Every year, millions of people suffer dog bites. These bites cause injuries, ranging from minor to severe. While some people may brush off minor dog bites, others want help securing compensation for their damages. This includes significant medical expenses, psychological trauma and other post-bite hardships.
The question then arises, “Do I need a personal injury lawyer after a dog bite?”.
1. Nature of the Injury
Dog bites can result in different injuries, from superficial wounds to severe disfigurement or even death. Post-bite trauma may require extensive medical treatment, such as surgeries, scar treatments, psychological counseling and rehabilitation. This care can be expensive and mentally taxing to endure. A personal injury lawyer can help you calculate the toll value of your damages and pursue compensation on your behalf.
2. Assessing Liability
If a state is a “strict liability” state, it means that a dog owner can be held liable for a dog bite, even if they were not aware of the aggressive nature of the dog or the dog’s propensity to bite. Under some state laws, bite victims are not required to prove their injuries resulted from the owner’s negligence.
Still, dog bite cases can be complex. They require evaluating the specific circumstances and laws at play. For example, if your own negligence contributed to the dog bite, you may share liability under the theory of “comparative negligence.” Under this system, your compensation can be reduced proportionally by the percentage of fault attributed to you. A personal injury attorney can help you refute accusations that your negligence played a role in the bite.
3. Collecting Evidence
A personal injury lawyer can help you collect evidence supporting your claim for damages. Damages are the financial losses you suffered from the dog bite. Important evidence can include police reports, medical records and witness statements. Without this evidence, it can be difficult to substantiate your claims for injuries and compensation. Your lawyer may even retain experts, like doctors, to testify about the extent of your injuries and prognosis.
4. Filing Insurance Claims
Dog owners typically have homeowner or renter insurance policies covering dog bite liability. However, filing a claim with insurance companies can be daunting after an accident. This is because insurers will work to minimize payouts. They often provide initial settlement offers that do not adequately cover all your expenses, let alone pain and suffering. This can quickly become discouraging.
An experienced personal injury lawyer knows how to negotiate strategically with insurance companies. They can work on your behalf to help you receive a settlement commensurate with your injuries.
5. Navigating Litigation
Insurance companies are not willing to settle all claims. You may need to file a personal injury lawsuit if you cannot settle your claim. Doing this successfully requires adhering to strict procedural rules. From knowing the statute of limitations to understanding how to file pleadings and conduct discovery, the litigation process is fraught with challenges.
Professional expertise is always helpful. Hiring a personal injury lawyer alleviates the burden of navigating the legal process alone, which allows you to focus on recovery. A lawyer’s guidance will better equip you to take your case to trial.
Consult a Personal Injury Lawyer
While not every dog bite incident requires retaining a personal injury lawyer, the more severe ones warrant the expertise of one. Lawyers provide knowledgeable guidance through challenging times and will work to ensure fair compensation for all your injuries. They can play an essential role in holding responsible parties accountable.
