You are not alone if you were bitten by a dog. Canine attacks may require extensive medical treatment and a lengthy period of recovery. You may be able to get legal help in your corner after a dog attack by contacting Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. Our dog bite lawyers want to determine how they can help your case. You can reach us by calling (800) 816-0755.
Here at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we understand that any dog could bite you without warning or provocation. You have a right to contact a dog bite lawyer if you or a family member experienced an attack from any dog, including a(n):
- Alaskan Husky
- American Pit Bull
- Chow Chow
- Doberman Pinscher
- Great Dane
- Rottweiler
- St. Bernard
Our dog bite lawyers can help you hold a dog owner or other liable party responsible for your losses.
What Should You Do if a Dog Bites You?
What Should You Do If A Dog Bites You?
Handling the aftermath of a dog bite may be challenging. In some cases, you may be unsure exactly what to do after a dog attacks you. There are a number of steps you can take right away following a canine attack. Depending upon your situation, you may need to:
- Contact animal control.
- Get in touch with the local police.
- Speak with the dog’s owner.
- Talk to any witnesses who saw the attack.
Reaching out to animal control may help you build documentation after any dog attack. Animal control employees may be able to start a record for the dog that bit you. They may also tell you if the dog previously bit someone else. In some areas around the country, you can only seek compensation after a dog bite if the dog previously bit someone else. Finally, animal control employees may help you identify the dog’s owner, if no owner is present at the time of the attack.
Ensure that you obtain a copy of the police report as well as the contact information of any witnesses the police may have interviewed after the incident. Finally, make sure you get contact information from the dog’s owner, which the police report may help to identify. Do not downplay the severity of your injuries or take responsibility for the dog attack.
You may also need to get medical treatment if a dog bites you. Dog bites can cause significant injuries, according to a study in the Scientific World Journal. Depending on the dog’s size and strength, you may need to contact an ambulance so you can visit the hospital for treatment of:
- Cuts and lacerations
- Broken bones
- Nerve damage
- Damage to tendons or ligaments
Some dog attacks leave individuals with defensive injuries on their hands or arms. Dogs may attempt to bite at your face or neck in an attack, especially those involving children. Some canines may also bite at your legs, especially if you are attempting to get away from the attacking animal.
You have a right to seek out legal help if you are attacked by a dog. A dog bite lawyer may help you determine your legal options.
Should I Get a Lawyer for a Dog Bite?
Should I Get a Lawyer For a Dog Bite?
As we mentioned, you can reach out to a dog bite lawyer after you are attacked by a dog. A lawyer may be able to take charge of your claim right away, depending on the circumstances of your case. Your lawyer may help to:
- Identify the owner of the dog that bit you.
- Establish liability on the part of the dog’s owner.
- Speak with witnesses to establish what happened in the attack.
- Go over all of your medical records to ensure your losses are covered.
Reaching out to a dog bite lawyer as quickly as possible after an attack may help you comply with your state’s statute of limitations in case you choose to file a personal injury lawsuit. You may even wish to speak with a lawyer before you contact your insurance company. Your lawyer can handle all communication with the owner of the dog that bit you and their insurance company.
A lawyer may also take steps to appropriately record and evaluate all losses you suffered after a dog bite. You may qualify for compensation for your medical expenses and other losses. In order to get compensation for your losses, you must demonstrate that the dog bite directly led to your injuries, mental anguish, or time off of work.
Your lawyer may also provide you with information about your legal options following a dog bite. Depending on your situation, a dog bite lawyer may advise you to:
- Negotiate with the dog owner’s insurance company.
- File a lawsuit against the dog’s owner.
Handling negotiations with insurance agents may take up more of your time and focus than you desire. A dog bite lawyer may help you assess any settlement offers made by the insurance company while working to ensure you suffer no further losses as a result of the accident.
Your lawyer may also guide you through the courtroom process if you wish to file a lawsuit against the owner of the dog that bit you. You can learn more about the ways a dog bite lawyer may help by contacting Pintas & Mullins Law Firm for a legal consultation.
Representing Animal Attack Victims Throughout the U.S.
Many people have said that dogs are man’s best friend. Despite the friendly nature of most dogs, hundreds of thousands of people are bitten by dogs every month, often leaving victims with lifelong physical and emotional scars. Dog bites are much more common than many people think. About 4.7 million dog bites occur annually, according to the CDC. Hundreds of thousands of these dog bites require emergency room care, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
If you or someone you know has suffered a dog bite injury, contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. Our dog bite attorneys partner with top litigation firms across the country to provide nationwide representation. We travel directly to you to provide reliable, compassionate counsel! You can trust in our more than 50 years of collective legal experience and track record of 10,000+ cases resolved.
