Attacks by dogs have resulted in one in five people needing medical attention, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
If you were bitten by someone else’s dog, you might be able to pursue damages against the dog’s owner and the other parties responsible for your injuries. While you are recovering from your injuries, you can hire a Phoenix dog bite lawyer to focus on your legal case. To see how this is possible, contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 816-0755 to discuss your case with a member of our team in a free consultation.
Steps to Take Following a Dog Bite Injury
When you are bitten by a dog, it is essential to follow the steps below to keep yourself safe and healthy.
- Seek medical attention: The severity of a dog bite cannot always be determined by the size of the wound. Sometimes, the smallest puncture or scrape may be riddled with infections such as rabies. This is why it is necessary to visit the doctor if you have not done so already. Outside of seeking treatment, another benefit of seeing the doctor is that you will have medical records to prove your claims once you decide to sue.
- Document the incident: To seek monetary compensation for your losses, the civil court would require evidence that alludes to the ordeal. Therefore, it is important to document all the essential pieces of information. Start by filing a dog bite report with your local animal center. You must also take pictures of your injuries and the location where the incident took place. Remember to get the contact information of the dog’s owner and witnesses, and note down details of the attack.
- Consult with a lawyer: When you consult with Pintas & Mullin Law Firm, a Phoenix dog bite lawyer can help to inform you of your legal options. As a personal injury law firm, we have worked with many victims of dog bite attacks and helped them get the justice they deserve. We might be able to do the same for you.
When Pintas & Mullin Law Firm Works for You
Your health is important, so we recommend that you take the necessary steps needed to recover before seeking legal help. When you hire us, we will investigate the incident thoroughly to build your case and pull in the compensation you deserve. We do this by:
- Contacting and interviewing witnesses, analyzing medical records and related expenses, and determining if the dog has a history of aggression or has bitten someone in the past.
- Negotiating with the opposing team to agree on an equitable amount in a settlement. We will consider your losses and ensure that, where possible, you receive economic and noneconomic damages.
Dog Owner Responsibility
Under A.R.S. § 11-1025, the dog’s owner is responsible for any injuries the dog causes to you, as long as you are on public or private property legally. With most personal injury cases, you must prove negligence. However, in Arizona dog bite cases, you must be able to prove the dog caused your injuries.
Determining Liability
The dog’s owner can be held responsible for your medical bills, pain, and suffering. Arizona has a “strict liability” dog bite law, rather than a “one bite rule.”
- Strict liability: Here, the owner can be held responsible for any injury caused by their dog as long as the attack was not provoked. For example, if you were jogging past the house and the dog chased you down and bit you, the owner can be held liable since they failed to secure the animal within its enclosure or personal property.
- One-bite rule: If the dog’s owner knew that the dog was dangerous or aggressive, and it has bit someone once before, but failed to secure it properly or restrain it during an attack, you can file a civil liability claim against them.
Issues That May Affect Your Claim
You might have a claim for compensation if during the attack, you were not doing any of the following things:
- Trespassing on the dog owner’s property
- Attempting to or committing a crime
- Provoking the dog through abuse, intimidation, fear, or teasing
Even if this was the case, you might still benefit from consulting an attorney about your legal options.
Compensation Available for Dog Bites Claims
Depending on the details of your case, we may be able to secure you financial compensation for your losses following the incident outside of court or at trial. Such monetary compensation includes:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Future lost income
- Future medical bills, including medication, rehabilitation, etc.
- Other costs incurred as a result of the injury and incident
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
- Lost earning capacity
- Funeral and burial costs (in wrongful death cases)
For a free legal consultation with a Dog Bites Lawyer serving Phoenix, call (800) 816-0755
Start Your Litigation Today
Hiring a Phoenix dog bite lawyer from Pintas & Mullin Law Firm is an option to help you recover damages for your losses. When we work for you, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means we cover the cost of your litigation and only charge you for our legal services if we win the case.
We do not shy away from tough cases and have the experience needed to face any insurance company. To discover how we can be a valuable addition to your litigation, call us now at (800) 816-0755.
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