If you or someone you know has been involved in a dog bite accident, don't leave it untreated, uncontested, and unsettled. Get the settlement you need and deserve.
My name is Steven Day and as a trained attorney in law, I know this is not the way to go if you want to avoid problems down the road. (In fact, clients each with their own individual circumstances have all told me that they even wished they had acted sooner.)
Dog bite commonalities
What do all of these things have in common?
- An eight year old girl playing in the neighborhood with friends.
- A stay at home mom going out to the mailbox to pick up her package.
- An executive businessman reading emails out to lunch at a local park.
- A casual city tourist walking down the streets of a new travel spot.
If you guessed they all can have something to do with dog bite injuries, you're observant and correct. Interestingly enough almost 5 million people per year in the United States are affected by dog bites. These accidents can require significant medical care and cause more stress than someone may expect.
Within their carefree curiosity, children are the most common victim of a vicious attack of an animal gone wrong, but adults are not immune to an unexpected encounter either. The statistics are one thing, but let's get it out of the way: It's kind of a strange idea, a dog bite lawyer. However, ask the 2% of the population who never expected that they'd be in a dog bite predicament, and this topic is anything but funny.
So a bite's happened. What do you have going for your case? When you or someone you know has been involved in a bite injury, you might be asking yourself the following questions:
- What do I have going for myself, anything?
- What am I supposed to argue to get proper compensation?
- How can I prove that I was not at fault for the bite?
- I'm in [Insert City Name Here]. What are the local laws?
- What do I have to do so I'm not screwed later on?
The most important thing to remember is to not feel responsible for the dog's dangerous behavior. Tempting as it may be to unwillingly end up a harbor for unwanted feelings, trust that it is not your fault. Sadly but understandably it is the fault of the owner's carelessness that is usually the root of the problem.
It’s obvious: We are not going to sit in a courtroom and try to rationalize with a dog. Since dogs cannot represent themselves, their owners must, as they are responsible for their pet's behavior. I can help you prove the dog was a risk to your safety and hence hold the owner accountable for what happened.
Possible causes of dog bites
There is no one single reason for how an animal acts, but they are certain clues that can give you insight into a best explanation. Regrettably, all too many owners make the mistake of writing off odd behavior as simple playing or teasing, when in reality there is something to be looked at in how an animal is acting.
Here are some places to look for clues. See if these ideas look familiar:
- Did the owner have the dog properly restrained and vaccinated?
- Was there clear identification for the dog, or was it unmarked or stray?
- If the breed was aggressive, was it trained to act appropriately in social contexts?
- If the dog was very unhealthy, is there grounds for animal abuse or neglect?
- Were there signs of sickness that might indicate medical reasons for behavior?
Risks of dog bites
Many people make the mistake of thinking they can get by fine by themselves trying to settle the case. Anyone with experience in not only law but dog bite injuries themselves can share stories of how they avoided risks that can appear without direct warning. Here are a few things central to those injured by animals:
- Long term scarring or disfigurement on the area
- Infection caused by untreated cuts and scrapes
- Uncomfortable inflammation throughout the body
- More serious: diseases carried by unhealthy animals
- Stress and pain whether physical and psychological
Find a specialized attorney
No matter whether you're a legally-minded person or not, most people have heard of personal injury cases and the attorneys that represent them. However, dog bites and other animal accidents are unique. Unlike your run of the mill injury case, they call for an attorney who is skilled at specific details and decisions involved with this exact kind of condition.
The commercials you see on daytime TV or the billboards that line your drive home on the freeway have, for many people, turned personal injury law into something of a laughing stock. Our clients know that the opposite is true. At my office, we challenge the belief that attorneys' goals are anything but honest. Successful by the test of time, I am grateful to lead important processes that help people negatively afflicted by a bite or other injury get justice and move on with their lives.
Common sense: No one wants their life looking like the list above and I'm sure you are no exception! Specific searches online mean you are looking to get ahead of the game and take charge of your case. If you've landed at this page, the goal is to make your dog bite injury a non-issue, and I get that. Help me help you achieve the results you deserve by getting in contact today. I am available with a quick call or email at your right.
After your call, here are 3 tips you can do right now for the next step:
- Communicate clearly with the owner of the dog if they were present.
- Also, collect the contact information of any witnesses to the dog bite.
- Document your injury with photos and any useful personal paperwork.
Two minutes to get in touch can make a world of a difference for peace of mind and tell not only me, but yourself, that you're set to check this whole scenario off your list! Hope to talk soon.
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