Dog bite laws vary by state and everyone should understand the details to protect their rights after a bite or injury. Connecticut is a strict-liability state. That means dog owners are liable when their pet bites someone except under specific circumstances.
Understand the liability laws to help you decide when you could file a claim for your injury.
Do you have to prove negligence by the dog owner?
The nature of strict liability laws means that you do not have to prove negligence when you file a claim for a dog bite. The owner is liable even if they were not negligent in their behavior.
Was the dog provoked?
If you approached the dog aggressively or you tormented or teased the animal, the court may find you responsible for your injury. Improper treatment of the animal that provoked the bite could reduce the dog owner’s liability.
Were you trespassing?
The other condition that could absolve the dog owner of liability is if you were on the property illegally. When the victim of a dog bite suffers the injury while trespassing, the dog’s owner may not be responsible for the damages.
Did the owner know the dog was aggressive?
If the dog that bit you has a history of aggression, the court might be less forgiving in the ruling against the owner. That does not mean you have to prove that the owner knew of the dog’s aggression. Even without a history of aggressive behavior, the owner may still be liable.
Protect yourself and your financial interests by seeking restitution if you suffer a dog bite.