Dog Bite Lawyer
According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are more than four million reports of dog bite cases in this country every year. More than half of these dog bite attacks take place in the dog owner’s home or on their property. Children – especially those between the ages of 5 to 9 years of age – are particularly vulnerable to being victims of dog bites. Many of these incidents involve the “family” dog.
However, as a dog bite attorney can attest, under certain circumstances, any person who is lawfully on an individual’s property can become a dog bite victim. There are also many incidents where the victim can become attacked off the dog owner’s property, such as when the dog is with a dog walker or someone else who is in the role of a dog sitter.
If you or a loved one has been attacked by a dog, you may be entitled to financial compensation for the losses the attack has caused, such as medical costs, loss of wages, and pain and suffering. A dog bite attorney can evaluate your case and determine if you can file a dog bite claim against the owner of the dog that attacked you.
Proving Liability
The majority of dog bite claims are classified as premises liability incidents. Keep in mind, however, that the specifics of these laws depend on the state you live in. For example, some states will only hold the dog owner liable if the owner had prior knowledge that the dog had aggressive tendencies and the potential to bite because the dog had bitten before. This is often referred to as the one-bite rule. If the dog has never bitten before, the owner may not be held responsible.
Other states have passed negligence laws that hold the owner responsible if they did not properly control the dog. For example, the dog was not on a lease despite a law that says all dogs must be leashed. Your dog bite attorney can explain how the laws work in your state.
Some of the more common injuries that dog bite victims suffer include:
- Disfigurement
- Facial injuries
- Fractured limbs
- Head trauma
- Internal injuries
- Neck wounds
- Puncture wounds
- Scarring
- Severe lacerations
The amount of financial compensation a victim can receive depends on how severe the bite or attack was. Some of the damages include the following:
- Past, present, and future medical expenses
- Past, present, and future income loss
- Decreased earning capacity if the victim is left with a permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Permanent disability
- Permanent disfigurement
- Permanent scarring
- Loss of the ability to perform day-to-day activities
- Cost of vocational rehabilitation
- Spousal claim for loss of consortium
Contact a Dog Bite Lawyer Today
Dog attacks can be a traumatic experience, requiring multiple medical treatments and long recovery times. Call a dog bite attorney to find out how they can get you the financial compensation you deserve for the injuries and trauma you have suffered.