Sustaining Dog Bites and Working with a Dog Bite Lawyer

Small black pug biting a human hand.

Sustaining Dog Bites and Working with a Dog Bite Lawyer

It's a well-known fact that injuries can occur anytime, especially if you work a job with many considerable hazards, such as construction. However, it can be argued that most injuries can be avoided, but you can only do so much because your environment may inadvertently cause you an injury. A perfect example of this is a dog bite.

Being bit by your dog is one thing, but being bitten by someone else's is another. An owner must be responsible for their dog, and it's their responsibility to ensure that it doesn't hurt anyone else. While it may not be intentional, the good news is that you can pursue legal action, for which you will be compensated if you sustain an injury from a dog bite. Few people know how to navigate the legal issue of dog bites, so we'll discuss the details in this article.

More about Dog Bite Injuries

A dog bite can be very serious, although it may not initially seem like it. If your arm or leg is bit, your skin is broken, and the tissue is injured, you will likely need medical attention. There may not be any outward signs of injury at first, but the potential for infection is high, and you shouldn't risk not seeking medical attention.

If you are a victim of dog bite injuries, you need to hire an attorney immediately. Many people think they can take the case independently and avoid the attorney fees, but this is simply not the case. Beyond that, dog wounds can become infected, and you may require a medical procedure to remove the infection. If you take this on yourself, you may not be able to get the compensation because you did not receive medical attention.

What to Do If You Sustain a Dog Bite Injury

If you sustain a dog bite injury, you have several options. First, you can seek an insurance claim with the dog owner's insurance company. If they have homeowners' insurance, a dog bite claim will be covered if it happens on the dog owner's property.

Filing a lawsuit is also an option; you can file one in court against the dog owner if the owner is deemed negligent. If the dog owner's negligence did not matter, you can file a dog bite claim in court and claim the dog owner's liability insurance. You can file a dog bite claim in court if they don't have it.

Proving Liability

If you sustained a dog bite injury and suspect it was the dog owner's fault, you can claim in court, but you must prepare. You and your attorney must prove liability. You must prove that it was the dog owner's fault that you got bit and that the dog owner was negligent.

To prove liability, you need to prove that you had a reasonable expectation of safety. This means that you could not predict that the dog would attack you and that you had every right to be there. The dog owner is liable for any dog bite injuries, regardless of their presence. The owner is liable if they were present and failed to protect you from the dog's behavior.

When to Seek Legal Assistance

If a dog bites you, here are the legal grounds when you might seek legal assistance:

Bitten by a Neighbor’s Dog

Most dog attacks usually involve a neighbor's dog. It's best to seek legal assistance immediately because most dog owners do not carry liability insurance. If you wait, your chances of compensation go down, and if the dog owner has no insurance, the only way to get compensation will be if you can prove the owner knew of the dog's biting history and continued to allow it to roam freely.

Bitten by a Friend’s or Family Member’s Dog

Just because you're close with a person doesn't mean that they're not liable. You can still seek compensation, and you can do so through homeowner's insurance if the dog is a family pet. If the dog isn't a family pet, you must prove that your friend or family member was negligent and that they knew that the dog was dangerous.

Bitten Outdoors

Let's say you go to the park to relax. You may be running around playing with your children, or you may just be sitting on a park bench reading a book. In any case, you're enjoying yourself, so how can you be bitten? Chances are, a dog is running around off-leash, and it's not controlled if you are bitten while in a public area or while exercising, the dog owner will be liable.

Bitten at the Vet’s Office or Pound

You'll likely be bitten where dogs are a common sight, such as at the vet's office or the dog pound. Since it happened on their premises, they're liable if they were negligent in supervising the dogs.

Someone Else’s Dog Bit Your Child

If your child is bit by someone else's dog, that person is liable for the injuries. The same rule applies if the child is in your care, and the liability is the same whether the child is injured at home or a friend's or relative's house. The same also applies if someone has homeowner's insurance and they live in a community that has a leash law, they'll be liable.

Possible Defenses

If you're seeking compensation for a dog bite, there are options for owners to defend themselves. For this reason, it's worth knowing what they are to build a case in your favor. These include:

Provocation

If you were provoking the dog, you might have some liability, but it will depend on the specific facts of your case and the extent of the provocation.

Trespassing

If you were trespassing on private property, you're liable to the dog owner because you were unlawfully on the property.

Comparative Negligence

Comparative negligence is a situation where you or the other party contributed to the injury or damages. In this situation, the dog owner may still be liable, but your negligence could reduce your compensation.

Assumption of Risk

You assume some risk when entering a situation, especially with a dog. If you're injured, you're liable because you assumed some risk.

Hiring a Dog Bite Lawyer

No matter the situation, you need to have an attorney on your side because most dog owners do not carry liability insurance. If you claim their homeowner insurance, chances are, they won't have enough insurance to compensate you for your injuries. If you sustain serious injuries, you'll need to seek legal assistance because it will be difficult for you to prove liability on your own.

You should consider their experience and past successes when looking for a lawyer. It's also worth asking if they have ever handled a dog bite case before and what the outcome was. If you have an attorney that has successfully dealt with a dog bite case before, it may give you an advantage when you go to court. Of course, you can also ask for referrals and recommendations to make the search easier.

Conclusion

Dog bite injuries are severe, and even if you don't have any outward signs of injury, you can still have an infection that can lead to more severe complications. You must act quickly if you want to be compensated for your injuries. You need to seek legal assistance to ensure that the dog owner is liable to get the compensation you deserve.

If you’re looking for a dog bite lawyer, Mendez & Sanchez Law can help you! Our legal professionals are experienced in various laws, so we assure you that you’ll get the compensation you deserve. Simply go to our website to book a free consultation!

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