Who is Liable for a Dog Bite Injury in Wisconsin?

If you or someone you love was bitten by another person’s dangerous pet, you may be wondering who is responsible for providing you with compensation. In the state of Wisconsin, dog owners are strictly liable for damages resulting from the dangerous, vicious or mischievous actions of their pet. This means that the victim would not need to prove that the owner knew, or should have known, about the animal’s violent propensities in order to seek compensation—which is typically the case throughout the rest of the United States. If this can be proven, however, the dog owner would be liable for double the amount of damages. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you enlist the help of a Milwaukee personal injury attorney from Welcenbach Law Offices, S.C. In doing so, you can ensure that you are able to procure the maximum amount of compensation.

Additionally, it is important to understand that pet owners are subject to statutory penalties on top of any damages that they are required to pay the victim. According to Wisconsin Code §172.02(2)(a), the owner would be required to pay no less than $50, but no more than $500, if their dog causes injury to another person, domestic animal, property, deer or game birds. If it is discovered that the owner had previously become of aware of their pet’s violent or mischievous tendencies, however, Wisconsin Code §174.02(2)(b) states that the owner would be required to pay no less than $200, but no more than $1,000, in statutory fines. For this reason, it is evident that lawmakers in the state are inclined to rule in favor of the victim when it comes to dog bite cases. This is good news for you if you are interested in seeking damages, so there is no reason why you should hesitate to take action.

With the help of a Milwaukee injury lawyer from Welcenbach Law Offices, S.C. you can get started immediately. All you have to do is pick up the phone and contact our firm to get started. When you call at (414) 375-9133, your initial consultation won’t cost you a thing. Additionally, you can even have your case reviewed for free when you fill out the complimentary case evaluation form that is conveniently located on our website. For this reason, our dedicated legal team asks you to take action as soon as possible if you believe that you have a legitimate claim. Unless we win your case, you won’t be expected to pay us for our services—which is just another reason why you have nothing to lose by taking the first step today. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Author Bio

Robert J. Welcenbach Robert Welcenbach is an Owner and Partner at Welcenbach Injury Law, a family-owned personal injury law firm in Milwaukee, WI. With more than 24 years of experience practicing law, he seeks justice for clients in a wide range of legal areas, including car accidents, class actions, dog bites, nursing home abuse, and other personal injury matters.

Robert received his Juris Doctor from the Marquette University Law School and is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin. He has received numerous accolades for his work, including being nominated and selected as a Milwaukee Personal Injury and Class Action Super Lawyer every year since 2008.

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