Dog bites in assisted living environments raise unique legal and ethical concerns. While pets can provide comfort and companionship to elderly residents, they also present risks, especially when supervision is lacking or policies are unclear. At Nugent & Bryant, our New Haven, CT dog bite lawyer works with clients who have been injured by dog bites while residing in or visiting assisted living communities. These incidents often require us to recognize negligence in facility operations or pet ownership practices, particularly when residents have physical or cognitive impairments.
Legal Duty Of Assisted Living Facilities
Assisted living centers have a legal obligation to provide a safe environment for their residents and guests. This includes monitoring interactions between residents and animals, whether those animals are owned by residents, staff, or visiting therapy groups. If a facility permits pets but fails to enforce leash requirements, screen for aggressive behavior, or supervise properly, it may be held liable for resulting injuries. For example, if a dog has been reported before as being aggressive and then the owner brings it into the facility and it bites someone, the facility should have properly screened it before allowing it inside the premises.
Liability Of Pet Owners In Shared Housing
When a resident owns the dog, liability may also extend to them or their legal guardian. However, in shared housing, determining fault can become complicated. Facilities often limit the types of pets allowed, but if they fail to enforce those limits or ignore repeated complaints about a particular animal they may share responsibility. One example is if a dog is left unattended in a common area and it snaps at passerby.
Factors That Increase Bite Risk In Assisted Living
Elderly residents may have slower reaction times, fragile skin, or conditions like dementia that increase their vulnerability. Even a small nip can result in serious injury, infection, or hospitalization. Staff must be trained to recognize high-risk situations and intervene before problems escalate. The benefit of early legal help becomes especially clear in these cases, as time-sensitive evidence like incident reports and surveillance footage may otherwise be lost.
What Victims And Families Should Do
If a dog bite occurs, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention and report the incident to facility management. Ask for copies of any reports, witness statements, or video footage. Photographs of the injury and documentation of medical treatment can also support a claim. An attorney can help secure this evidence before it disappears.
We also recommend examining the facility’s pet policy. Does it limit animal types? Require vaccinations? Outline supervision rules? Any violations of these rules may strengthen a legal claim. In many cases, it’s the lack of policy enforcement, not the mere presence of animals, that leads to injury. Your attorney may need to step in and request records from before the incident as some places will try to alter the rules after to make it look as though it was not their fault.
Our Experience In Injury Claims
Our firm has a 5-star Google rating and has served Connecticut residents since 1980. We bring decades of insight to personal injury cases, especially those involving vulnerable populations. If you or a loved one was bitten by a dog in an assisted living facility, contact Nugent & Bryant to learn about your rights and options for recovery.
