Dog bites and attacks are often terrifying and traumatic for the victims. If your injuries or the attack itself have had a substantial impact on your life, and you do not know where to turn for help, reach out to a Duluth personal injury lawyer at Kaine Law today.
Learn more about how you could ensure the dog’s owner is held accountable for their negligence.
Dog Bite Injuries in Duluth
If you’ve been injured in a dog bite or attack in Duluth, you may be wondering how to recover compensation for your damages. You may have concerns about moving forward with your case, thinking your injuries won’t be considered severe enough to warrant the pursuit of an insurance claim or civil lawsuit.
However, the type of injury you are diagnosed with is not necessarily what determines whether you have grounds for a Duluth dog bite claim. Instead, when you reach out to an attorney for help, your lawyer will review the ways your damages have affected your life to determine whether your injuries merit legal action.
There are some types of dog bite injuries seen more often in the civil court system than others, such as:
- Lacerations leading to septic shock
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Hematoma, contusions, and abrasions
- Emotional trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), nightmares, insomnia, depression, agoraphobia, panic disorder, and anxiety
- Broken bones and loss of limbs
- Internal injuries and bleeding
- Spinal cord injuries, back injuries, herniated discs, and paralysis
These are only a couple of the different types of injuries you could be diagnosed with following a dog bite or attack in Gwinnett County. If your dog bite caused other injuries we did not describe above, make sure to contact your personal injury attorney to find out whether you have grounds for a claim.
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving Duluth, call 404-214-2001
When to Call Our Duluth Dog Bite Lawyer for Help
You know the type of injury you were diagnosed with will have no impact on whether you have the right to pursue your case. But what does?
The primary factor considered when pursuing a personal injury claim is whether someone else is responsible for causing your injuries. After all, you should not be on the hook for your damages if another party is responsible.
In dog bite cases, you may think the dog’s owner should be held accountable. In many cases, this is true. However, there are many exclusions that could impact your ability to pursue your case. For this reason, it is essential to discuss the specific details of your case with your Duluth dog bite attorney.
Duluth Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me 404-214-2001
Georgia Dog Bite Laws
Georgia is a strict liability state for dog bites. There is no dangerous dog statute, but if a dog has previously bitten or attacked in the past, this could serve as evidence against the dog’s owner.
Under Georgia strict liability laws, dog owners will be held accountable for the actions of their pet no matter what. It does not matter if a dog has previously attacked or bitten; the dog’s owner will be held accountable. Furthermore, dog bite injury victims are not required to prove negligence to hold the dog owner accountable for their actions.
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Statute of Limitations for Duluth Dog Bite Cases
When you are interested in filing a lawsuit against the dog’s owner or other liable parties, it is important that you do so before the statute of limitations runs out. Under the law, you might have just two years to get your case filed before the statute of limitations runs out, according to O.C.G.A § 9-3-33.
If your case is not filed before the deadline, you will no longer have the right to pursue your case at the civil court level. It is also important to move forward with your case quickly, or risk losing powerful evidence to support your case.
Certain types of evidence, such as video of the incident, forensic evidence, and certain medical records may only be available for a limited amount of time. If too much time passes, this evidence could be lost, and you will no longer have access to otherwise powerful supporting evidence.
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How to Handle the Insurance Company
Recovering compensation through an insurance settlement is one of the primary ways dog bite victims are awarded restitution for their damages. However, it is important that you understand how insurance claims work, so you know what to expect from this process.
Generally, if a dog owner purchased homeowners insurance, renters insurance, general liability insurance, or another type of insurance, you may be able to file a claim with their insurer.
However, the amount of compensation that comes from an insurance settlement is tied directly to the types and amounts of coverage the policyholder bought. This means if the defendant only purchased the minimum amount of coverage, and your damages are greater than that, the insurance company is only required to pay out up to the amount of coverage the policyholder purchased.
Your attorney will work with the insurance adjuster to ensure you are compensated fairly for your damages. We will never pressure you into settling for less than your claim is worth.
How to Maximize Your Compensation
If you are hoping to maximize your injury settlement, always be prepared to go to court in addition to filing an insurance claim. If the defendant did not have insurance coverage, going to court may be the only way to hold them accountable for your damages. Fortunately, at trial, you can seek compensation for all your damages, including:
- Property losses
- Physical trauma
- Emotional distress
- Diminished earning potential
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Medical expenses
Connect with our Duluth Dog Bite Lawyer Today
The thought of pursuing your dog bite case at trial can be overwhelming. However, if you hope to get the most out of your insurance and civil claims, reaching out to a Duluth dog bite lawyer at Kaine Law could make all the difference in the outcome of your case.
Our team will work tirelessly to ensure the dog’s owner is brought to justice. Contact our office for a no-cost, risk-free consultation today. You can get started on your case when you fill out our convenient contact form or call us.
Call or text 404-214-2001 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
