Nebraska Dog Bite Injuries

Dog bites can be quite serious, causing severe injuries, lasting trauma, and even death. Sadly, young children are more often victims than anyone else. In fact, the only dog bite fatalities that have occurred in the past several decades in the state of Nebraska have been young children. An aggressive dog is more likely to attack an individual it perceives as smaller and children may not understand how to safely approach an animal.

Are Some Breeds More Dangerous than Others?

While most pet owners are responsible individuals and keep their animals humanely restrained, some do not realize the risk their animals pose. Also, some pet owners do not know that some dog breeds are more likely to initiate an unexpected attack.

In June 2008, the town of Osceola, Nebraska passed a ban on viscous dog breeds due to an increased risk of injury. The breeds are:

• American pit bull terriers
• Staffordshire bull terriers
• American Staffordshire terriers
• Chows
• Dobermans
• Rottweilers
• American bandogge mastiffs
• Neapolitan mastiffs

Omaha, Nebraska has also recently changed its laws governing dogs. Owners of pit bulls and other dangerous breeds are not required to carry insurance.

Who Is Responsible?

Some states have a "one-bite" rule, meaning that owners are not held liable for injuries caused by their dog's first attack if the animal has never bitten anyone or displayed prior dangerous behavior. However, dog owners in Nebraska are held liable for any damages caused by their animal to anyone other than trespassers, unless it can be proven that the victim purposely provoked the dog.

Steps to Take if Bitten

Your first priority after a dog attack is to seek medical attention, because dog bites can be severely damaging. Medical attention is also important because the animal could be suffering from a number of contagious diseases, such as rabies. Recommended steps to take after being bitten are:

• Seek medical attention and inform the doctor that your injury was caused by a dog bite so they can watch for signs of infection.
• Inform the owner of the dog that you have been bitten.
• Photograph your injuries and the dog if possible, for documentation purposes (especially if you don't know the dog owner's identity).
• Report the attack to the proper authorities (the police and the local humane society).

An Attorney Can Help!

After receiving medical care, contact the Nebraska personal injury attorneys at Dyer Law, PC. Our experienced attorneys can help you obtain the benefits you deserve. Though Nebraska's legal statutes are quite clear on owner responsibility for dog bites, the law is not as clear regarding homeowner insurance coverage for attacks. With the exception of Omaha, dog owners are not required to purchase liability coverage, and some do not have any coverage at all. Most homeowner's insurance will cover dog bite clams, but only up to the limited coverage purchased by the owner. You could be left to pay your or your child's medical bills.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a dog attack, contact the Nebraska dog bite attorneys at Dyer Law, PC today by calling 1-888-393-7529, or you can contact us online.