No dog is allowed to roam free outside the premises of the owner’s property. All dogs have to be leashed or are supposed to be enclosed within a fenced space in Providence, Rhode Island. This rule has been implemented through Providence’s leash law ordinance. Providence has a total area of around 20 square miles.

The city also had a population of around 178,000 in 2010, making it the most populous city in Rhode Island. Under the laws of Rhode Island, strict liability attaches for any injury that occurs outside the dog owner’s premises or the dog’s enclosure (Johnson v. Poulin, 844 A.2d 707, Rhode Island Supreme Court, 2004).

An estimated 4.5 million dog bites occur every year in the United States. Around 800,000 of these attacks require medical attention, and an estimated 30,000 victims go through surgeries. 15 to 17 people also die each year. Most of the victims even knew the dog and believed the dog to be harmless. Moreover, 50% of the dog bites involved children who are under 12 years old.

dog biting

The RI Dog Bite Statute can be broken down as follows:

  1. Liability applies not only to owners of the dogs but also to anyone who is a “keeper” of the dog.
  2. Any injury brings the incident within the coverage of the law, whether or not there was a bite.
  3. The victim can be a human, another dog, or other domestic animals, or sheep, lamb, cattle, horse, hog, swine, or fowl.
  4. After the first bite, the dog owner or keeper is liable for double damages if and when the same dog attacks again, whether or not the incident happened on the owner’s property.

dog bite attorneyA competent dog bite attorney in Providence can help you interpret the statute in your favor. They can also help you gather the required evidence, fill out the required paperwork, and talk to the helpful witnesses. They will also help you recover for your medical expenses, lost salary due to your injury, and even the emotional pain and suffering.

d’Oliveira & Associates works with the most competent lawyers in dealing with Dog Bite claims in Providence, Rhode Island. Our office is conveniently located at 390 Broadway Providence, RI. You may come in or call (401)-831-8600 to schedule an appointment with any of our competent Dog Bite lawyers and find out how you should proceed with your claim.

Author Photo

Paul d’Oliveira

Attorney Paul d’Oliveira has been practicing personal injury and disability law for over 30 years. He started his personal injury law practice in 1989 with two offices in Fall River, MA and East Providence, RI. Today his firm has 16 offices in RI and Southeastern, MA.

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