Choosing the Right Lawyer After a Dog Bite or Animal Attack
A dog bite can be a painful and terrifying experience. Many animal attacks cause serious injuries, including permanent disabilities, scarring or disfigurement, along with long-term or lifelong psychological injury. Tragically, these injuries, and even the risk of death, are greatly magnified when a child is the victim. Unlike auto accidents, a slip and fall, or a defective product injury, however, the law surrounding dog bites can be quite complicated and confusing, making it difficult for a non-lawyer to recover compensation for the resulting injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog bite
Dog Bite Laws Vary from State to State
Some states follow a basic negligence standard, holding dog owners liable when their negligent behavior allows their dog to bite to another. Other states have adopted a strict liability standard, holding owners liable any time their pet bites another person, without any consideration of negligence and regardless of whether the owner was exercising care in keeping or handling the animal at the time or not. Still another popular approach only holds owners liable if they previously knew that their animal had a dangerous or vicious propensity to bite or attack. This doctrine is often called the “one free bite” rule, because an owner may not be liable the first time their animal attacks a person, but after that incident they are on notice and responsible for future attacks.
Of course, many states take another approach, incorporating elements of all three different theories of liability. In New York, for instance, animal owners are strictly liable for medical costs when their animal attacks a person, but they are liable for other legal damages only if they knew or should have known of the animal’s dangerous propensities. In California, dog owners are liable if the attack took place in a public place or on the owner’s private property, if the victim was lawfully on the property at the time. In Georgia, a dog owner can be liable for injury caused by careless management or allowing the animal to go at liberty if either the animal was vicious or dangerous, or if the person violated an ordinance requiring the animal to be kept at heel or on a leash. (e.g. Georgia leash law.)
The Right Animal Attack Attorney Can Help
Dog bites can cause serious injuries, including compound fractures, facial lacerations and puncture wounds, internal injuries, nerve damage, scarring and disfigurement, rabies, and emotional trauma. Victims sometimes come away from a vicious animal attack with permanent physical disabilities as well as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or a lifelong fear of dogs or open places. Death from an animal attack is a very real possibility as well, especially when the victim is a small child
Proving the extent of damages is not the only hurdle an injury victim must face. Pet owners have several defenses to liability, including claiming that the victim provoked the animal or otherwise assumed the risk of being bitten, or caused or contributed to the incident. Also, dog bite victims may be reluctant to bring legal action against the owner, either because they do not know the law or are a friend, neighbor or family member of the owner who does not want the owner, or the dog, to get in trouble. However, in many cases, insurance is available to cover the costs of some or all of the medical treatment and other financial injuries caused by the attack. And this is exactly what insurance is designed to do
How To Choose An Indianapolis Dog Bite Attorney
Finding the Right Attorney
You or your child has been seriously injured in a dog attack. You are struggling with medical bills, insurance companies, and the owner of the dog that caused the attack. You think you have a dog bite case, and you know you deserve compensation from the dog’s owner, but you feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. You look up Indianapolis dog bite attorneys, but there are many.
How To Choose an Indiana Dog Bite Attorney That Is Right for You
Choose a dog bite lawyer with a history of success. Look on the attorney’s website for past case results. Also check to see how long the attorney has been handling dog bite cases at his firm.
Choose a dog bite lawyer who has happy clients. Many quality lawyer web pages will have a page for past client testimonials and law firm reviews. See what other dog bite victims had to say about their experience with their lawyer.
Choose a dog bite lawyer who knows the state laws. The more experience your attorney has and the longer they have worked in the state, the more familiar they will be with the specific dog bite laws of Indiana.
Choose a dog bite lawyer that you are comfortable working with. Some people want a more personable attorney, while others might want an aggressive lawyer, and others might want an exceptionally available attorney. Pick the person who you feel most comfortable working with.
Choosing a Dog Bite Attorney
A dog bite or attack can be a dramatic experience and can develop into a serious situation. Some victims require immediate medical attention and even multiple surgeries. An animal attack can result in time away from work and permanent injuries. This can turn into financial trouble that you aren’t prepared to handle.
