How Do I Prove a Georgia Dog Owner is Liable for My Injuries?
Georgia law is a bit tricky with regard to dog bite liability.
Unlike some other states in which the dog owner is effectively liable for any attack or injuries caused by the dog, here in Georgia the default assumption is that dogs are harmless, so the burden of proof is on the victim – not the Georgia dog owner – to show otherwise. Specifically, under Georgia law, to prove a dog owner is liable for your injuries, you must provide convincing evidence of three things:
- You must show that the dog is vicious;
- You must show that the owner knew the dog’s nature and did nothing to stop it (in other words, the owner was negligent); and
- You must convince the judge or jury that you did nothing to provoke the dog.