Dogs can be loveable companions to their families. However, even with friendly dogs, there is always a risk of dog bites for any number of reasons. Dog bites can be sudden and unprovoked. Unfortunately, dog bites can cause serious injuries to those bitten. If someone else’s aggressive dog bites you, you can seek compensation for your physical and emotional injuries caused by the attack.
Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers will help guide you forward as you deal with the repercussions of an unexpected dog bite. Since most dog owners will try to avoid liability and pass the blame to you or your loved one, it is important to have skilled legal help. An experienced Sandy Springs dog bite lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and pursue financial compensation. Contact our law office today at (678) 605-9838 to schedule a free consultation.
How Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Dog Bite in Sandy Springs, GA
Dog bites can happen to nearly anyone, and often without warning. Unleashed or unrestrained dogs can wander and chase after people, leading to confrontations and attacks. When bitten, dog bite victims can be seriously injured or sickened from the bite. The Centers for Disease Control reports that over 20% of dog bites require the victims to seek medical treatment. Dog bite claims are also reported to account for 15% of homeowners’ insurance claims each year.
Unexpected medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses can result from any dog bite incident. You should not have to bear the financial burden when you are the victim of a dog bite that was not your fault. The dog’s owner should be held liable for your costs and damages. This is where an experienced lawyer will help.
A Sandy Springs personal injury attorney will carefully review the facts and take action on your behalf. When you hire Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers, we will:
- Investigate the facts, such as where the incident happened, who owned the dog, and how the dog became loose in the first place
- Collect evidence such as police reports, medical reports, physical evidence, photos, and video footage
- Negotiate with insurance companies and fight for a fair settlement
- File a personal injury lawsuit and take your case to court when needed
- Handle each stage of a dog bite injury lawsuit
- Take your case to a jury trial whenever necessary to achieve justice
The dog bite injury lawyers at Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers will use all the tools and resources at our disposal to push for fair financial recovery.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Lawyer in a Sandy Springs Dog Bite Claim?
In most Georgia personal injury cases, lawyers such as ours will work on a contingency basis. In a contingent fee arrangement, you do not need to pay upfront legal fees to get skilled legal help following a dog bite. You only pay if you win. At the end of a successful claim, your attorney will collect an agreed-on percentage of the financial settlement.
If your claim in a contingency case does not succeed, you are not required to pay legal fees and costs. Meeting with a Sandy Springs dog bite lawyer, then, poses no financial risk to you. We are happy to meet with you for a free consultation.
How Do Dog Bites Happen in Sandy Springs, GA?
Contrary to popular belief, any dog can bite. Dog bites can involve a small puncture wound or a full-on vicious attack. Children are especially vulnerable to dog bites, but anyone can be bitten by a dog. Over four million dog bites are reported each year across the United States, involving people of all ages and circumstances.
Whether a dog is likely to attack can involve their background, environment, and upbringing. Some breeds of dogs tend to show more aggressiveness and involvement in attacks as well. When dogs bite, some type of trigger could have caused the aggression.
Dogs are more likely to bite in the following scenarios:
- When stressed
- When defending itself or its owner
- When scared or startled
- When they feel threatened
- To protect their food
- When injured or ill
- When playing
Dog owners can prevent dog bites by being mindful of certain situations and paying attention to their dog’s behavior. The simplest way to prevent dog bites is to keep dogs properly leashed, restrained, or fenced in. Sometimes, despite all precautions, the dog bite victim can be to blame if they provoked the attack or created an unsafe situation.
Common Injuries in Dog Bite Claims
Dog bite injuries can be minor, severe, or even fatal in some tragic cases. Common injuries due to dog bites often include:
- Lacerations
- Puncture wounds
- Torn muscles or tendons
- Nerve damage
- Infection (including rabies, tetanus, and MRSA)
- Neck and back injuries
- Loss of limbs, fingers, toes, or other appendages
- Disfigurement
- Soft tissue damage
- Internal bleeding
- Mental anguish
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Loss of companionship
- Reduced quality of life
- Wrongful death.
Dog bites can cause long-term disability and require ongoing medical care. If your injuries negatively impact your family life, ability to work, and ability to live the life you led before the attack, our Sandy Springs dog bite lawyer will fight for the compensation you deserve as you focus on your physical and emotional recovery.
What Is My Dog Bite Case Worth?
Economic damages and non-economic damages are usually sought in Georgia dog bite claims. Most experienced Georgia personal injury attorneys can estimate the potential value of your claim based on the accident and the injuries involved. Other factors can include whether your career was affected or you suffered any long-term injuries.
Economic damages include the financial aspects of your losses, including:
- Medical expenses
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Lost income
- Reduced future income due to your injuries
- Costs involved with therapy, rehabilitation, and ongoing medical or psychological care.
Non-economic damages cover other types of injuries, such as:
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- PTSD
- Loss of companionship
- Disability and disfigurement.
You might not know how much your dog bite claim is worth until the claim proceeds and all evidence is available. At the early stages, an experienced dog bite attorney can estimate what the claim could be worth based on the accident, your injuries, their knowledge of the law, and their own experience in similar dog bite cases.
Who Is Liable for My Damages in a Dog Bite Case?
Personal injury claims are normally based on the legal theory of negligence. In a negligence claim, you must prove that the other person’s breach of a recognized duty caused your injuries. Georgia follows a “Responsible Dog Ownership Law,” which states that dog owners who own or keep vicious or dangerous dogs that cause injury to others can be legally liable for damages.
Sometimes, this is referred to as a modified “one bite” rule, which prevents liability if the dog involved had never bitten before or had never shown such aggression. If a dog was known to be vicious or aggressive, however, the owner can be held legally responsible. Injured victims would also need to show that the dog’s owner was negligent by allowing the dog to run free or initiate the attack.
Not all attacks can lead to liability. If a dog bites while defending its owner’s life, or the dog bite victim was trespassing, the owner could be cleared from liability. Unlike states that follow strict liability laws for dog bites, Georgia requires dog bite victims to prove negligence in their claims.
To prove your claim, your dog bite lawyer will use evidence such as:
- Medical records
- Photos and video footage
- Witness statements
- Police reports
- Proof of other incidents involving the dog in question.
- Documentation of your lost income due to the incident
- Expert testimony and reports.
Our Sandy Springs dog bite lawyers will track down and use the evidence in your case to work for a favorable financial settlement.
Can I File a Claim if I Shared Blame for a Dog Bite in Georgia?
Georgia law allows dog bite victims to file a lawsuit even if they were partially at fault for the incident. Georgia’s modified comparative negligence rule allows personal injury claimants to collect monetary damages as long as they were under 50% at fault for the incident. However, the plaintiff’s financial recovery would be lowered in proportion to their percentage of fault.
What is the Deadline to File a Claim in a Georgia Dog Bite Case?
The statute of limitations in Georgia for a personal injury lawsuit is two years from the date of the accident in most cases. This deadline typically runs from the date of the dog bite incident. There is no need to wait two years, however, and there are significant advantages to filing much sooner.
Contact a Sandy Springs Dog Bite Lawyer Today
Dog bite injuries can have serious consequences, including injuries, emotional stress, and lost income. If a dog bite hurt you or a loved one in Georgia, Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers will help you pursue financial compensation. Call our law office today for a free consultation with a Sandy Springs dog bite lawyer.
