Dog bites can lead to serious, long-term injuries and medical conditions. In certain circumstances, dog attacks have been known to be fatal. If you were bitten by a dog, you have the right to seek financial compensation from the animal’s owner. A Lawrenceville dog bite attorney with our law firm can help.
Pursuing a lawsuit against the dog owner takes a thorough understanding of the law. Our Lawrenceville personal injury lawyer can explain your rights and help build your case. Call Kaine Law today for a free case review of your dog bite injury claim.
Dog Bite Injuries Could Lead to Various Types of Compensation
Whether you were visiting a friend at their home or were attacked in HYRO park, our dog bite lawyers serving Lawrenceville, Georgia, will seek compensation for such damages as the following:
Medical Bills and Ongoing Healthcare
Medical expenses often come with a serious dog bite injury. The cost of your medical attention can be hard to gauge at first, especially if you require ongoing medical care. A dog bite claim could provide you with the opportunity to pay for medical treatment like surgical procedures, physical therapy, or hospital bills.
Disfigurement From a Dog Attack
Scarring and disfigurement are common consequences of a dog attack. Dog bites are known for leaving permanent scars at the bite location. What’s more, these bites most often happen on visible areas of the body, like the hands or the face.
Lost Wages and Diminished Earning Potential
For many people, a dog bite means going days, weeks, or even longer without the ability to work while they recover. If you were bitten by a dog and had to miss work as a result, you could seek compensation for lost wages.
Your future earning power could also be diminished if your injury leads to long-term physical limitations. When the injury you suffered from a dog bite requires you to take a lower-paying job, you may seek compensation to make up the difference in your income.
Pain and Suffering
In addition to the physical injuries and pain the dog bite caused, you may also experience mental anguish and emotional distress. Your dog bite lawyer in Lawrenceville can determine how much compensation you should receive for the loss in your quality of life.
Wrongful Death Damages for the Family
If you have lost a family member, please accept our sincere condolences. We understand the turmoil and hardship your family is now facing. A wrongful death lawyer serving Lawrenceville from our law firm can help you alleviate some of your financial hardships. They can pursue compensation that covers:
- Past medical bills
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of consortium
Please call our office today. The legal team at Kaine Law can review your case during a free consultation. Our dog bite lawyers in Lawrenceville can explain the merits of your case and your next steps to obtaining the compensation your family deserves to move on.
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving Lawrenceville, call 404-214-2001
Our Lawrenceville Dog Bite Attorney Can Hold the Dog Owner Accountable
Ultimately, Georgia dog bite laws determine when the owner of an aggressive animal is financially responsible for the harm they cause. Dog owners can be held liable for the injuries their animals cause. However, you must meet certain legal requirements:
You Must Prove the Dog Owner Was Negligent
To recover financial compensation following a dog bite, you must show how the owner’s negligent care led to the dog attacking you. Examples of negligent owner actions include:
- Failing to restrain the dog with a leash or fence
- Inadequate or improper training
- Ignoring signs of aggression
- Failing to socialize the animal
Per O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7, the state law holds that it could be possible to make a case for negligence if the dog was off its leash in violation of city or county ordinances.
You Must Show the Dog Was Vicious or Dangerous
For your dog bite injury lawsuit to be successful, you must also show that the animal that attacked you was a vicious or dangerous dog. Per O.C.G.A. § 4-8-21, the state defines the two categories in the following ways:
- A dangerous dog is one whose bite penetrates the skin and causes a serious injury or demonstrates aggressive behavior that a person would believe they could suffer a serious injury
- A vicious dog is one that seriously injures a person, even when said person was trying to escape the attack
Additional Considerations for Your Dog Bite Lawsuit
If the dog was dangerous or vicious, the dog owner has other defenses they could rely on in a dog bite lawsuit:
- Trespassing: You can only pursue a lawsuit against the dog owner if the attack occurred in a place where you had the right to be. If you were trespassing, the owner is protected from any dog bite-related lawsuit.
- Provocation: It is also a defense if the bite victim was abusing the dog prior to the attack.
While these standards for animal attacks are higher, our firm is prepared to help you pursue the maximum compensation you deserve.
Lawrenceville Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me 404-214-2001
Statute of Limitations on Your Lawrenceville Dog Bite Lawsuit
As your personal injury law firm, our goal is your recovery. Kaine Law has been helping injury victims and their families obtain the compensation they need, but our time to aid you is limited.
Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, you generally have two years to file your personal injury lawsuit with the Gwinnett County courthouse. If you miss that deadline, you may be unable to successfully obtain a fair settlement.
However, if you contact us as soon as your injuries stabilize, our Lawrenceville dog bite accident lawyers can get to work investigating your accident, contacting the insurance companies, and fighting for your rights.
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Important Steps Following Your Dog Bite in Lawrenceville
If you have suffered injuries from an animal attack, our Lawrenceville dog bite injury lawyers advise you to do the following for your healthy recovery and your right to fair compensation:
- Call 9-1-1: You need to report the incident to the local authorities and animal control. Let Animal Welfare & Enforcement know what has happened, what you remember about the dog, and where you are. If your injuries are severe, request an ambulance.
- Collect contact information: If the dog’s owner is present, request contact information. The same goes for any eyewitnesses.
- Document the accident: You should take pictures of your injuries and the dog, if possible. Record what you remember before the attack and note if there are any cameras in the area that may have recorded the event.
- See a doctor: If you do not take an ambulance to the emergency room, see a doctor as soon as possible. Dog bites can lead to serious injuries and infections. Start your doctor’s treatment program and follow it completely.
Finally, consider speaking with a lawyer. Our dog bite attorneys in Lawrenceville, Georgia, can protect you from the insurance companies undervaluing or denying your personal injury claim.
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Our Lawrenceville Dog Bite Lawyer Can Help You Recover
You should not have to deal with the difficult consequences of a dog attack on your own. If your dog bite resulted from the dog owner’s mishandling of the animal, you could be entitled to a monetary award. Our law firm is ready to stand by your side as you pursue fair compensation for your injuries.
Let the legal team at Kaine Law fight for you. To learn more about how a Lawrenceville dog bite attorney might be able to help, call us for your free initial consultation. Contact us today.
Lawrenceville, Georgia, Dog Bite FAQs
Who is at risk for a dog bite?
While aggressive dogs could attack anyone, there are some people who are more at risk from a dog bite than others. In fact, many of the people who are at the highest risk of suffering a bite are also the most likely to face severe injuries afterward.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), small children are the most likely to suffer dog bite injuries. These children are also the most likely to suffer severe or life-threatening injuries following a dog attack.
How much is the average dog bite lawsuit?
There are different examples of financial compensation that might be available following a dog bite. Since no two cases are exactly alike, there is no average settlement value. However, we will determine your full range of damages and seek compensation that reflects those current and future losses.
Can I pursue a dog bite case without paying anything up front?
If the concern about financial commitment has left you unsure about pursuing a dog bite injury lawsuit, it is important to note you have options. Our law firm provides legal representation for dog bite cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you could pursue fair compensation without any upfront legal fees.
Under a contingency fee agreement, your attorney will work on your case without any direct payment from you. Instead, they will keep a preapproved portion of anything they recover in your case. This approach lets the attorney assume all of the risk.
Will I have to go to court for my dog bite case?
In most cases, we can settle an insurance claim through negotiations. If we are unable to reach an agreement, though, we will take your case to court. However, we will guide you through this process and will always be by your side.
Call or text 404-214-2001 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
