Filing A Lawsuit After A Dog Bite: What You Need To Know
Being bitten or attacked by a dog can be a traumatic experience, and it can lead to serious injuries. If you are the victim of a dog bite or attack, you should consider contacting a personal injury attorney to evaluate your case. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you talk to your attorney about a potential lawsuit.
Where Were You When The Bite Occurred?
While there are many laws and regulations that protect people from dog attacks, there are certain situations where an owner might be able to defend the animal's actions. If you were trespassing on the owner's property or you ignored signs or warnings that there was a dog on the property, the owner might be absolved of some liability in the case. The owner of the dog could reasonably argue that there was no negligence on his or her part, which could make filing a lawsuit more difficult.
Did You File A Report?
Immediately after the injury, you may have filed a report with local animal control authorities. This report allows them to conduct a thorough investigation and determine whether or not the animal is a danger to others. There may be a local requirement that the dog be quarantined to determine whether or not it has rabies, so animal control will most likely want to pick it up, even if the dog has a home. Filing the report maintains safety in the neighborhood, but it also provides you with critical paperwork you can use in your court case.
What Is The Extent Of Your Injuries?
Your personal injury attorney will examine all aspects of the case, including whether or not you have documentation and medical records to back up your claim and whether or not you contributed to the situation. If the lawyer finds you have a solid case, there are several types of compensation you may be able to seek. If your medical injuries required you to miss time from work, you may be able to recover lost wages. If the attack caused emotional trauma, you may be able to recover the cost of any therapy you required as well as money for your pain and suffering. Be sure to provide your lawyer with all your medical records and expenses to provide an accurate accounting of all expenses and losses you've incurred as a result of the dog bite.
If you are injured by a dog, be sure to contact a personal injury attorney after you seek medical assistance. You may be able to file a suit that covers your medical expenses and other costs associated with the injury. One lawyer you can call is James Lee Katz.