Most people don’t have Wisconsin’s Dog Statute memorized, nor is it high on their priority list. We’ve highlighted the 9 things all dog owners should know from Wisconsin’s Dog Statute in one quick and easy guide.
- Wisconsin Statute Section 174.02 applies not only when a dog bites someone, but also when the dog causes injury to persons, domestic animals, or property. Injury caused by fleeing a dog can be considered injury by a dog under this statute. Becker v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 141 Wis.2d 804, 416 N.W.2d 906 (App. 1987).
- An injured party may not recover if she entered a home without permission from the owner and was then bit by a dog inside the home. Fandrey ex rel. Connell v. American Family Mut. Ins. Co., 272 Wis. 2d 46, 680 N.W.2d 345 (2004).
- If the dog has bitten a person with sufficient force to break the skin on a previous occasion and again bites with sufficient force to break the skin, the owner is responsible for double the damages caused to the injured party on the second occasion. Wis. Stat. § 174.02(1)(b).
- If a dog does bite someone and the case is reported to the police, the police usually quarantine the dog to the home for a certain time period and will request veterinarian records for up-to-date vaccinations.
- A court may grant a judgment ordering a dog to be killed when the dog caused injury without reasonable cause on two separate occasions off of the owner’s property and when the owner of the dog was given notice or knew the dog caused the first injury. Wis. Stat. § 174.02(3)(a).
- The average amount paid for dog bite cases was more than $44,000 in 2019. But, usually, homeowners insurance policies often provide coverage for injuries caused by dogs. Insurance Information Institute, Spotlight On: Dog Bite Liability, April 6, 2021, available here.
- Insurance companies often deny coverage for several breeds of dogs including: Pit Bulls, Rottweiler, Chow Chows, Presa Canario, Akita, Doberman Pinscher, Wolf-hybrids, Mastiff, Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies, and German Shepherds. If coverage is not denied, oftentimes insurers charge a higher premium for homeowners with these breeds of dogs. You can get a list of the riskiest dog breeds for homeowners and renters here.
- Insurance companies may also deny coverage or drop coverage for homeowners who have a dog who has caused injury in the past.
- To protect your dog and yourself make sure to check your insurance policy for coverage for injuries caused by your breed of dog and train your dog well to avoid dog bite situations.
If you have been injured by a dog, call our team for a free evaluation of your potential dog bite case. Speak to our Wisconsin dog bite lawyers today.
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