Schererville, Indiana Dog Bite Lawyer – Vicious Animal Attack

Dog Bite Laws in the Town of Schererville

An unprovoked bite by a dog does not necessarily mean the dog is dangerous or vicious. In the United States, all dogs, regardless of breed or size, are presumed to be harmless domestic animals. This presumption can be overcome with proof of a dangerous propensity as demonstrated by specific conduct of that particular dog.  A dangerous propensity is the tendency of an animal to act to endanger the safety of people or other animals. Depending on the facts of a dog bite case, the dog’s biting of a person can be evidence of that dog’s viciousness.

Further, the Town of Schererville has ordinances that can be used to show that the owner of a dog or cat that bites a person was negligence.  Here are some of them:

Under Section 6-11, the town defines a public nuisance to include animals that are allowed to unreasonably annoy humans, endanger other animals or persons, or cause interfere with a person’s right to enjoyment of their life and/or property. This definition includes, but is not limited to, dog that are repeatedly found off their owner’s property; dogs that damage someone else’s property; attack and/or intimidate members of the public; dogs that chase after vehicles; dogs that make excessive noises like howling or barking which causes an unreasonable annoyance to other neighbors to where the animal is being maintained on the property; dogs that   attack other domestic animals; and/or dogs that have been determined to be a public nuisance after written notice to the owner and hearing have been held that finds the dog is a public nuisance by virtue of being a menace to the public.

Under Section 6-12, the Town of Schererville has enacted the “Animal Control Commission” which is made up of the members of the Metropolitan Board of Police Commissioners.  This Commission does the following:  recommends rules and regulations to the Town Counsel concerning the operation of the animal shelter, standards for the collection, care, custody and disposal of animals at large and public nuisance animals, and standards for the maintenance of holding facilities for guard and sentry dogs as well as upon receiving a written complaint, conducts a public hearing for the purpose to see if a dog meets the definition of a public nuisance animal.

Under Section 6-16, the Town of Schererville requires restraints on animals as follows: all dogs and cats shall be kept under restraint; the owners of these dogs and cat must exercise proper control of their dogs and cats to prevent them from becoming a public nuisance as defined above;

after there has been a determination that a dog or cat is vicious, then owner of the dog or cat must have proper restrain on that animal within a building or secure enclosure that can maintain control over that animal based upon its weight, size and strength with the animal being muzzled or caged whenever taken off the owner’s premises; as well as no animals allowed in any of Schererville’s parks.

Under Section 6-17(J), the Town of Schererville mandates that after there has been a dog or cat bit of a person or other animal, the dog or cat can be confined inside the owner’s residence for ten days if the dog or cat is update on its shot, while the dog or cat that is not update must be quarantined for ten days at an animal hospital/clinic with that dog/cat owner having to pay the costs of the animal’s confinement.

How a Schererville Dog Bite Attorney Can Help with Your Dog Bite Injury Claim

At Gladish Law Group, we have experience handling Schererville dog bite cases, bringing a wealth of knowledge to each claim. Our legal team is well-versed in the specific nuances of Schererville, Indiana’s dog bite laws, ensuring that you receive skillful guidance tailored to your case.

We recognize that a dog bite incident is not just a legal matter but a personal and often traumatic experience. Our team at Gladish Law Group takes a compassionate and personalized approach to each case, providing the support and understanding you need during this challenging time.

You can trust Gladish Law Group to stand by your side, advocating for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation and evaluation of your case.

Indiana Dog Bite Law

Indiana has specific laws that govern dog bite cases. The state covers them under strict liability statutes.

The key points include:

• Strict Liability: Indiana follows a strict liability approach, meaning that a dog owner can be held liable for injuries caused by their dog, regardless of the dog’s history of aggression or the owner’s knowledge of such behavior.
• Leash Laws: In some municipalities, there may be local leash laws that require owners to keep their dogs on a leash in public spaces. Violating these laws could strengthen a case against the dog owner.
• One-Bite Rule: While Indiana has strict liability, it also recognizes the one-bite rule. If the dog has shown aggressive behavior in the past and the owner knew about it, this could strengthen your case.
• Comparative Fault: Indiana follows a comparative fault system, which means that if the injured person is partially responsible for the incident, their compensation may decrease based on the percentage of fault assigned to them.

Consult an experienced dog bite lawyer in Lake County, Indiana, to navigate the specifics of your case and understand how these laws may apply to your situation. As a firm based in Lake County, Indiana, Gladish Law Group has a deep understanding of the local community and its unique dynamics. This local insight allows us to navigate the legal landscape more effectively and build strong cases that resonate with local judges and juries.

About Schererville, Indiana

The Town of Schererville is located in Northwest Indiana.  Schererville has a growing population in excess 30,000 with a balanced mixture of both commercial and residential properties.  The Routes of 41 and 30 creates the town slogan the “Cross Roads of the Nation” due to the large amount of traffic that travels through the town which allows the town to have a large section retail stores and restaurants.

The Town of Schererville is also one of the few communities that still has its own town court which is located in the downtown area at Schererville Town Courthouse, 25 E Joliet St Schererville Indiana. The Schererville Town Court hears a limited number of cases that includes: certain misdemeanors, tickets/infractions and ordinance violations.