A dog attack can be a painful, terrifying experience. Depending on the animal’s breed, its jaw may be capable of tearing through skin and muscles and breaking bones. Recovering from your injuries may seem like an emotionally taxing and physically draining experience. However, the financial recovery process does not have to be.
With more than two decades of collective experience in personal injury law, Kaine Law has Atlanta personal injury lawyers on staff to gather evidence, name the liable parties, and pursue fair compensation for you and your family’s losses. Our law office will handle your case on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront fees or retainers to start. You have nothing to lose when you team up with our Atlanta dog bite attorneys. Call today for a free initial case consultation.
Our Atlanta Dog Bite Lawyers Will Manage Your Case While You Recover
Getting bit by a dog can turn your life upside down with doctor’s visits, missed work, and the discomfort and pain stemming from your injuries. Right now, you should focus on making a full recovery and allow an Atlanta dog bite lawyer to champion your case. Here’s how we can help you:
Establishing the Dog Owner’s Liability
To prove you deserve compensation, we must establish liability. Our lawyers can help you accomplish this task by proving that the dog’s owner was negligent. First, we must identify what kind of dog attacked you. Per O.C.G.A. § 4-8-21:
- A dangerous dog is one that has either punctured skin but did not cause severe injury or aggressively attacked, raising reasonable concern for a severe injury.
- A vicious dog has caused serious injuries or has killed someone.
Under O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7, owners of dangerous or vicious dogs must keep their animals restrained, on leashes, and away from the public. Additionally, the Atlanta Code of Ordinances § 110-70 requires all pets in parks to be on a leash. If we find that these pet owners failed to abide by the rules, they could be liable for your injuries. For example:
- Duty of care: The dog’s owner had a responsibility to control their pet.
- Breach of duty: The owner failed to restrain their dog on a leash or failed to keep it separated from the public.
- Causation: The dog bit or attacked you, causing your injuries.
- Damages: The injuries you sustained led to your non-financial and financial losses.
Still, Georgia’s dog bite laws can be complex. Our team can help you navigate them, though.
Collect Evidence to Build Your Dog Bite Case
We have the resources to investigate and gather evidence to prove negligence. If available, we will use:
- Videos and photos of the dog, the accident scene, and your injuries
- Medical records, such as medical bills and your doctor’s notes
- Witness statements from those present during the attack
- Expert testimony, such as animal behavioral specialists and a physician’s prognosis
- Incident reports from law enforcement or the property owner
- The dog’s records and history of previous attacks
Your personal testimony can also bolster your case. Tell us what you remember about the events leading up to, during, and after the attack.
Represent You Against the Liable Party’s Insurer and Their Lawyers
When you file an insurance claim with the dog owner’s insurer, an insurance adjuster will ask for a statement. Give them your basic information and have them discuss the situation further with your lawyer.
Insurance companies are known for employing tactics that protect their company’s interests. For example, they may:
- Claim that you provoked the dog
- Say your injuries were superficial
- Refuse to pay out your claim
Our Atlanta dog bite attorneys are familiar with these techniques. They will shoulder the burden of emails, phone calls, and letters with insurance companies, attorneys, and other involved parties for you.
Negotiate an Appropriate Settlement
From our investigation, your personal injury lawyer will assess your losses and evaluate how the bite has affected you physically, emotionally, and financially. We will then demand the maximum compensation possible from the liable party’s insurer. If they don’t reply with a fair settlement offer, we will continue negotiations until we come to an agreed figure.
Thankfully, most cases are settled without proceeding to trial. However, if we don’t reach an equitable conclusion, our personal injury attorneys are prepared to represent you in court and continue fighting for fair compensation.
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving Atlanta, call 404-214-2001
Your Atlanta Dog Bite Attorney Will Seek Fair Compensation for Your Injuries
Dog bites can result in severe injuries, such as:
- Broken or fractured bones
- Puncture wounds and lacerations
- Facial or eye injuries
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Head or neck injuries
Such injuries could require medical attention at a level 1 trauma center like Grady Memorial Hospital, and the medical costs can be quite exorbitant. Additionally, bite victims also experience pain and suffering, emotional distress, and possible permanent disfigurement.
You should not be pay for another’s negligent actions.
