What is the statute of limitations on dog bites?
Question Details:
Dog bite on April 2004.
3 years in RI. There are certain circumstances which may extend the three year period, like extended disability, or being under 18 years old, etc. Generally, an action has to be filed within 3 years in Rhode Island.
3 years in RI. There are certain circumstances which may extend the three year period, like extended disability, or being under 18 years old, etc. Generally, an action has to be filed within 3 years in Rhode Island.
Dog bite law is a creature of statute. Every state has it own version of the statute and has its own nuances with respect to who is the owner and or keeper of the dog. Most statutes on this topic have a statute of limitations of 2-3 years at the most. the statute is an occurrance statute. this means that the statute of limitations begins to run on the date of the accident, not the date that the person that was bitten discovers the injury. If you believe that you have a dog bite case, you need to hire a lawyer asap and take pictures of the cuts and or scars and make sure you file a claim with the homeowner of the dog.
Every state has a different set of statute of limitations covering personal injuries, including those for dog bites. Absent any reason to toll (delay) the statute of limitations period (which is usually under extraordinary circumstances that aren't present in dog bite claims), it appears the period is 3 years from the dog bite.
If you are considering filing a claim now, you may be barred by the statute of limitations alone. If you are suffering additional injuries that were unknown at the time of the bite or after 3 years after the bite, please consult with an attorney who specializes in dog bite injuries to help you determine if the statute of limitations has indeed been tolled (delayed). Try www.attorneypages.com as one source to locate such an attorney.
