What If I’m Attacked by a Dog and the Owner Had a Sign?
If you or a loved one was attacked by a dog and there is a “beware of dog” sign posted on the fence, it may help you in your case. That said, only an attorney can decide officially whether that sign plays a role in your case’s outcome. In some instances, that sign may do nothing for you or the defendant.
Numerous factors play a role in determining liability in a dog bite case and when evaluating the settlement you can get from that attack. These factors include:
Using Neutral Wording May be Better
If you are posting a sign as a way to avoid liability, realize there is no guarantee. However, using a neutral sign may prevent the interpretation that you knew your pet was a risk. For example, instead of “Beware of Dog,” you may use “Dog on Premises” or even a “No Trespassing” sign instead.
The “No Trespassing” sign may offer more protection because you are telling the public to not trespass on your property. Trespassing is a crime. Therefore, if someone were to enter your fenced backyard and then was attacked by your dog, you may not be liable because they unlawfully came onto your property (trespassing).
A “Beware of Dog” Sign Doesn’t Prevent Someone from Filing a Lawsuit against You
Placing a “Beware of Dog” sign does not make you immune to lawsuits. In fact, not only will it not protect you, but it can be very helpful to the plaintiff‘s lawyer. The courts may agree that placing the sign means you knew there was a safety risk because of your animal, which means you were letting the public know about that risk. If someone is injured despite that, and you did nothing else to prevent the injuries, you could still be liable for all of the costs associated with the attack.
Also, if your dog has complaints against them or they have bitten before, that sign is just admitting that you know your pet is a risk to public safety. Therefore, the court may assume that you knew your dog was a risk and did nothing to protect the public from it.
Should I put up a beware of dog sign?
If youre worried about your dogs potential to bite someone, can hanging a “Beware of Dog” sign on your property offer any sort of legal protection in the event of a dog bite lawsuit?
Although in limited situations a “Beware of Dog” sign may actually help a litigious victim (by allegedly showing you knew of your dogs vicious propensities), in general, warning passersby, guests, and even potential trespassers about the presence of a dog that may attack may actually be of help to you in defending yourself from a dog bite suit.
What are the possible legal ramifications of a “Beware of Dog” sign? Heres a general overview: