Eldridge Dog Bite Injury Attorneys

A dog attack can happen anywhere and at any time, whether you are visiting a neighbor, walking through a park, or enjoying a local dog park with your own pet. If you or a loved one has been bitten or attacked by a dog near Eldridge, Iowa, understanding your legal rights is a critical first step. Iowa law provides important protections for dog bite victims, and a knowledgeable Eldridge dog bite attorney can help you pursue the full compensation you deserve.

Dog bites and attacks are not just physically painful. They can lead to serious infections, long-term scarring, emotional trauma, and significant medical expenses. The consequences of a dog attack can follow a victim for years, which is why it is so important to act quickly, seek medical care, and consult with a qualified dog bite attorney who understands Iowa law.

How Iowa's Dog Bite Laws Protect Victims

Iowa has fairly strict laws when it comes to a dog owner's liability after a dog attack. Under Iowa law, the dog owner is strictly liable for injuries and damages their dog causes to others, with limited exceptions. This means that even if the dog owner was completely responsible and the dog bit someone anyway, the owner is still liable for damages. The victim does not have to prove that the owner knew the dog was dangerous or had bitten someone before.

In most circumstances, any dog that attempts to bite, does bite, or attacks a person and causes injury allows the victim to recover compensation for his or her damages. There are a few exceptions to this rule. An owner would not be liable if the injured person had been engaging in an unlawful act that directly contributed to the injuries, such as breaking into someone's home. Another exception applies if the dog suffers from hydrophobia, which is a side effect of rabies. However, even in that situation, the owner could still be held liable if he or she had known or reasonably should have known about the dog's illness.

For more information about how Iowa's dog bite laws work and what they mean for your case, consulting with an experienced attorney is the best place to start.

Does the Breed of Dog Matter in an Iowa Dog Bite Claim?

One of the most common questions dog bite victims ask is whether the breed of dog that attacked them has any impact on their claim. The short answer is that the breed itself does not determine whether you have a valid case. If a dog attacked you, the owner is responsible for the dog and your damages regardless of the breed involved.

That said, breed can come up as a relevant factor in some situations. Several cities in Iowa have declared certain breeds automatically dangerous or vicious, a classification often reserved for dogs with a history of biting or attacking, or who have been trained to fight. Some localities place restrictions on certain breeds or have banned ownership outright. Breeds that may appear on these lists include Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Akitas, Dobermans, and Presa Canarios, also known as Canary dogs. There are also ordinances in certain areas where specific breeds such as Chows and Bulldogs are classified as potentially dangerous.

Owners of dogs classified as vicious may be required to take special precautions, such as maintaining adequate insurance and ensuring the animal is properly confined. While owners of any breed are responsible for injuries and damages their dog inflicts, victims may bring up a failure to follow local ordinances if that failure contributed to the attack. An experienced dog bite attorney can help determine whether local breed-specific laws play a role in strengthening your claim.

Dog Bites at Dog Parks: Who Is Liable?

Dog parks are a great place for owners to take their dogs so they can run free and socialize. But what happens when a fun outing turns into a trip to the emergency room because of a bite at the dog park? Do those who use a dog park automatically assume the risk of being bitten, or does liability still apply?

In general, the same rights a person has outside a dog park apply inside the park as well. One benefit of a dog park is that it is typically optional whether to keep the dog on a leash. This means that even if the city has a leash law, it would not apply in a park where the owner is allowed to let the dog off leash. But that does not mean that if a dog bites someone at the park, no one is responsible.

Owner Liability at a Dog Park

Iowa's dog bite laws hold that the dog owner is strictly liable for his or her dog's actions that cause injuries to others. So even if the dog owner appeared to be acting responsibly and the dog bit someone anyway, the owner is still liable for resulting damages. Negligence of the dog owner can also affect liability in more obvious ways, such as when an owner knowingly allows a dog with a history of dangerous behavior to run loose at a public dog park.

There is one notable exception related to rabies. If the dog has rabies and bites another person, the dog owner is not automatically liable for damages unless the owner knew the dog had rabies and could have prevented the attack. If the dog owner was aware of the illness and still brought the dog to a public park, however, that owner would very likely be held liable.

