Georgia Dog Bite Statute (Vicious animals, liability for injuries caused by)

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Georgia

West's Code of Georgia Annotated Currentness. Title 51. Torts. Chapter 2. Imputable Negligence. � 51-2-7. Vicious animals, liability for injuries caused by.

Statute Details
Printable Version
Citation: GA ST � 51-2-7

Citation: Ga. Code Ann., � 51-2-7

Summary: This Georgia statute represents the state's relevant dog bite strict liability law. While the law imposes strict liability for injury to a person, the dog (or other animal) must first be considered "vicious" or "dangerous," which can be as simple as showing the animal was required to be leashed per city ordinance. Second, the animal must be at large by the careless management of the owner. Finally, the person injured must not have provoked the animal into attacking him or her.

Statute in Full:

A person who owns or keeps a vicious or dangerous animal of any kind and who, by careless management or by allowing the animal to go at liberty, causes injury to another person who does not provoke the injury by his own act may be liable in damages to the person so injured. In proving vicious propensity, it shall be sufficient to show that the animal was required to be at heel or on a leash by an ordinance of a city, county, or consolidated government, and the said animal was at the time of the occurrence not at heel or on a leash. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to domesticated fowl including roosters with spurs. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to domesticated livestock.

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