Dogs are a part of our daily lives but can still cause severe injuries. An experienced dog bite lawyer can help victims recover compensation for their medical bills and other losses.
Most states impose strict liability for dog bites or have a one-bite rule. Your lawyer will investigate your case and document your losses to ensure you get fair compensation. Contact Atlanta Dog Bite Lawyer now!
Often, victims of dog attacks suffer serious injuries that require medical treatment. This can lead to enormous medical bills and lost wages from taking time off work to recover. Our experienced New York dog bite lawyer can work to get victims the compensation they need and deserve so that they can focus on healing and moving forward with their lives.
Dog bites can cause a wide range of medical complications, from serious bacterial infections (such as Pasteurella, MRSA, or tetanus) to permanent damage like scarring or disfigurement. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may need to undergo surgery or receive long-term treatment, such as physical therapy.
Even a minor dog bite could result in significant damages, such as pain and suffering and emotional trauma. Some of these damages are not tangible and can be difficult to quantify, but they still play an important role in a successful personal injury claim.
Victims of dog bites may also face non-economic losses, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and a fear of dogs (cynophobia). A skilled New York dog bite attorney can help to quantify these costs and seek appropriate compensation.
While you are recovering, your New York dog bite lawyer can handle communications with the liable party’s insurance company and can ensure that all of your losses are documented and claimed. This will help to maximize your settlement award and prevent the insurance company from trying to reduce or deny your claims.
When you are a victim of a dog attack, the first thing that you should do is to see a doctor as soon as possible. This is important to ensure that your injuries are properly diagnosed and treated, as well as to get a rabies vaccination if necessary.
It’s also a good idea to speak with the dog’s owner, if possible. You can ask them about their history with the dog and whether it has been vaccinated for rabies. It’s also a good idea to file a police report. While the police will not assign fault, their report will contain important information about the incident, including witness contact information.
Lost Wages
The medical costs associated with a dog bite often include emergency room visits, prescription medications, physical therapy and possibly psychiatric treatment. It can also include any loss of income due to having to miss work for medical treatment. Victims who have to take time off of work to recuperate from a dog bite injury are entitled to compensation for their lost wages. They can also receive compensation for future losses if their injuries will prevent them from working in the same capacity as before the attack (referred to as loss of earning power).
A victim’s non-economic damages may include pain and suffering and a diminished quality of life. These can be difficult to quantify, but a skilled attorney will have access to resources that can help them build a strong case. An attorney’s knowledge of dog bite laws, negotiation skills and courtroom experience can make a significant difference in the amount of compensation you receive.
In addition to economic and non-economic damages, a victim may be entitled to punitive damages. This is intended to punish the dog owner and deter them from acting negligently in the future.
An experienced New York dog bite lawyer from Gregory Spektor & Associates, P.C. can provide valuable guidance throughout the legal process and ensure that victims are fully compensated for their injuries. They can assist with filing a claim within the statute of limitations, negotiating with insurance companies, and advocating for their clients’ best interests.
A successful legal claim can result in a substantial settlement that can cover all of the victim’s expenses and help them get back to a normal life as quickly as possible. However, it is important to remember that the at-fault party’s insurance company will attempt to minimize their liability and offer an unfairly low settlement. Your lawyer will review the initial offer and negotiate on your behalf until you are satisfied that you have received the compensation you deserve.
Pain and Suffering
Many victims experience lasting emotional and physical harm after a dog attack, including disfigurement, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Compensation in a Dog Bite Lawyer case can help pay for treatment to mitigate these damages. A successful claim also includes economic damages that account for the loss of income and wages due to the victim’s injuries, as well as diminished future earning potential.
When it comes to the physical injuries associated with a dog bite, a jury will award the victim compensatory damages based on the severity of their condition and the effects it is expected to have on their life in the future. Injuries resulting in permanent scarring or disfigurement are usually awarded higher amounts than other injuries. This is because these are expected to have a greater impact on the victim’s life, both in the short term and the long run.
The level of medical care required will have a direct impact on the amount awarded for pain and suffering. Victims should seek a lawyer who understands how to calculate these costs. A good attorney will take into consideration the length of time needed to recover from these injuries, future medical expenses, the likelihood of recurring health issues, and lost work.
Insurance companies will often try to settle cases early, before victims can fully assess their future needs. This is because they want to minimize their liability, and they can do this by avoiding paying for additional damages that are likely to develop. A knowledgeable Dog Bite Lawyer can help victims avoid this trap and get the full compensation they deserve for their injuries and losses.
In addition to seeking compensation for their medical expenses, other economic and non-economic damages, a victim may also be entitled to punitive damages from the dog owner if the dog’s behavior was egregious or outrageous. These damages are designed to “teach the owner a lesson” and deter similar actions in the future. However, it is important for victims to obtain legal representation before accepting any settlement offers from an insurance company. A good Dog Bite Lawyer can review all offers and negotiate on behalf of the victim.
Recovery Time
Each dog bite victim is unique, and the extent of their injuries will affect the amount of compensation they receive. Victims may need extensive medical treatment, including multiple surgeries and rehabilitation. This can be very expensive, and victims can miss a significant amount of work as they recover. Injuries can also affect future earning potential, and victims may never return to the same type of employment that they enjoyed before their attack.
The first step for any victim should be to seek medical attention as soon as possible. This will help to prevent any infections that could lead to further complications. In addition, victims should take the time to document as much evidence as they can of the incident. This can include taking pictures of their injuries, and speaking with witnesses. This information can be crucial in establishing liability for the attack.
Once a victim is released from the hospital, they should speak with their physician about their recovery timeline. The doctor will provide a prognosis for their full recovery, and this will help determine the overall value of their case. It is important for victims to avoid settling with an insurance company until they have received a complete diagnosis and know how much their recovery will be.
Victims may need additional surgery, or their injuries could have permanent effects on their lives. For example, if a victim suffers a spinal cord injury, they may be paralyzed and will not be able to walk or move on their own. This will significantly impact their quality of life, and can even leave them unable to care for themselves.
Dog owners are responsible for their pets, and they are supposed to keep them leashed, or otherwise contained so that they can’t injure other people. However, some dog owners do not take this responsibility seriously and allow their dogs to attack people. If a dog owner fails to prevent an attack, they can be held liable for the injured party’s damages.
Some states follow a “one-bite rule,” while others have strict liability laws. Follows a blend of both, and a plaintiff will need to prove that the dog in question had vicious propensities if they want to recover damages for pain and suffering.
