Personal Injury Caused by Dog Bite or Dog Attack
Choosing a Massachusetts Dog Bite Attorney

When it comes to attacks by dogs, Massachusetts law is very strict: The owner of a dog is strictly liable for personal injuries, scarring, and wrongful death caused by a dog bite or dog attack. It is necessary to prove that the defendant was the owner or keeper of the dog. It is not necessary to prove that the dog has caused personal injury before, or that the dog is vicious. However, the injured person must show that he or she was not teasing or tormenting the dog, and that trespassing was not involved. The exact text of the Massachusetts law is reprinted below.

Dog bite and dog attack injuries are most often covered by homeowner’s insurance. In Massachusetts, homeowner’s insurance covers liability (bodily injury) and sometimes provides medical payments coverage to the person injured by the dog bite or dog attack. If you are the owner or keeper of a dog, you should check with your insurance company to see that the dog is covered, and if not, should consider switching insurance companies.

Dog bites and dog attacks can cause very serious personal injuries. Dog bites can cause scarring—often facial scarring—other disfigurement, and often severe psychological trauma. Dog bites on children, because of their small size, are very frequently on the face. The psychological injury caused by a dog bite or dog attack can often be permanent. If a dog attacks a bicyclist or a pedestrian, other personal injuries may result from being knocked to the ground, including fractures or dislocations.

The attorneys at Breakstone, White & Gluck have handled several Massachusetts dog bite and dog attack injuries, including personal injuries for children and adults, and including police dog attacks.

Choosing a Massachusetts Dog Bite and
Dog Attack Lawyer

Please see our page on How to Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer for more information on getting help for Massachusetts dog bite and dog attack injuries. Our Case Reports page describes many of the personal injury cases we have successfully handled on behalf of our clients. For an example of a dog attack on a child, see this dog bite case report.

Because the statute of limitations in Massachusetts applies to dog bite cases, victims have a limited time in which to file their cases. If you feel you have a dog bite or dog attack case, it is vital that you act immediately to protect your rights. Please call us at 617-723-7676 (or toll free at 1-800-379-1244), use our contact form, or email us at contactus@bwglaw.com. Get your free legal consultation today with Breakstone, White & Gluck, P.C.

The following is the text of Massachusetts law on dog bites:

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, § 155.
Liability of Owner for Damage by Dog

If any dog shall do any damage to either the body or property of any person, the owner or keeper, or if the owner or keeper be a minor, the parent or guardian of such minor, shall be liable for such damage, unless such damage shall have been occasioned to the body or property of a person who, at the time such damage was sustained, was committing a trespass or other tort, or was teasing, tormenting or abusing such dog. If a minor, on whose behalf an action under this section is brought, is under seven years of age at the time the damage was done, it shall be presumed that such minor was not committing a trespass or other tort, or teasing, tormenting or abusing such dog, and the burden of proof thereof shall be upon the defendant in such action.