Who Pays for a Dog Bite?
The regulations on liability for a dog bite vary by state. For example, some states have a “one bite” law. This law states that a dog’s owner may not be liable the first time a dog bites someone. But even in states with a “one bite” law, there are exceptions that may leave a dog owner liable for a dog bite, even if it is the first time the dog has bitten somebody.
The owner may not be liable for your losses in all situations, though. In some cases, a dog bite may classify as justified. For example, if you provoke or harm a dog before the attack, the owner may not be responsible for covering your medical expenses and other losses.
Finally, a dog’s owner may not be liable for a dog bite if you were on their property illegally when the incident occurred. Entering someone else’s property without permission may classify as trespassing. If you suffer a dog bite while illegally trespassing on someone else’s property, they may not hold liability for the attack.
Additionally, some states use different regulations pertaining to liability for individuals who choose to work with dogs. Veterinarians and groomers, for example, may accept a certain degree of danger because they choose to work with dogs. This means that, in some states, the owner may not be liable for a dog bite involving professionals who work with dogs.
You may discuss who pays for a dog bite further with the lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. We may help assess the specifics of your case to determine if the dog’s owner may need to pay for your healthcare bills, wages lost at work, and other losses.
Why Should I Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to Handle My Dog Bite Claim?
You might want to get legal help on your side if a dog bit you. A legal team can be on your side and help you resolve your claim and potentially obtain compensation for your losses. You can contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to handle your dog bite claim.
What Is the Average Payout for a Dog Bite?
What Is the Average Payout for a Dog Bite?
Some parties handle dog bite claims without going to trial. Generally, these claims resolve after the victims file a claim against the homeowner’s insurance of the dog’s owner.
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), the average payout for a dog bite claim varies from state to state and from case to case. States like California and Florida have more dog bite claims. The average payout for a claim was also much higher in these states. Other states, like Ohio, had lower payouts. Regardless of the state, the true determining factors for your potential payout revolve around the specific details of your dog bite accident.
You have the option to seek a dog bite lawyer to help you determine the compensation you may expect to see from an insurance settlement or a court-ordered judgment. Additionally, your lawyer may also help you place a monetary value to noneconomic losses you suffered as a result of your dog bite, such as your pain and suffering. Without a lawyer, you would have to calculate these economic and noneconomic losses on your own along with gathering evidence and negotiating compensation.
The payout you could receive from a dog bite claim may cover your medical expenses, too. As we discussed, dog bites may result in serious injuries that require immediate medical treatment. By filing a claim after a dog bite, you could be able to secure an award for:
- An ambulance ride and emergency treatment
- Hospitalization and surgical procedures
- Medical assessments and tests
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
Your dog bite claim may also allow you to get compensation for the time you were off work recovering from your injuries. Additionally, some states allow you to seek compensation for mental anguish, pain, and suffering that occur as a result of a dog bite. In some cases, canine attacks are very traumatic.
The trauma of a dog attack may increase if the victim of the attack is a child. These attacks may have serious psychosocial consequences for younger children, especially since dog attacks on children tend to lead to bites on the face or head.
In the worst of cases, a dog bite leads to a fatality. In this event, you may file a wrongful death lawsuit to account for the losses your loved one suffered before passing. Usually, certain family members file a wrongful death suit in the absence of the deceased person, who would have filed a personal injury lawsuit had they survived the attack.
Go over the specific facts of your case today with a dog bite lawyer to focus on the type of payout you may seek. Ultimately, your compensation will reflect the circumstances of your specific canine attack.
How Long Does It Take To Settle a Dog Bite Claim?
How Long Does It Take to Settle a Dog Bite Claim?
You may only receive compensation after a dog bite once you settle your claim or resolve it in court. It may take an extended amount of time to resolve a dog bite claim. Note that you will only have a set amount of time to file your claim after a canine attack.
After the statute of limitations expires on your case, you may no longer seek compensation for your losses. This means you must begin the legal process to seek compensation before the expiration of the statute of limitations.
You may begin working on your claim right away by reaching out to a dog bite lawyer. Your lawyer can investigate your case, including where you were bitten and any factors that may have caused the dog to bite you. After gathering information, your lawyer may file a claim with the dog owner’s insurance company.
Filing an initial claim may lead to a period of negotiations that your lawyer can handle. These negotiations may last for days or weeks. Sometimes they may even last for a period of months. There is no set amount of time necessary to settle a dog bite claim.
