Each state has a law that sets a deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit in the state’s civil court system after an accident. This law is called the “statute of limitations,” and the state of Massachusetts gives you three years to file a personal injury lawsuit.
The three-year time limit typically starts on the day of the accident, which would be the case in the event of a dog bite. If you don’t get your lawsuit filed within three years, you’ll lose your right to have a court hear your injury case. It is best to contact an attorney as soon as the possible though, so that proper notification can go out to the dog’s owner, and their insurance carrier.
In Massachusetts, there is a specific statute which makes the owner “strictly liable,” for injuries caused by their dog.
The strict liability law states that the dog owner is responsible for personal injury caused by his/her dog. The dog bite statute holds the defendant liable if the plaintiff was legally allowed to be where he/she was when the bite occurred, and the plaintiff did not provoke the dog at the time of the dog bite.
If you have questions regarding a personal injury case, please contact my office today.
