Dog Bite Lawyer in St. Paul, MN

Recovering Compensation After an Animal Attack

Man's best friend can also be the cause for a substantial amount of pain and a personal injury claim. While many dog attacks can be relatively harmless, some can result in serious consequences. Every dog bite victim will encounter different complications, but some can lead to extensive medical treatment and therapy.

If you or a loved one has been attacked by someone else's dog, a professional St. Paul dog bite attorney from Rob Roe Law, LLC can help you seek fair and full compensation.

• Our dog bite lawyer can help you seek compensation for the following damages:
• Medical expenses
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Lost earning potential

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Minnesota Dog Bite Laws are Favorable for Victims

Under Minnesota law, if a dog attacks or injures any person who is acting peaceably in any place where they may lawfully be without provocation, the owner and/or keeper of the dog can be held liable for the full amount of the injury sustained. Minnesota's strict liability statute (Minn. Stat. § 347.22) for dog bites states that the liable dog owner must pay damages to the injured party.

Minnesota's dog bite statute is highly favorable to dog bite victims because it covers not only the owner of the attacker, but also the person who keeps the dog. Additionally, the state does not hold to comparative negligence, meaning that an injured party's own fault for a dog bite is not taken into consideration. A dog's past is also irrelevant, meaning that dog owners can still be held liable for injuries their dogs cause even if they have never before shown aggression.

• The only exceptions to the liability statute are if the victim:
• Provoked the dog
• Was assisting the police or military
• Was committing a felony or other crime against the dog owner
• Was a veterinarian who was treating the dog
• Was a trespasser

Unlike many other states, Minnesota's dog bite laws extend past just bites and hold owners liable for any injuries caused by their dog regardless of whether physical contact was made.

• Examples of cases in which the Minnesota Court of Appeals has upheld this rule include:
• Boitz v. Preblich, 405 N.W.2d 907 (Minn. App. 1987): An owner was held liable for injuries by their dog when it bumped into the back of another person's legs, causing him to fall and break his wrist.
• Morris v. Weatherly, 488 N.W.2d 508 (Minn. App. 1992): An owner was held liable under Minn. Stat. § 347.22 when their dog ran at a person, causing him to fall off his bicycle and tear his rotator cuff.

Minnesota Dog Bite Statute of Limitations

Dog bite lawsuits in Minnesota are subject to a six-year statute of limitations under Minn. Stat. § 541.05, meaning that you generally must file a lawsuit in civil court before the sixth anniversary of the attack to preserve your right to take legal action. This filing deadline may sometimes be extended if a minor is injured. Filing a lawsuit after this deadline has passed will usually result in a case dismissal, thereby permanently barring you from seeking compensation for any damages related to the attack.

Our St. Paul Dog Bite Lawyer Can Fight for You

At Rob Roe Law, LLC, we share more than 25 years of legal experience fighting for clients in similar cases as yourself. Our Minnesota dog bite lawyers have successfully handled more than 1,000 cases and have obtained successful results for countless clients, as evidenced on our case results page and client testimonials page.

Investigating an Animal Attack in St. Paul

When we take on a case, our dog bite injury lawyer will begin an investigation and prepare a strategy from the start. We will not stop building your case until we are confident of achieving the results you deserve.

Need an attorney for a dog attack? We will gladly review your case and inform you of your best legal options. Personal injury claims have a time restriction under the statute of limitations, so contact a St. Paul dog bite lawyer right away to get started!