Understanding North Carolina’s “One Bite” Rule

North Carolina has a so-called “one bite rule,” a phrase commonly applied to state laws that limit liability for dog owners when canines have no prior history of aggressive behavior. While the one bite rule shields some dog owners from liability for dog attacks, certain exceptions exist under which some dog owners face strict liability.

If you or your loved one suffered severe injuries because of a dog bite in North Carolina, it is in your best interest to quickly seek legal representation. The Nye Law Group can help you obtain all of the compensation you need and deserve. Call (855) 636-9277 today to have our Charlotte personal injury attorney review your case as help you understand all of your legal options during a free consultation.

Exceptions to “One Bite” Rule

Under North Carolina General Statute § 67-4.4, a dog owner is strictly liable for injuries inflicted by a “dangerous dog.” A dog is designated as dangerous if it has killed or severely injured a person without being provoked, bitten a person in such a way that it resulted in broken bones, lacerations, hospitalization or cosmetic surgery, killed or severely injured a domestic animal while not on the owner’s property, or approached a person in a vicious or terrorizing manner while not on the owner’s property.

North Carolina General Statute § 67-12 further establishes that dog owners can be held strictly liable when they let dogs older than six months run large at night unaccompanied. Additionally, the City of Charlotte has a leash law, and owners may be liable for dog attacks that occur in violation of the leash law.

What You Should Do After a Dog Bite

After any dog bite, you should make sure to receive medical attention. Even when bites don’t seem particularly severe, you want to avoid possible infections or other complications and insurance companies will use any delay in treatment to argue that your injuries were not serious.

Many dog bite victims know the dog owners. The owners are often friends or family members, possibly neighbors, and victims fear that filing claims will cause financial difficulty for these personal contacts, but many dog bite injuries are covered under a dog owner’s homeowners insurance policy. Insurers will aggressively attempt to limit the compensation they pay in these cases.

For this reason, you should refuse to make any statement about your case to an insurance company until you have legal representation.

North Carolina Dog Bite Lawyer

Did you or your loved one sustain serious injuries because of a dog attack in the Charlotte area? You will want to make sure that you avoid speaking to any insurance company until you see first able to contact the Nye Law Group.

Our experienced Charlotte personal injury attorney knows how to deal with insurance companies and can negotiate a full and fair settlement that covers all of your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. You can have our firm provide an honest and thorough evaluation of your case when you call (855) 636-9277 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.