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Dog bites can cause serious physical injuries, emotional trauma, and lasting scars, especially for children and vulnerable individuals. If a dog has bitten you or a loved one, our Knoxville dog bite lawyer at Dennis Injury Law could help.
Our personal injury attorney understands the state’s dog bite laws and could protect your rights. We could investigate the incident, establish liability, and pursue compensation from the negligent dog owner.
Tennessee has more complicated dog bite laws than many states. State laws combine legal concepts and causes of action, making it critical to have a dog bite attorney in Knoxville assess your liability.
First, the state has strict liability laws for dog bites, meaning dog owners can be held responsible for injuries their animals cause, even if the dog has never shown aggression before. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 44-8-413, if a dog bites someone who is lawfully on public or private property, the owner is liable for the resulting damages. This law eliminates the need to prove the owner knew their dog was dangerous, as the bite itself establishes liability.
However, state law does provide some defenses for dog owners. If the victim was trespassing, provoking the dog, or committing a crime at the time of the attack, the owner may not be held liable. Additionally, the state follows a modified comparative fault system, which means that if the injured person bears partial responsibility for the incident, the court may reduce their compensation proportionally.
The state also recognizes the one-bite rule for cases beyond simple bites, such as when a dog knocks someone over or causes injury without actually biting. In these situations, victims must prove the owner knew or should have known the dog had dangerous tendencies. Evidence of prior aggressive behavior becomes crucial in establishing this knowledge.
Dog owners should also be aware that if their animal is deemed dangerous after an attack, they may face additional requirements, including special containment measures and liability insurance.
Victims of dog bites have one year from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit under the state’s statute of limitations. During this time, injured parties can seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
Victims of dog bites may be entitled to multiple types of compensation. Our Knoxville dog attack attorney could address both financial and non-financial losses resulting from your attack and get you the compensation you deserve.
Economic damages cover measurable financial losses caused by the dog bite. These may include:
You could also recover lost income or reduced earning capacity if the injury prevents you from working.
Non-economic damages address the intangible impacts of a dog bite, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress. These damages compensate victims for the mental and emotional toll of the attack and the lasting impact on their quality of life. Our dog bite attorney could use witness statements, medical records, photographs, therapy notes, and personal journals to prove these losses in your case.
A judge may award you punitive damages if the dog owner acted with gross negligence or willful disregard for safety. These damages are intended to punish the responsible party and deter similar conduct in the future, providing additional financial recovery beyond actual losses.
You may be entitled to compensation if you were injured in a dog attack caused by someone else’s negligence. Our Knoxville dog bite lawyer at Dennis Injury Law has almost a decade of experience representing injured victims, even if the dog owner or insurers fight back. Contact us today to discuss your case.