Personal Injury Lawsuits for Dog Bite Injuries
Things to keep in mind if you’re thinking about filing a claim.
Dog bite injuries can be as stressful as they are painful. If you’ve been bitten (or otherwise harmed) by another person’s dog, the law states that the dog owner can be held liable for resulting damages. However, this will all depend on how the incident occurred.
If a person is attacked by a dog because they are trespassing or trying to break into a home, it’s highly unlikely they’d be successful in filing a personal injury lawsuit. On the other hand, if a postal or UPS worker is walking through a neighborhood while on the job and they’re attacked by a dog that’s being walked off leash, the injured party will have a high likelihood of winning their case.
How to file a claim
A dog bite lawsuit is generally a lot more straightforward than other types of personal injury cases. To start, you’ll need to obtain information about the dog owner and you’ll also need to show that the owner could be held liable for the incident.
You’ll also need to show that your injuries are a direct result of being bitten.
Once you’ve established who the liable party is you’ll want to start collecting documentation. This will include things such as any and all medical bills, proof of lost wages, photos of the injury, anticipated rehabilitation costs and whether you’ve become performantly disabled as a result of the injury.
A dog bite is a traumatic event
In addition to any physical injuries you may have sustained, your attorney can also discuss whether you may be entitled to compensation for emotional damages that ae a result of psychological scarring.
Choosing the right attorney
The most important thing to keep in mind if you plan to pursue this type of case is that you’ll want to work with a reputable attorney who has a proven track record of winning dog bite cases. You will also want to find a lawyer who is willing to work with you on a contingency basis: if the case is not won, you won’t owe the attorney anything.
Your attorney should be knowledgeable, willing to answer your questions and easy to contact, so they can keep you up-to-date as to what’s going on with your case.
If you’ve sustained a dog bite injury and you’d like to learn more about your legal options, call The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro, P.A. today at 239-649-8050.
