Dog attacks can cause painful injuries such as puncture wounds, broken bones, sprains and strains, and eye damage, among many other injuries. Such injuries can result in huge medical bills, loss of employment, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. Therefore, a negligent dog owner should be responsible for dog bites. If you have a dog attack–related case, contacting a dog bite attorney increases your chances of success and getting meaningful compensation. This piece is an overview of who a dog bite lawyer is and the ways they can help you.
Who's a Dog Bite Lawyer?
Dog bite lawyers are personal injury attorneys with professional training and experience handling dog bite claims. They explain your legal rights after an attack, gather evidence, consult medical experts, negotiate with the dog owner or their insurance companies, and help file cases in court. Below are reasons you should contact one if you experience a dog attack.
Help Prove Your Case
A dog owner doesn't automatically become liable for attacks as it can be a case of trespassing or provocation. Therefore, you should gather enough evidence to prove negligence on their part. For instance, you have to prove that you didn't provoke the pet and that you weren't trespassing, the owner knew the dog could cause harm based on past behavior and didn't exercise reasonable care to prevent the attack, or they negligently let the dog roam around. Proving all these can be difficult, and hiring an attorney can help make your case easier. With their professional training and experience, they will analyze the facts, gather evidence, and make arguments that point to liability on the owner.
Negotiate with Dog Owners and Insurance
Sometimes the dog owners and insurance accept liability on the first instance without the need to go to court and present a settlement offer. However, if you don't know personal injury laws, it can be difficult to know if the settlement offer is enough depending on the gravity of the dog attack. For example, the compensation may only cover medical expenses. On the other hand, a personal injury attorney helps you negotiate for a higher amount that caters to other issues, such as emotional pain and suffering, loss of income, and property damage.
Seek the Services of a Professional Dog Bite Attorney
Are you seeking compensation for a dog attack? Representing yourself can be detrimental to your case as it might be difficult to prove your claims or negotiate a deserved settlement. Hiring a professional dog bite lawyer increases the chances of success as they have training and experience handling such cases.
Contact a dog bite attorney for more information.
