Dog bites are often severe, with piercing wounds that sever arteries and nerves. They can result in long-term medical care and lost wages.
An experienced Atlanta Dog Bite Lawyer can help you recover compensation for your losses. We can square off against negligent owners and their ruthless insurance companies to ensure you’re compensated fairly.
Getting medical care for a dog bite is not cheap. Whether you’re treated in the emergency room or a doctor’s office, these bills add up quickly. This is one of the main reasons why many people file a dog bite lawsuit. The fear of high medical bills motivates them to seek financial compensation from the dog’s owner. Fortunately, this is possible under New York law. Under this law, dog owners are strictly liable for victims’ medical expenses, but other damages such as pain and suffering must be proven.
The first step in pursuing compensation for your medical bills is documenting the incident. You should take pictures of your injuries as soon as you can, and write down your version of what happened. If there are any witnesses, gather their information as well. Also, note any details that may help you identify the dog and the owner. Your attorney will help you locate the dog’s owner if it isn’t possible to do so on your own.
Once you have all of the documentation, your lawyer will begin investigating. They will work to find out who owns the dog and whether it has any previous records of aggression. They will also work to determine whether the dog was on a leash at the time of the attack. They will also look for proof that the dog had received its required vaccinations.
Depending on your state’s laws, you could be entitled to compensation for all of your losses. These can include economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include your medical bills, lost wages from missing work, and other financial costs associated with the incident. Non-economic damages can include pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and other psychological effects that aren’t easily quantified.
When you hire a lawyer, they will manage communication with the insurance company on your behalf. This means that you can focus on your recovery while knowing that an experienced professional is handling the details of your case. Moreover, they will ensure that your losses are fully documented so that you can demand maximum compensation.
Pain and suffering
While dogs have a special place in many families, they are animals and can be unpredictable. Even dogs who appear friendly can lash out and attack when they feel threatened or scared. Dog bites can lead to permanent disfigurement and emotional trauma. Fortunately, victims of dog bites can recover compensation for their injuries and losses.
Typical losses associated with a dog bite case include past and future medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Victims can also seek damages for other ancillary losses related to the incident. These losses include a loss of enjoyment of life, reduced future earning capacity, and disability. A New York dog bite lawyer can help victims calculate their losses.
Medical bills are typically the most significant expense associated with a dog bite injury. Victims can seek compensation for past and current medical expenses, including ambulance transportation, emergency room visits, surgical management, prescription drugs, tetanus immunization, and follow-up treatments. In addition, they can receive compensation for lost wages if they miss work due to their injuries. Victims can also receive compensation for a reduction in future earning potential, which is commonly known as diminished income.
Other types of monetary awards in a dog bite case include non-economic damages, which are intended to compensate victims for their physical and psychological suffering caused by the incident. These can include compensation for loss of consortium, loss of companionship, and emotional distress. In rare cases, victims may be able to receive punitive damages, which are designed to punish the dog owner and deter similar future behavior.
Hiring a New York dog bite attorney can help victims obtain the compensation they deserve. A legal professional can handle communications with the at-fault party’s insurance company while victims focus on healing from their injuries. The attorney can also prevent the insurer from taking advantage of the victim by negotiating a fair settlement. If the victim is unable to settle with the insurance company, they can file a lawsuit against the party responsible for their injuries. Contact an experienced lawyer to get started on your claim today.
Lost wages
Americans are a nation of dog lovers, with nearly 40% of households owning a pet. But despite the affection that many of us feel for dogs, they are still animals that can be dangerous and injure people. Dog bites are common, and can lead to severe injuries that require extensive medical treatment. In the case of a severe attack, scarring and disfigurement may occur as well. In these cases, a dog bite lawyer is an invaluable resource for a victim to have on their side.
A lawyer will be able to ensure that all damages associated with a dog bite are covered, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. They will also be able to get the maximum compensation possible for their client. This is important, as victims of dog bites often live paycheck-to-paycheck, and the financial stress of these damages can be debilitating.
An experienced dog bite lawyer can provide assistance with all aspects of a claim, including negotiating with insurance companies. This is particularly helpful because insurers are accustomed to working with injury victims and will often offer lower settlement amounts than what a victim deserves. An attorney can review any offers and counter them with the monetary value that their client deserves.
In addition to the monetary costs of a dog bite, a legal claim can include non-economic damages as well. For example, a dog bite may cause psychological or emotional harm that requires counseling and treatment. An experienced lawyer can help a victim demonstrate the nature and extent of their mental or emotional injuries, as well as how they have affected their day-to-day life and future earning potential.
It is important to contact a lawyer as soon as possible after a dog bite, and to document the incident thoroughly as much as possible. This includes taking photos of the injuries and getting the names and contact information of any witnesses. It is also a good idea to write down your version of events while the memory is fresh.
A dog bite lawyer can assist a victim with all aspects of a claim, from filing the claim to negotiating with insurance companies and, if necessary, going to trial. They can negotiate with the owners, keepers, or harborers of the dog and their insurers, as well as enlist expert witnesses to help support their client’s case.
Damages
Dogs are domesticated, but they still possess animal instincts and urges that can lead to aggression. Whether they’re playfully tussling with you or feel threatened, it can only take a moment for these animals to bite. This can cause extreme and permanent injuries such as severe scarring, loss of limbs, paralysis, and more. With a qualified New York dog bite lawyer on your side, you can hold negligent owners accountable for their dangerous pets and recover maximum compensation for your losses.
Your attorney will work to prove negligence and damages associated with your attack so that you can collect the compensation you need to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses related to your injury. They can also fight back against ruthless insurance companies that try to deny you the money you deserve.
The first step in proving negligence and damages is gathering evidence. This includes medical records, witness statements, and photographs of your injuries and the scene where the attack occurred. Your lawyer can then file a lawsuit against the at-fault party and their insurance company.
They can also help you gather other forms of evidence such as reports from the county or local animal control about the dog’s past behavior and history. They can also find out if the dog has been vaccinated against rabies.
When calculating your claim, your lawyer will account for all the financial and personal losses you have suffered in the attack, as well as any future losses that may arise from it. They will divide your compensation into two categories: economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include costs like your medical bills and lost wages, while non-economic damages include emotional and physical pain and suffering.
It’s important to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after your attack. The sooner they begin investigating the incident, the more likely it is that they can identify multiple parties to sue and recover maximum compensation for your losses. They can also manage communication with the insurance company from the start and ensure your losses are documented so that you get the compensation you need.