There is no “strict liability” in PA regarding a dog attack. In order for a Pennsylvania dog bite injury attorney to have the legal basis to make a dog bite claim, they must be able to prove that the dog owner acted in a negligent fashion and/or violated the PA Dog Law. Negligence is a legal theory based upon someone’s duty to act in a certain way and their inability to do so.

The PA Dog Law is a Pennsylvania Statute that provides strict guidelines for PA dog owners to follow. The law does not allow exceptions or excuses. Dog owners must follow the requirements 100% of the time. Section 305 mandates that a dog owner must always confine their canine either:  1) in their premises, 2) on a leash, or 3) in a hunting situation under the specific control/command of the hunter. Your lawyer for dog bite attacks in Pennsylvania frequently uses that particular statute in prosecuting claims versus non-law abiding dog owners.

Attorney Thomas J. Newell also advocates the use of Section 502(A) whenever possible – “Harboring a Dangerous Dog.” When there is a conviction under this statute, the homeowners’ insurance carrier always makes every attempt to settle the case before it goes to a jury trial. The stigma attached to a dog owner whose dog has been deemed “dangerous” is real and carries much weight with jurors. PA dog bite lawyers must aggressively pursue statutory violations by dog owners to increase the value of their client’s dog attack claim. For a free consultation, call 800-980-4842.  Visit his website of PADogAttackLawyer.com.   Follow him on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/DogAttackLawyer