In the state of Connecticut, if you are bitten by a dog then the owner of that dog is liable for your injuries. Victims’ injuries should be covered by the dog owner’s homeowners or renters insurance. You will often want an experienced Connecticut dog bite attorney on your side, who is familiar with the laws in New Haven and the entire state.
Choosing the right dog bite attorneys to represent you is critical to recovering compensation. You want to make sure you are choosing the right attorney for your case.
Factors to consider when choosing your dog bite attorney include:
They should have extensive experience with dog bite cases
Have a deep understanding of laws associated with personal injury
Be dedicated to pursuing the compensation you need for your injury
Know the up-front costs
Feel like your attorney understands your needs
HOW TO CHOOSE A DEDICATED AND EXPERIENCED DOG BITE ATTORNEY
Pain…permanent disfigurement…emotional trauma…fear of dogs: all of these can result from a traumatic dog bite. Whether it happened to you or your child, a dog bite is no doubt a terrifying and painful experience. Many animal attacks have the potential to cause severe injuries, from puncture wounds to broken bones to facial scars.
If a dog bite has impacted your life, you understandably want justice. The owner of the dog should be held responsible. But it’s not that simple. You need the direction and legal expertise of a dog bite lawyer in Los Angeles to help you get the best and full compensation the law allows.
Conduct an Internal Search
This is one of the biggest factors you should consider when searching for a personal injury lawyer. When conducting your research, stick to your local area to find the lawyer with the most targeted expertise in LA. Ask for recommendations from people you know and take a look at various lawyers’ websites to determine how they have handled dog bite cases in the past.
Look at Experience
It’s not enough to hire a great personal injury lawyer. There are several subsets of personal injury law. An attorney known for auto accident injury law may not be the best fit for your dog bite case. Look for those who focus on dog bites for the best chance of a successful outcome. Targeted expertise: this is what you want when selecting dog bite attorneys. They know the effects of dog bite injuries, the associated costs, and the ongoing medical needs these types of injuries present.
Consider Access to Resources
When hiring a dog bite lawyer, you are in actuality hiring a whole team of people who will be contributing to your case. This group may be comprised of a lead attorney, a paralegal who does all the research, and investigators who will help collect evidence for your case. If you ever wonder if you should handle the case on your own, just remember that it takes an entire team of experts to successfully handle your case. Your lawyer brings many years of experience to the table and can move the process along seamlessly. You can seriously compromise the stability of your case if you decide to proceed on your own
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT DOG BITE INJURY LAWYER
Dog bites can happen at literally any time or any place. When they do, you need the services of an experienced dog bite lawyer who knows your rights. Whether you are bitten by a dog that belongs to someone you know or by a stray, you need to understand the potential outcomes and the process for getting compensation to cover your financial consequences. The choice in legal representation is one of the most important decisions you will make. It shouldn’t be taken lightly or an attorney chosen randomly. Instead, learn what it takes to make one attorney preferable over the rest.
When people are sick, they don’t go looking for the youngest, most inexperienced doctor to take care of them. Unfortunately, the same isn’t always true when they are choosing legal representation after they have been bitten. In many ways, navigating the legal system is a lot like performing intricate surgery. It requires an in-depth knowledge of the subject matter and a lot of practice to ensure the best possible outcome is achieved.
Laws differ from opens in a new windowstate-to-state and they make a difference in how you address every step of the legal process. An attorney who has practiced in the area for a long time knows the local court system, the laws that apply to their area of specialty, and the best approach for getting the desired result.
Never dismiss your case as one that doesn’t require a lot of expertise. A dog bite is no simple matter and can lead to extensive treatments and additional issues. Even a minor wound can end up getting infected which can result in damage to the muscles and nerves. The steps you take to report the details of the attack and to pursue your claim will make a difference in how successful you and your attorney will be at getting fair compensation.
CHOOSE AN ATTORNEY WITH A SPECIALTY IN THE RIGHT AREA
There is a lot to learn when you choose law as your profession. It takes a lot of time and dedication to gain a legal education and pass the bar. All this effort is what it takes just to earn the title of attorney. It would be virtually impossible for every attorney who reached this milestone to learn everything there is to know about every possible area of the law. That’s why attorneys specialize in certain areas of law. By focusing on a single area of law, they can become experts capable of helping clients whose legal issues fall within their area of specialty.
