Dog bites are not only painful but can also lead to significant psychological trauma and distress. Understanding your rights as a victim is crucial, especially when it comes to seeking compensation for your injuries. At Cantor Injury Law Firm, we want to ensure that you are well-informed about the laws concerning dog bites in Connecticut and what steps you should take if you find yourself in this unfortunate situation.

Connecticut Dog Bite Laws

Connecticut follows a mixed approach regarding dog bite incidents, combining strict liability and possible negligence standards. Here are the key points you need to know:

  1. Strict Liability: C.G.S. s 22-357 states that a dog owner is liable for any damage caused by his/her dog to a person’s body or property unless the victim was trespassing, teasing, or tormenting the dog. This means the dog owner is responsible for injuries by his/her dog, regardless of fault or negligence.  
  2. Not Limited To Bites: Connecticut’s dog bite statute is not limited to bites. It also covers other damage caused by dogs. The statute imposes strict liability on the owner or keeper of a dog for any damage caused to a person’s body or property, regardless of that owner or keeper’s fault or negligence. This includes damages caused by a dog’s behavior that lead to harm
  3. Defenses: Insurance companies will always blame the victim or argue the value of a victim’s case is less than it actually is. This is true even when liability is clear. They will argue the victim’s actions caused the dog to bite and/or claim the victim is not as hurt as badly as she/he is hurt.  The last defense tactic insurance companies use is to delay, delay, delay. Adjusters will repeatedly request documentation or information – often that documentation is not relevant to the claim. By prolonging the process, the insurance companies hope to wear a victim down by accepting a settlement figure far lower than the case is worth.
  4. The right lawyer will fight the insurance company and maximize your recovery. Insurance companies have no interest in paying a victim what his/her case is worth. Instead, it is their job to resolve the claim for as little money as possible. A lawyer, on the other hand, has a fiduciary duty to advocate for you and take action that is in your best interest. She/he will work to protect your rights and maximize your recovery. 

To explore more details on Connecticut’s dog bite laws, you can visit the Connecticut General Assembly’s website www.cga.ct.gov