A dog bite attorney can help people who have been injured or harmed by another person’s pet. Most dogs have a friendly disposition, pose no threat to others, and have no history of agression. In some cases, however, people or their children can experience serious injuries should an animal become aggressive and attack. When another’s negligence results in a dog bite, injured people may be eligible to seek compensation with the help of a personal injury lawyer.
For more information, contact Attorney Group today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What Happens after a Dog Bite?
Although a dog may have a naturally-friendly disposition, and though it may not have a history of aggression, this does not mean the animal is guaranteed never to bite. If a dog feels threatened or provoked, especially by a child or other environmental factor, it may be more likely to bite out of self-defense. Depending on the severity of the incident, it is important to document the location, the animal, and the contact information of the dog’s owner. If necessary, file a report with local animal control and attempt to determine whether the dog is up-to-date with its vaccinations.
Importance of Seeking Legal Counsel
Although the Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that over 4.5 million dog bites occur in the U.S. each year, very few of the victims receive compensation from insurance companies for their injuries. In addition, because many dog bites go unreported, most victims will not receive compensation despite having home insurance coverage. By some estimates, insurance providers compensate only 15,000 dog bite victims annually. Given the CDC’s much higher estimate, it is easy to see why seeking legal counsel from a dog bite attorney may be in a victim’s best interest.
Having an experienced dog bite attorney can help victims improve their chances of seeking the appropriate compensation for medical costs and other losses. An insurance company may offer a fast, one-time settlement, but some victims could possibly require years of treatments, medications, or a reduced earning capacity that such a settlement will not cover. An experienced dog bite attorney can take this into account when working on a victim’s behalf.
How a Dog Bite Attorney Can Help
When negligence results in injury, an injured party suffers loss in various ways. The law allows an injured party to pursue damages to recover those losses. Common types of damages recoverable in a personal injury case include:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Loss of ability to earn
- Scarring and disfigurement
The families of those killed may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
If the actions causing injury are malicious or so reckless that intent to harm can be inferred, the responsible party can be liable for punitive damages to punish wrongful conduct and deter similar conduct in the future.
Victims of negligence and their families are encouraged to seek the counsel of dog bite attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
For more information, contact Attorney Group. After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
