Expert Witnesses in Denver Dog Bite Cases
When establishing liability in a personal injury case, the injured party must be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was negligent. However, in dog bite cases, this can become increasingly difficult due to the specific leash laws regarding pets, as well as how much liability falls on the owner of the dog as opposed to the dog itself. That is why it is important to seek out the most effective type of help available. An experienced attorney can provide more information about the role of expert witnesses in Denver dog bite cases and how effective they can be towards proving your claim.
Role of an Expert Witness in Dog Bite Trials
An expert witness may prove certain things about the characteristics of the dog related to the breed and sex of the dog, as well as the age and health of the dog. Expert witnesses in Denver dog bite cases might speak to the size of the dog, behavioral history, types of aggression previously displayed, socialization issues, and whether the dog is an indoor or outdoor dog. These issues are evaluated when determining why or how the dog attacked the injured party. If liability is contested in the case and moves forward to trial, an expert may be needed to prove the actions of the dog on the date in question.
An expert witness also looks at the totality of the circumstances available when developing a picture to show the jury and prove exactly what happened and why it happened. The expert witness addresses how the dog was being handled by looking at the moments before the incident and also how the dog reacted and how the homeowner handled the dog prior to the incident. Lastly, an expert witness identifies whether the dog was trained and understood common commands.
How Can an Expert Witness Determine Liability?
Expert witnesses in Denver dog bite cases look at the totality of the circumstances available when developing a picture to show the jury and prove exactly what happened and why it happened. The expert witness addresses how the dog was being handled by looking at the moments before the incident. The expert witness determines how the dog reacted and how the homeowner handled the dog prior to the incident. The expert witness identifies whether the dog was trained and understood common commands.
Training and socialization are the main issues in dog bite cases. Failure to train or socialize a dog could cause that dog to react in a way they never did before. An expert can investigate the training and socialization of the dog to determine where the situation went wrong.
Negatively Impacting a Claim
An expert can hurt the claim if they do not have the training or education to speak and conduct the proper research. An expert’s credibility is just as important as all involved parties, especially when the expert’s credibility can make or break a person’s case.
Examples of Professional Expert Witnesses
One professional that might be used as an expert witness is someone with a doctorate degree from a veterinary school. That is helpful because that person has a deep understanding of how dogs think and operate. It is possible that a dog trainer would suffice as an expert. Expert witnesses in Denver dog bite cases be qualified enough to put together the pieces and show exactly what happened on the day the injured party was bitten.
Hiring an Expert Witness
A person can hire an expert witness in a Denver dog bite case by first getting in contact with a seasoned attorney. A lawyer who has experience in dealing with dog bite cases may have a well-developed network of experts who could be available to provide assistance on an injury claim. An attorney can select which witness may be the most suitable person for assisting a claim considering the facts of a case and the number of people involved.
