Dog bite statistics estimate about 4.7 million people in the U.S. every year are bitten by dogs. About 800,000 require medical attention. About a dozen of those injuries are fatal. The potential for liability exceeds $1 billion every year. If you’ve been bitten by a dog, whether on a leash or not, call us. We will get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Massachusetts has some of the best laws in the nation concerning dog bites. In Massachusetts, there is ‘strict liability’ against the owner of a dog that bites. A dog owner or keeper is strictly liable for dog bites unless the victim was trespassing, teasing, tormenting or abusing the dog, or was committing another tort. A child under the age of 7 is presumed to have not done these things, but the presumption is rebuttable.

Here is the relevant Massachusetts Law concerning dog bites:

Chapter 140: Section 155. Liability for damage caused by dog; minors; presumption and burden of proof.

Section 155: If any dog shall do any damage to either the body or property of any person, the owner or keeper, or if the owner or keeper be a minor, the parent or guardian of such minor, shall be liable for such damage, unless such damage shall have been occasioned to the body or property of a person who, at the time such damage was sustained, was committing a trespass or other tort, or was teasing, tormenting or abusing such dog. If a minor, on whose behalf an action under this section is brought, is under seven years of age at the time the damage was done, it shall be presumed that such minor was not committing a trespass or other tort, or teasing, tormenting or abusing such dog, and the burden of proof thereof shall be upon the defendant in such action.