Henderson Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog owners are responsible for controlling their animals and ensuring others’ safety. Failing to comply can land an owner in court facing a lawsuit for negligence under Nevada law and the Municipal Code of Henderson.

If you have been attacked and bitten by someone’s dog, our dedicated personal injury attorneys could help you. A Henderson dog bite lawyer could assess what happened and determine if you are eligible for compensation. If we take your case, you do not pay unless we win.

Understanding Dog Bite Laws

Nevada is a one bite state. This means if someone’s dog bites a person, the dog will be considered dangerous or vicious. However, an owner can still be liable if negligence is involved, even if their dog has never bitten before the incident.

A dog in Nevada is considered dangerous if it has threatened people twice in 18 months without provocation and while roaming free. Owners can legally keep dangerous dogs, but by Nevada law, they need to:

• Spay, neuter, and microchip the dog
• Muzzle and leash the dog when it is in public
• Purchase a liability policy in case the dog bites
• Secure a permit for the dog through an Animal Regulation Officer
• Securely contain the dog on the owner’s private property and post warning signs that a dangerous dog is on the premises

When a dog owner fails to comply with legal requirements, a Henderson dog bite attorney could prove negligence by finding evidence of unreasonable behavior that foreseeably led to a dog biting someone. When a dog is dangerous and continues menacing people, it can be ruled as vicious. Unlike dangerous dogs, it is illegal to own a vicious dog in Nevada, and if one attacks a person, criminal penalties as well as civil ones can result.

Municipal Codes

The laws in Henderson strengthen a person’s ability to file a lawsuit against a negligent dog owner. Henderson Municipal Code § 7.50.020 requires all dog attacks to be reported to the City of Henderson animal control bureau within 48 hours of the incident. This code collects data on the dog and owner, making it easier to identify them and hold the owner responsible for their dog’s conduct.

Negligence Per Se

Even if a dog has never bitten anybody, when the owner violates state or local animal control laws, they may be liable anyway under the doctrine of negligence per se. This premise relies on the idea that negligence occurs when an owner fails to take the same precautions a reasonable person would take, and someone is injured because of it.

For example, any dog—dangerous or not—that is unleashed and bites a pedestrian on a public street is the cause of a negligence per se action. A seasoned Henderson dog attack lawyer could help determine whether negligence is involved in a specific case and lay out the legal options.

Call a Henderson Dog Bite Attorney on Irresponsible Dog Owners

In Henderson, an owner is not liable if a dog has never been aggressive before the first bite but is liable if they are not following state and local laws and ordinances. Untangling this distinction is what our attorneys do.

The experienced legal professionals at our firm understand the physical, emotional, and financial trauma you are suffering when someone’s dog bites you unprovoked. You deserve compensation for your medical care, emotional distress, lost wages, and the loss of enjoyment of life. Call today to schedule a free consultation. If our Henderson dog bite lawyer does not win your case, you owe us nothing.