Like all cities in the U.S., Philadelphia has its share of package delivery trucks like FedEx and UPS running in and out of the neighborhoods. These drivers are required to go on the customer’s property and usually up to the front porch or door, and they often run into a dog who feels protective or territorial.
Most of the time the dog makes noises and scares the delivery person, but sometimes the dog attacks and causes serious injuries.
At The Pearce Law Firm, we understand how devastating a dog bite injury can be, and we feel passionate that delivery drivers should be able to do their job without fear of injury from people’s dogs. Edith Pearce is a well-respected attorney who knows the law on dog bites and who is known for working hard to get just compensation for her injured clients.
Pennsylvania’s Dog Bite Laws
Criminal Offense
Pennsylvania law has two distinct ways for a bite victim to recover compensation. One is a criminal law that allows for the confinement of any dog that bites someone and for the payment of all medical bills that the victim incurred because of the bite. This section doesn’t allow for other losses like pain and suffering, disfigurement and loss of wages.
This law doesn’t require that the owner of the dog be proven to be negligent, however, if the victim provoked the dog, then the request for medical bills can be denied.
Civil Suit
Another way for a dog bite victim to collect compensation is to sue the dog owner in a civil suit. To do this, the victim has to prove that the owner was in some way negligent and fully or partially caused the attack. To prove negligence, the victim must prove:
- The dog wasn’t provoked
- The person was lawfully on the property, or
- The bite took place in public
Premises Liability and Delivery Drivers
Pennsylvania law considered a delivery driver to be lawfully on someone’s property to deliver a package, a newspaper of the mail. This usually extends to the portion of the yard necessary to make the delivery. So if a driver is in the back of the yard when a package is usually left on the front porch, then the law might not allow him or her to sue for damages.
Many times, the dog will run out into the street and bite the delivery driver. Since this is a public place, then the driver is allowed to be there and can make a claim for compensation if bitten.
Damages a Delivery Driver can Get Paid
If successful in proving negligence, then the victim can get all damages allowed under the law such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost time from work
- Pain and Suffering
- Mental Anguish
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Personal property damage (Clothing, etc.)
Contact a Philadelphia Dog Bite Lawyer.
After an incident involving a serious injury, contact a highly-rated Philadelphia Dog Bite Lawyer such as Edith Pearce. Unlike the huge firms with dozens of attorneys and many different attorneys handling different aspects of your case, Edith Pearce is personally involved in every case that we handle. She genuinely cares about her clients and you will not be treated like just another case or file.
Contact The Pearce Law Firm, P.C. at (215) 557-8686 for a free consultation and case evaluation.
