Dogs are loyal, lovable creatures who usually only bring joy to their people’s lives.
Nevertheless, it can sometimes be the case that a Dog will bite and attack people.
If your dog bites a human, you should know what the consequences are and what you should do.
In a nutshell: dog bites human – these are the consequences
If your dog bites a human, you face various financial and legal ramifications.
The costs incurred by the medical treatment of the bite wound are covered by the dog liability insurance.
An exception applies if your dog does not bite strangers, but you. Then you have to pay the treatment costs yourself.
The dog liability insurance also comes for Claims for damages or compensation for pain and suffering up that puts the bite offering to you.
Dog bites man: This is how dog owners behave properly
If your dog has bitten a human, you must take appropriate measures to prevent the incident from happening again.
The best measure to quickly and safely prevent biting is a muzzle. You should always put this on your dog before you leave the house.
Danger
The muzzle must not become torture. Your dog must be able to open its mouth fully in order to pant, and there should be an inch or two in front of the tip of its nose.
You have to carefully get your dog used to the muzzle at home. It is important that he associates something positive with it.
You can’t just put the muzzle on him, because that scares him. Instead, let him contact the unfamiliar thing himself.
You can find detailed instructions on how to get your dog used to the muzzle here.
However, the muzzle does not change the causes of the biting. When a dog bites a human, psychological reasons or poor upbringing are often responsible.
It is therefore advisable to go with your four-legged friend dog trainers or animal psychologists to go.
The specialist can help your dog to work through the psychological causes and break the habit of biting.
What are the legal consequences if a dog bites a human?
If your dog bites a human, you may face civil or even criminal penalties.
You have an obligation to keep your dog under control and are responsible for any damage he causes.
A dog bite causes personal injury in particular, for which the injured person can sue for damages.
Property damage, for which you are obliged to pay compensation, is also possible. This applies, for example, if a piece of clothing has been torn to pieces by the bite.
In addition, the injured party can claim compensation if they are unable to work for six weeks due to the injury. Then you have to pay him the lost wages.
Good to know
If the bite victim goes to the doctor, the case is automatically put on record, because dog bites have to be reported to the authorities so that the public order office gets involved.
However, whether you have to pay compensation for pain and suffering, damages or compensation depends on whether the bitten person sues you.
In addition, the injured party can report you as a criminal offence. Although a dog bite is not a criminal offense in itself, it does constitute negligent bodily harm according to § 229 StGB.
The penalty is up to three years imprisonment or a fine.
What are the legal regulations regarding dog bites?
The Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, BGB) stipulates the consequences under civil law if a dog bites a person.
§ 833 BGB regulates the liability of the animal owner with the following wording:
«If an animal kills a person or injures the body or health of a person or damages an object, the person who keeps the animal is obliged to compensate the injured person for the resulting damage. The obligation to pay compensation does not apply if the damage is caused by a pet that is intended to serve the job, employment or subsistence of the pet owner and either the pet owner observes the care required in traffic when supervising the animal or the damage also occurs would have arisen if such care was taken.”
What are the penalties for a dog owner whose dog bit a human?
The amount of the fine or imprisonment may vary from case to case.
It depends in particular on how severe the injuries are and how the dog owner behaved during the attack.
There are guidelines for claims for compensation for pain and suffering, but they are not binding for the judicial decision.
According to the compensation table, for example, claims in the following amounts are possible:
- Bite in the face: 10,200 euros
- Injuries to the upper or lower leg with nerve damage or permanent scars: 6,100 euros
- Serious genital injury: 51,100 euros
- Bite on the hand without losing a finger: 500 euros
You can find more entries on bussgeldkatalog.org.
What are the consequences for the dog if it bites a human?
After the dog bite has been reported by the doctor or the injured party, the regulatory office sends the dog owner a written request for a statement.
It then decides whether to order a character test for the dog. It is checked whether the dog poses a danger.
If your dog does not pass the character test, this can have various consequences for him.
The most lenient measure is the muzzle-leash compulsion. This means that your fur nose can only go outside with a muzzle and on a leash.
In addition, proof of the necessary expertise of the dog owner is usually required.
However, it is also possible that the authorities will confiscate the dog if they classify it as dangerous or if the owner does not have the necessary expertise.
In the worst case, the dog may be euthanized by order of the authorities. This can be the case in particular
- if the dog bit a child,
- if he has killed or severely disfigured a person through bites,
- if he repeatedly bites or is generally aggressive
- or if he is untrainable.
Is there special insurance for dogs that can be useful in the event of a bite?
Dog liability insurance policies often only want to pay half of the costs in the event of a bite, so you should Make sure your insurance also covers damage from bites.
In particular, the insurance must be tailored to the breed and character of your dog.
You must also notify the insurance company immediately after the bite, as a delay can result in the denial of benefits.
The insurance company also checks whether the dog owner is at fault and calculates the appropriate amount of the claim.
Conclusion
If a dog bites a human, that has far-reaching consequences for him and his owner.
In addition to civil law claims and criminal prosecution against you, your dog may be muzzled, taken away from you or even put to sleep by official order.
It is important that you inform your insurance company immediately. If you are charged, you should also consult an attorney.
To ensure your dog doesn’t bite another person again, you need to get him out of the unwanted behavior with the help of a dog trainer or animal psychologist.
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