A responsible pet owner is generally a person who understands and meets the needs of their animal, trains their pet to act appropriately when around others, and who uses appropriate control devices, such as leashes, fences and collars, to ensure that their pets cannot annoy or harm others whether they are in their homes or out in public. Incidents happen, though, where Worcester residents come into contact with domestic animals that are not properly under the control of their owners. When animals attack, it is often the fault of their owner for allowing the incident occur.
From time to time, however, a victim’s actions may play a role in the instigation of an attack. Provoking or harassing an animal into action may suggest that a victim prompted the animal to attack. A negligent pet owner may pose this defense to a victim’s allegations if the victim attempts to sue for their animal attack-related losses.
As with other forms of personal injury cases, animal bite and attack cases are driven by the facts present in each situation. A court would have to consider the evidence and testimony of the victim and the defendant and decide what role, if any, the victim’s actions played in the incident. Owners of dangerous animals who know that their pets have vicious tendencies may not be able to use this defense in their cases where they took no precautions to protect others from their pets.
The victim of an animal attack should not have to shoulder the burden of their legal case alone. Personal injury attorneys can help them sort out the facts of their incidents and determine the best courses of action for them to pursue to help them get back what they lost from their attacks.