Dog Bites Attorneys
in Altoona, Pennsylvania

Have you or a loved one been hurt by someone else’s dog? If so, you may be eligible to receive compensation from the dog owner. At Goldstein Heslop Steele Clapper Oswalt & Smith, we know that these attacks can be unexpected, traumatic, and leave lasting effects for the victims. Our proven Altoona personal injury lawyers have dedicated our firm to the recovering relief for the wrongly injured and have helped countless clients move on from their accident with the resources and dignity they deserve.

Learn more about how GHSCOS can help you during this difficult time.

Pennsylvania Dog Bite Law

Unlike other states, Pennsylvania allows fairly generous grounds for dog bite victims to recover money from dog owners. While other states use a “one bite rule” (which states that owners are not liable for dog bites if the dog has never previously acted dangerously), Pennsylvania offers strict liability definitions for these events and holds the dog owner liable even if they had no knowledge that the dog was dangerous.

This strict liability is established by two prior cases:

• Miller v. Hurst : in this case, the court ruled that if a dog owner was found to be violating the dog confinement law, then they are liable for any injuries that occur, regardless of the owner’s knowledge of the animal’s propensity to bite others.

• Commonwealth v. Hake : in this case, the court ruled that dog owners are strictly liable when their dog bites anyone on public or private property, regardless of their knowledge of the animal’s propensity to bite others.

In some cases, a dog owner may have home owner’s insurance that will cover them for a dog bite. Whether you have to negotiate with the insurance company for a fair settlement or have to take direct action against the dog owner themselves, our firm is ready to help. Contact us today to start exploring your legal options.

Use our online form to request a free case evaluation with our team today.