Park Liability After a Dog Bite Attack

In some cases, the owner of the park itself may also share liability for injuries. This might apply if the park owner was aware that a particular dog owner consistently broke the rules and brought an unsafe dog to the park, yet failed to take any action to address it. This can be a complex situation, and in most cases it is the dog owner alone who is held liable. Victims who believe the park management may also bear some responsibility should speak with an attorney to evaluate all potential parties.

It is also worth noting that if the park is privately owned, it may be easier to pursue a claim than if the park is owned by a local government. Government-owned parks may be immune from liability in certain situations or may require a claimant to meet specific criteria before filing a claim. Understanding these distinctions is another reason why legal guidance is so important after a dog attack at a public space.

Diseases and Infections You Can Contract From a Dog Bite

The physical wounds from a dog bite are often just the beginning. People who are bitten by a dog may also contract diseases from the bite, and some of them can be life-threatening. Seeking prompt medical attention after any dog attack is not just important for wound care. It is critical for identifying and treating potential infections before they become serious.

Rabies

Rabies is the most well-known disease associated with animal bites. It attacks the central nervous system and can result in death unless treated immediately. Symptoms of rabies include fever, headache, and muscle pain. As the disease progresses, a person can develop inflammation in the brain, suffer seizures and paralysis, and may even fall into a coma. Any dog bite victim who is unsure whether the dog had been vaccinated should seek medical evaluation right away.

Staph Infection

Staph bacteria are fairly common, and most people who carry the bacteria never become infected. However, a dog bite can puncture tissue and allow the bacteria to enter deep into the body, causing a serious infection. Symptoms may vary widely, which is why medical attention after any bite is so important. Pain, fever, and severe headache are common symptoms of a staph infection stemming from a dog attack.

Pasteurella Infection

Pasteurella multocida is another common bacterium that may cause infection after an animal or dog bite. It can cause pain and swelling in the area of the bite as well as joint infections. Like other post-bite infections, prompt medical treatment is essential to preventing complications.

Tetanus

Tetanus is an infection that affects the nervous system and can cause painful muscle spasms and contractions, including in the jaw, commonly referred to as lockjaw. Those who have not had a tetanus booster within the recommended timeframe, often every ten years, may be encouraged by their doctors to get a tetanus shot following a dog bite. Medical expenses related to treating these types of infections are among the damages that can be recovered in a dog bite claim.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Dog Bite in Iowa?

Dog bite victims in Iowa have the right to seek compensation for a wide range of damages depending on the details of their case. Whether the attack occurred at a neighbor's property, on a public sidewalk, or at a local dog park, the types of recovery available are similar. Damages that a victim may be entitled to pursue include:

• Medical costs, including emergency care, antibiotics, surgery, and reconstructive surgery if such treatment is necessary
• Future medical expenses for ongoing treatment or rehabilitation
• Lost wages for time missed from work during recovery
• Pain and suffering related to physical injuries sustained in the attack
• Emotional distress, particularly in cases involving severe or traumatic attacks
• Permanent disfigurement, such as scarring from bite wounds

Iowa law even allows recovery of emotional distress damages in certain cases in which someone has witnessed an especially severe attack. When the victim sustains serious physical harm or permanent disfigurement, pursuing these additional damages with the help of an attorney can make a significant difference in the outcome of a claim.

It is important to consult with an attorney to learn whether you have a valid case and which party or parties might be liable for your damages. Legal counsel can help determine the types of compensation to seek based on the specific facts of what happened.

When to Contact Eldridge Dog Bite Lawyers

For the complete list of things you should do if bitten by a dog you can request our FREE book, "Iowa Consumer's Guide to Dog Bites- Secrets to Not Get Bitten by Your Case" which is available to you with no risk or obligation by clicking here or by calling 641-792-3595. 

Why offer a Free Dog Bite Book?  Since 1997, I have been representing injured Iowans, including many dog bite victims from central Iowa and throughout the state.  I have heard too many horror stories about people making costly mistakes, causing them to lose thousands of dollars.  Before you talk to the insurance company you should know your rights and perhaps more importantly your responsibilities.   

If you need immediate assistance, contact us online or call us at (641) 792-3595. If you are not local to us, we will come to you.

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