Dog Bite Law in New Hampshire

Ed Van Dorn

Contributor

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The state of New Hampshire has a strict law concerning dog bites and attacks by domestic animals. Specifically the law says:

NHRSA 466:19 Liability of Owner or Keeper. - Any person to whom or to whose property, including sheep, lambs, fowl, or other domestic creatures, damage may be occasioned by a dog not owned or kept by such person shall be entitled to recover damages from the person who owns, keeps, or possesses the dog, unless the damage was occasioned to a person who was engaged in the commission of a trespass or other tort. A parent or guardian shall be liable under this section if the owner or keeper of the dog is a minor.
See http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/indexes/

This means that if you or loved one is bitten by a dog and sustains serious personal injury then, with very few exceptions, the dog owner is responsible for the injuries. Every year in New Hampshire serious injuries are caused by dog bites. Our law firm has gained a reputation for representing dog bite victims, starting several years ago when attorney Ed Van Dorn received a 2.1 million dollar jury verdict on behalf of a client who was attacked by a pit bull. Since then attorneys from our firm have tried these cases in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and upstate New York.

Most often other attorneys who hear about our reputation in this area ask us to get involved on behalf of their clients. Lately because the insurance companies also know about our reputation we settle more of these cases than the ones that go to trial. But in any event we make sure that our clients get full compensation for injuries received by dog bites.

If you need more information about this subject matter, please see our section regarding Premises Liability.