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Strict Liability After a Dog Bite in Iowa (Part A)

A dog bite in Iowa can lead to severe injuries and psychological trauma that can haunt an individual for his or her entire life. If you've been injured, a Des Moines dog attack lawyer who understands how Iowa dog bite laws apply to your case may be able to help.

Strict Liability in Iowa Dog Bite Laws

Iowa dog bite laws employ a regulation known as "strict liability." This means that the owner of a dog is responsible for any attack, bite or aggression the dog commits against other animals and people. While some other states follow a "one bite rule" - which means that no action can be taken against the owner of a dog who has bitten someone if no one has ever filed a complaint against the dog - it doesn't matter in Iowa if the dog has never displayed aggression or violence in the past.

The only exception to this rule is if the victim of a dog bite in Iowa was committing a crime or engaging in an illegal activity that directly contributed to the attack that gave rise to injury. For instance, if you broke into someone's house and were attempting to rob the house of belongings or commit other malicious, illegal acts, and the family dog attacked you, you wouldn't have grounds to file a dog bite claim against the owner because your illegal activity directly contributed to the dog's instinct to attack you.

However, most dog attacks don't take place under such extenuating circumstances. Children, postmen and delivery drivers are at the highest risk for dog attacks - not robbers and criminals, although many keep dogs for personal protection.

If you've been the victim of a dog bite in Iowa, contact a Des Moines dog attack lawyer who can defend your rights and seek justice against the owner of the animal that attacked you by seeing that Iowa dog attack laws are enforced.

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