Dog Bite Injuries And Dog Bite Lawyers
What do you need to know about dog bite laws in?
Dog bite injury laws are governed under the “potentially dangerous dog” guidelines. A dog owner may be held liable for a dog bite injury if their dog meets any of the following criteria:
- The dog physically harmed someone.
- The dog was menacing to others while outside the owner’s property.
- The dog injured or killed another pet while outside of the owner’s property.
If a dog was provoked it might not be labeled as a “potentially dangerous dog,” and the owner may escape liability. The owner may try to prove that someone provoked their dog, or trespassed on their property to avoid paying fair compensation.
TYPES OF DOG BITE LAWSUITS
There are a few different types of dog bite lawsuits and determining which general category your claim falls under is an important first step.
AGGRESSIVE INCIDENTS
This category encompasses what most people think of when they think of a dog attack—a dog breaks loose from a leash and aggressively bites the victim. Cases may differ based on the type of dog, as some insurance policies will exclude coverage for breeds considered to be dangerous, like Pit Bulls or Rottweilers.
NON-AGGRESSIVE INCIDENTS
Dogs can bite without displaying any aggression at all. If not properly trained, a dog may nip when it gets excited, and depending on the breed, these bites may be enough to cause injury.
DOG ON DOG AGGRESSION
A dog acting aggressively can cause injuries to the people who happen to be nearby, as well as to the dog itself. The law may cover pain and suffering for humans, but it will not cover it for dogs.
Child Dog Bite Injury Lawyer
Though well-trained and cared-for dogs may provide families with years of love and enjoyment, poorly-trained or neglected dogs may pose significant threats to not only the families who own them but to anyone with whom such dogs come into contact. More than 4 million US citizens are bitten by dogs every year, resulting in 368,000 emergency-room visits that could have been made unnecessary if dog-owners had provided their pets with adequate training and care.
Children are more vulnerable to dog-bite injuries than adults, with children under the age of 9 (and boys, in particular) constituting the group with the highest risk for major dog-bite injuries. Children are especially vulnerable because
they are less likely to know how to behave around dogs
children’s loud and unpredictable behavior can put dogs on edge
any dog-bites that are inflicted on a child will cover a relatively large percentage of the child’s body due to the child’s smaller size.
Children’s dog-bite injury attorney has extensive experience with cases involving dog-bite injuries suffered by children and can assist you in obtaining the compensation to which you are entitled. If your child has been injured by an uncontrolled or aggressive dog, contact attorney for advice regarding your legal options.
A Dog Bite Attorney with The Advocates Can Help You
Nine out of ten times, a dog bite injury is frequently followed by expensive hospital visits. Dog bite-related injuries can result in nerve damage, permanent disfigurement, and other problematic traumas. Statistics show that 1 out of every 3 dog bites becomes infected. More than 28,000 people in the U.S. underwent reconstructive surgery in 2015 because of dog attack injuries. A dog attack is always sudden and unexpected and can cause the troublesome medical bills to pile up. A dog bite should be covered by the owner’s homeowner insurance. Generally, homeowner insurance policies include liability if their dog attacks someone. Nevertheless, each policy is different and should be examined carefully.
Because insurance companies are trying to make a profit, they are sometimes slow to pay out claims. Insurance companies also benefit from the fact that victims do not normally know their rights. A personal injury lawyer can help in maneuvering unknown territory. They can help ensure that you receive fair compensation to help offset the high costs associated with a dog attack.
What Is My Dog Bite Injury Case Worth?
If you or someone you love has been the victim of a dog bite injury and is still unsure about hiring a personal injury attorney, the Advocates Law will assess your case for free. The Advocates can help you determine if hiring an attorney is the best solution. Because every case is different, determining a definitive level of fair compensation can be challenging. The value of your case depends largely on the particular details involved. Each case is considered individually and many factors are taken into account including a person’s suffering, pain, etc.
What if you or your child is bitten by a dog?
Needless to say, if it’s a savage bite and you’re bleeding profusely, call 911. Get medical treatment right away. Don’t take any chances.
Otherwise, here are some tips that may help after a less immediately severe dog attack:
- Get to a safe place. Get out of attack range! If you’re inside, go outdoors. If you’re outside, go in, and shut the door. Put a barrier between your body and the dog, even if it seems to have calmed down.
- Wash the wound thoroughly. Soap and water should work, but hydrogen peroxide or isopropyl alcohol can help sanitize the area. Put a clean bandage on and secure it.
- Apply pressure to a bleeding wound. If you rinse, and the wound still bleeds, apply pressure until it stops. If it doesn’t, or you feel sick, call 911 right away.
- Visit your doctor. As soon as possible, see your doctor to have the wound examined. You’ll need a blood test to determine if the dog has rabies. Don’t rely on whether the dog had a rabies vaccine. You could be susceptible to an infection, fever, tetanus, rabies, or other complications. You may have suffered nerve or tissue damage that needs to be treated, and you’ll want to see if you can minimize scarring.
- Report the bite. Tell Animal Control and the Gloucester County Health Department what happened. They need to put the dog in quarantine to make sure it doesn’t have rabies. If you get rabies, you have a short window of time to get treated, or the disease can be fatal.
