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If you suffered a dog bite in a residential apartment building, you might wonder who is legally responsible for the cost of your injuries.
Proving landlord liability in Memphis dog bite cases can be complicated, which is why working with a knowledgeable dog bite attorney is critical. Our seasoned local legal team could help determine whether you have the right to pursue compensation from the landlord of the property where the canine attack happened.
Generally, if you suffer injuries in a dog attack, you have the legal right to pursue a claim against the dog’s owner under Tennessee Code Annotated § 44-8-413. If the bite happened on the private property of the dog’s owner, you would need to prove that the owner was aware of their dog’s dangerous tendencies and acted negligently.
If the attack occurred in an apartment building, you could sue the tenant who owns the dog. However, even if your Memphis dog bite claim against the owner is successful, you might want to investigate for other potentially liable parties, such as the landlord. This is because the tenant might not have enough insurance to cover the cost of your losses, particularly if they do not carry any renters’ insurance. Our seasoned legal team could explain whether seeking damages from the landlord may be feasible for you.
Proving that a Memphis landlord is legally responsible for a dog bite is more complicated than making a claim against the dog’s owner. Landlord liability depends on what the landlord knew or should have known and where the attack took place.
You could argue that the landlord was negligent if they knew or should have known that the dog was dangerous but failed to take action to remove it from the premises or require its owner to confine it. However, landlords do not usually have direct control over their tenant’s pets unless they have specific provisions in the lease agreements, such as provisions that limit the number of dogs, prohibit certain breeds of dogs, or require dogs to be leashed. If a landlord knowingly ignored leash violations or pretended to be unaware of clear leash violations, they could be liable.
If the attack took place inside a tenant’s apartment, it would be harder to prove a case for landlord negligence. However, if you were attacked in a common area, such as in an entryway, on a playground, or in the mailroom, it might be easier to sue the landlord. The landlord generally has more control over common areas and is legally obligated to keep those areas reasonably safe. You could argue that the landlord was negligent if they failed to act after receiving warnings about a dangerous or unleashed dog in the common areas.
Our dedicated lawyers could carefully review the circumstances of your dog attack for evidence that proves a landlord’s liability.
Pursuing a dog bite claim against anyone other than a dog’s owner is complicated. Our attorneys know how to build solid claims for compensation against landlords by reviewing leases, investigating the relationship between the landlord and tenants, and interviewing tenants about any previous complaints about the dog.
By determining what the landlord knew or should have known, we could help you establish landlord liability in Memphis dog bite cases. Contact our lawyers today to arrange a consultation.
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