Kentucky Dog Bite Lawyer

Under Kentucky’s dog bite statute, Ky. Rev. Stat. § 258.235, a dog owner is strictly liable for all damage that their dog causes to a person, livestock, or other property. This succinct rule is favorable for victims since it allows them to recover for damages resulting from a dog bite as well as any non-bite injuries inflicted during a dog attack. Additionally, the statute does not contain exceptions to the general strict liability rule. However, Kentucky courts apply principles of comparative negligence to dog bite cases, meaning that a victim’s recovery can be reduced by a certain amount based upon the degree to which their own negligence contributed to their injuries. For example, suppose that a victim of a dog bite sustained damages totaling to $10,000. After trial, if the jury determines that the victim was 20% at fault for his injuries (for example, he/she scared the dog), then he/she will be permitted to recover only $8,000 in damages.