:  www.NewellLaw.com.  Follow in on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/DogAttackLawyer.