When Do You Need a Lawyer for A Dog Bite?

Dogs and other pets are often considered part of the family. Unfortunately, our furry friends can lash out sometimes, and dog bites and attacks can lead to serious injury or death. If you or someone you love has been the victim of a dog bite, you may be wondering if you should seek the counsel of a personal injury lawyer. The dog bite lawyers at Moore Law Firm in Mobile, AL, provide case evaluations at no charge, so it can’t hurt to speak to an attorney if you’ve been the victim of a dog attack.

Dog Bite Statistics

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year. Few of these people end up being compensated for medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other damages. Even those who submit claims with insurance companies often are denied compensation or don’t receive enough to cover all injury-related costs. A personal injury attorney can negotiate with insurance adjusters and may take your case to court if necessary to help you get the maximum compensation you need to protect your health and financial security.

Are Dog Bite Claims Worth It?

The short answer? Yes. Even injuries that seem minor at the outset can become worse if infection or other problems set in. A bite on the face or other area may cause scarring, which can affect you emotionally and socially as well as physically. If you’ve lost a loved one due to a dog attack, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim.

It’s especially important to file a personal injury claim if you’ve been hurt and don’t have the resources to cover all of your medical costs, injuries are severe, or if the victim is a child. In Alabama, dog owners are liable for damages when their dog bites or injures someone on the dog owner’s property as long as the injured person is lawfully on that property at the time of the injury. If a dog owner can show they were unaware of the dog’s dangerous propensity, they only have to cover all the victim’s actual expenses related to the bite or attack.

Pursuing damages such as pain and suffering is more challenging, and there are several legal approaches that may be effective based on the legal tenet of negligence. If you can show that the dog owner was negligent, you may be able to recover other damages in addition to the cost of medical bills. Regardless of how severe your injury is, it’s a good idea to have a dog bite lawyer take a look at your case to ensure your rights are protected.

What to Do if You Are Bitten or Attacked By a Dog

Many dog bite cases can be handled between the dog owner and the victim, but unfortunately, some pet owners don’t want to take responsibility when their animal bites someone. That’s why it’s crucial to act in a timely manner if an owner refuses to pay for treatment or won’t submit a claim with their homeowners or renters’ insurance. These important steps can help safeguard your rights if you’ve been bitten or attacked by a dog:

• Obtain contact information from the dog’s owner and any witnesses
• Take photos of your injuries
• Seek medical attention immediately
• Follow the doctor’s orders for caring for your injuries
• Write down everything you can remember about what happened
• Report the incident to your local animal control as soon as possible
• Contact a personal injury lawyer

How a Dog Bite Lawyer Can Help

After a dog bite injury, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to do. An attorney can help you understand your rights and options and give you the support you need to get through tough times. Proving liability in personal injury cases can be challenging, and if you go it alone you may not recover a sufficient amount of compensation or any compensation at all.

When injuries are severe, treatment for dog bites can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, not to mention the pain and inconvenience you may deal with if you have to undergo plastic surgeries and other treatment. Frankly, insurance companies don’t care about your well-being, livelihood, or finances. Their main goal is to pay out as little as possible, and they are well-versed in strategies that allow them to do so.

A dog bite lawyer can aggressively pursue compensation and combat the insurance company’s tactics. Your lawyer also will investigate the incident, contact witnesses, collect medical evidence, and put everything together to prove liability to help you recover the maximum compensation you deserve for your damages.

Contact A Personal Injury Lawyer In Mobile, Alabama

At Moore Law Firm in Mobile, AL, our dog bite lawyers are dedicated to fighting for your rights and helping you recover the compensation you need to heal and move on with your life after an animal attack.Contact us online, call 251-445-7602, or use the convenient chat feature on our website to schedule a free consultation today.