Dog Bite Law Suits: What A Personal Injury Lawyer Will Do
While dogs are considered as man’s best friend — you’ll never know when they can become aggressive and bite. After all, they’re still animals who can go beyond their owners’ control. Once a dog-biting incident takes place, the victim is advised to seek help immediately, and one of those he or she should get in touch with first is a personal injury lawyer.
By The Numbers
In the United States, around 5 million people are reported to have been victims of dog bites on a yearly basis. This rather traumatizing event leads to 1,000 medical emergencies every day.
With this extent of damage, an estimated $1 billion is reportedly lost because of dog bites. Of this amount, approximately $345 million is paid by insurance policies.
Why Seek Help From a Lawyer
As mentioned, it is highly advisable to get help from a personal injury lawyer if you or someone you know has been bitten by a dog. Here are some ways how this legal expert can help:
Seek compensation. This lawyer will help find evidence and prove that someone should be held responsible for the victim’s injuries.
Represent you in court. When you undergo a trial, you need a legal expert to back you up and defend you. The chances of winning the judges’ favor are high if you have a lawyer by your side.
Help deal with insurance companies. Never deal with insurance policy providers without the aid of a lawyer. Some companies fail to give what’s due to the victims when the victims are not aware of the legal rights they have.
While this type of attorney can be of help to dog-bite victims, they can also offer their services to the dog owners. They help ensure that the costs incurred by the owner will be recovered by his or her insurance policy. They also aid the owner throughout the quarantine process (the dog should be quarantined and tested to check if it has rabies or not) and euthanasia hearing (wherein it will be decided if the dog shall be taken down or not).
What To Do After a Dog Bite
Calling a personal injury lawyer is just one crucial part of the whole picture. Dog-bite victims should also be aware of the steps they need to undertake after the incident.
Find help. Yell and let other people you’re being attacked or have been bitten by a dog. Call an ambulance or go to a nearby hospital as soon as possible.
Know who the owner is. You can do this one by getting help from a family member, a friend, or an eyewitness. Locating the dog owner is essential in asking for compensations and in preventing the occurrence of the same incident in the future.
Report to local authorities. Give them all the information necessary to help resolve the case. Take photos if you can and keep pertinent documents related to the incident.
Call a lawyer. A dog bite lawyer has the experience and the knowledge to defend your rights. As stated, he or she will help you minimize the damage brought by this incident.
Personal injury cases can be complicated when you do not have an experienced personal injury lawyer by your side. If you need help, we’re happy to serve at Bolger Law Firm. Contact us today.