Additionally, in some cases, your lawyer may be unable to settle your claim in a satisfactory manner. In this situation, your dog bite lawyer may advise you to file a lawsuit against the dog owner. Securing compensation through a lawsuit may take much longer. This is one of the reasons that some people resolve dog bite claims before filing a lawsuit.
Find out more about how long it may take to resolve your claim by seeking help from a dog bite lawyer.
Why Should I Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm To Handle My Dog Bite Claim?
Why Should I Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to Handle My Dog Bite Claim?
The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm advocates for dog bite victims. You can contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm anytime to begin discussing your case in a free, no-obligation consultation.
Our dog bite lawyers understand that injuries from a dog bite can develop into ongoing medical conditions that change your life forever and require constant therapy and treatment. The last thing you want to do is accept a settlement that does not accurately reflect your losses now and in the future. Our team may also be able to review all of your medical records to ensure your losses are appropriately compensated. We can review your test results and any healthcare services you needed in order to recover. You may also reach out to us if one of your loved ones was bitten by a dog.
In order to help victims, we do not charge you legal fees unless we bring you a settlement or a verdict in your favor. This means you may contact us for no-risk legal assistance after a canine attack. We may be able to assist you if you seek compensation for your:
- Healthcare expenses
- Lost wages at work
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
Allow us to dig into the facts surrounding your case. We may be able to investigate what happened to determine who was liable for the attack. Allow us to stand up for you if the dog’s owner claims that you were responsible for causing the dog to bite you.
Focus on getting legal assistance after a canine attack today. Allow us to handle all aspects of your case. You may reach out to us to get a consultation regarding your legal options from one of our team members. Start working with a dog bite lawyer so you can begin working on a personal injury claim before the statute of limitations runs out.
For a free legal consultation with a Dog Bite Lawyer serving nationwide, call (800) 816-0755
Dog Bite Lawyer Q&A
I hit someone’s dog that was in the middle of a road without a leash and the impact damaged my car and hurt me. Should they have to pay for my car and for my medical care from the accident?
This depends on the state. They may be responsible for the damage to your car and your medical bills for allowing their dog to run wild, but that would be on a state-by-state basis, and we would have to check the laws.
Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me (800) 816-0755
Consider a Dog Bite Lawyer for Help
Legal help is only a phone call away if you were bitten by a dog. You may reach out to Pintas & Mullins Law Firm right away to discuss your legal situation.
Our dog bite lawyers can help you file a claim against the owner of the dog that bit you. In some cases, dog bite claims are resolved through a settlement with the insurance company. However, we can also help you pursue a personal injury lawsuit and take your case to trial if necessary.
Allow us to focus on bringing you an award for your losses while you focus on your recovery and physical health. You may be able to get compensation for your healthcare bills and other expenses, such as pain and suffering. Reach out to us by calling (800) 816-0755. The sooner you call, the sooner we may begin working on your potential case.
Remember that the statute of limitations for your state sets a deadline to file personal injury lawsuits. This means that if you try to file a lawsuit after the deadline passes, you may not have the right to take any legal action at all. Do not let a negligent dog owner get away with causing your injuries and losses. Seek justice today and call us for your free case evaluation.
Click to contact our Dog Bite Lawyers today
Dog Bite News:
Dog Attack Victim Wins $36 Million
Legal Options for Dog Bite Victims
Postal Worker Attacked by Loose Dog
How to Be a Responsible Dog Owner in 5 Steps
Deaths from Dog Attacks Rise in Summer Months
Iowa Toddler Killed by Babysitter’s Dog
Neighbor Rescues Toddler Being Mauled by Dogs
Helpful Resources
- Alabama Dog Bite Lawyer
- Alaska Dog Bite Lawyer
- Arizona Dog Bite Lawyer
- Arkansas Dog Bite Lawyer
- California Dog Bite Lawyer
- Colorado Dog Bite Lawyer
- Connecticut Dog Bite Lawyer
- How Long Does It Take to Settle a Dog Bite Claim?
- Idaho Dog Bite Lawyer
- Michigan Dog Bite Lawyer
- Missouri Dog Bite Lawyer
- Montana Dog Bite Lawyer
- Nebraska Dog Bite Lawyer
- New Hampshire Dog Bite Lawyer
- New Mexico Dog Bite Lawyer
- North Dakota Dog Bite Lawyer
- Oregon Dog Bite Lawyer
- South Carolina Dog Bite Lawyer
- South Dakota Dog Bite Lawyer
- St. Bernard Dog Bite Lawyer
- Utah Dog Bite Lawyer
- West Virginia Dog Bite Lawyer
- Who Pays for a Dog Bite?
Call or text (800) 816-0755 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form