Has a dog bitten you recently? Perhaps your own child was the victim of the bite. Maybe you’ve been asking your neighbor to put a leash on their aggressive canine, and they constantly ignore you. Now, you or someone you love is nursing serious injuries from the dog, and you don’t know what action to take next.
Rest easy because you’re not helpless if you know the dog’s owner. A dog bite attorney can guide you in seeking compensation through the dog owner’s insurance company. However, to successfully pursue your case for dog-related injuries, you need to know how to deal with the different parts involved in it in a legal manner.
Are Dog Bite Injuries a Big Deal?
Yes. Bites from unfamiliar dogs can be very traumatic, affecting you emotionally and physically. Some people even struggle with PTSD after receiving unexpected attacks from dogs. Therefore, we recommend filing a personal injury claim immediately if you’ve recently endured a dog attack. Doing this will allow you to get the compensation you deserve for the damages.
If you still feel like a dog bite is not worth filing an insurance claim against the dog’s owner, consider this: Between 1979 and 2005, the average number of deaths linked to dogs was 19 per year. Most concerning is the fact that between 6,000 to 13,000 end up hospitalized each year in the US as a result of these attacks. Worst of all, the highest death rate comes from children who are under ten years old.
These numbers have increased considerably in recent times, with deaths linked to dog bites being around 30-50 a year in the US. To make matters worse, older adults, children, and infants are the ones who face the most risk of getting attacked by dogs. Therefore, do not hesitate to file a report against a dog attack if you’re a victim.
Proving Liability in a Dog Bite Case
If you’ve approached the owner of the dog and they denied liability, there are ways you can prove to the insurance company that the owner is liable. For instance, the dog owner can plead the “one-bite rule ” to deny liability. If they do, you can win by proving the dog’s owner was aware of how deadly their dog is. As a result, the owner becomes responsible for the damage caused by the pet.
There are scenarios where specific states impose strict liability on dog owners. Here, you’ll only receive compensation if you can show your injuries are the result of a dog bite. Therefore, going to the hospital after a dog attack is important because the medical report will act as proof.
You’ll also need to show that you were not trespassing on the dog’s owner’s property at the time of the attack. If you got bit on your neighbor’s land, they could claim that the dog thought you were a trespasser and attacked.
However, if the dog brutally attacked you in your compound or while on public land, and the dog’s owner knew beforehand that their pet was risky, you’ll receive compensation. Moreover, you can also receive compensation if you were in the dog owner’s house as their guest or working there. Due to the negligence statute, pet owners are responsible for ensuring that their pets do not cause harm to others.
Get Legal Help Today
If you’ve recently suffered a dog bite, it is of paramount importance that you receive legal advice. Expert dog bite attorneys will ensure you pursue your claim effectively and successfully. Also, depending on your case, they will make sure you receive the best compensation possible. So, don’t let the situation with aggressive dogs in your neighborhood get out of hand; act fast and reach a knowledgeable attorney today!