The Atlanta dog bite lawyers with Kaine Law can provide you with information about the losses you could recover, which could include the following:
- Medical expenses: Past, present, and anticipated medical care expenses, including emergency room visits, surgery, pain medications, diagnostic assessments, and follow-up care
- Lost income: Either salary or hourly pay, including any tips, commissions, vacation time, and bonuses
- Reduced earning capacity: Lost promotions or the difference in pay if you need to work a job paying less than your previous one
- Pain and suffering: The physical pain and discomfort from the attack and recovery, as well as any inconvenience you experienced
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement: Any changes to your appearance from the attack
- Mental anguish: Trauma leading to mental health issues, like anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or insomnia
- Permanent disability: If the attack has left you with a permanent injury
- Reduced quality of life: If the injury keeps you from going about your routine and doing your favorite activities
If you lost a loved one, your family could be eligible to file a wrongful death claim or lawsuit. Your family could recover damages for funeral expenses, end-of-life healthcare expenses, and pain and suffering.
Comparative Negligence Laws in Georgia May Apply to Your Dog Bite Case
Georgia operates under a comparative negligence doctrine imposed by O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33. If the court finds that a victim contributes to their own injuries, then the court assigns a percentage of fault to the attack victim.
You still may be able to collect damages for your injuries as long as you are under 50% at fault. Additionally, the court would reduce your compensation by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 40% responsible for your injuries, you will collect 60% of your damages.
You Must Abide by Georgia’s Two-Year Deadline After a Dog Bite
In general, you have two years from the date of your dog bite incident or loved one’s passing to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit in either the Fulton or DeKalb County courthouses, per O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. However, certain exceptions could shorten or extend that deadline. Your Atlanta dog bite attorney will determine how Georgia’s state laws apply to your situation and navigate them accordingly.
To ensure your compliance with the statute of limitations, we advise contacting us as soon as possible. If we are too late, then the court may refuse to hear your case. Without the right to sue, the insurance company may not negotiate, and this would place the burden of paying your damages onto you.
Call Kaine Law today for a free case consultation.
Recommendations From Our Atlanta Dog Attack Attorneys
Below is information on what you should do if a dog attacks you and causes injuries:
Seek Prompt Medical Help
Whenever you suffer an injury, your health should always be your first concern, so you should see a doctor as soon as possible. This action also protects your right to compensation.
Proving the dog bite harmed you is crucial to the overall success of your personal injury claim. The sooner you get medical treatment, the easier it is to link the dog bite to your injuries. If you let too much time pass or don’t see a doctor, the insurance company may be less inclined to award a settlement.
Follow Your Doctor’s Treatment Plan Accordingly
You must adhere to your doctor’s orders precisely. Your doctor will release you from their care when they believe you are well enough to return to your previous routine.
If you go against your doctor’s plan for you, especially without their knowledge, you risk your condition getting worse. Also, the liable dog owner’s insurance company may claim that your dog bite injuries weren’t as bad as you made them out to be, leading them to devalue or deny your bite claim.
Write a Daily Journal About Your New Routine Since the Dog Bite Accident
We encourage you to keep a journal since the dog bit you. Record things like:
- How you’re feeling mentally (e.g. if you have developed a phobia towards dogs or other animals)
- How painful your dog bite injury is
- How you treat your injury (e.g. when you take your medication, the dose, etc.)
- If your physical capabilities are limited
Every detail matters. It will show how the dog bite has led to adjustments in your life.
Refrain From Posting on Social Media
To protect the value of your case, it would be best for you to keep details about the dog bite and unrelated posts offline.
The liable insurer could gain access to your account—even if the account is private—and use your posts to devalue your insurance claim or deny it altogether.
Please wait until your injury case is over before you post on social media again.
Take Down the Names of Witnesses
Another important step after an animal attack is to gather contact information from witnesses and the dog’s owner. Do not worry about collecting statements; your dog bite accident lawyer serving Atlanta can do that for you.
Take Photographs of the Attack Scene and Your Dog Bite Injuries
You should take photographs of the bite, the dog, and the area of the attack, if possible. You should also take pictures of your injuries as they heal. We can show these photos to the insurer and establish that you were hurt. They can even serve as valuable evidence at trial.
File an Incident Report With Local Law Enforcement
Lastly, you should file a dangerous animal report with either:
These agencies will create a record of what happened.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Connect With Our Team in Atlanta, GA, After a Dog Bite Accident
Over the past several decades, the personal injury lawyers at Kaine Law have been advocating for the rights of victims who’ve been injured due to another person’s negligence. Now, our Atlanta dog bite lawyers are ready to help you navigate the claims process.
Dog bites can cause serious injuries that affect every aspect of your life. It all starts with a simple, no-obligation phone call. To discuss your case at no cost or risk to you, get in touch with us today.
Call or text 404-214-2001 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
