Dog Bite Lawyers

If you had to guess how many people are bitten by a dog every year, what would that number be? Is one million a lot? What about two million? Well, both are wrong, because according to DogsBite.org, about 4.5 million people are bitten by a dog every year. That amounts to be more than one full percent of the population of our country being bit every year. If this happens to you, you want to be sure you get the settlement you deserve, which means you are going to need a dog bite lawyer that specializes in these types of injuries.

Dog Bites by the Numbers

The amount of money that is paid out just from dog bite cases in rather astonishing. Here are just a few of the numbers related to dog bite lawsuits in recent years:

• $797 million was paid out by homeowners insurers in 2019 related to dog bites and other dog-related injuries
• Since 2003, the average cost of an insurance claim has risen by 134 percent
• Nearly one out of every five dog bites will get infected, possibly leading to more health problems
• Nearly 27,000 dog bite victims had to undergo reconstructive surgery in 2018
• Between 1993 and 2008, dog bite-related hospitalizations increased by 86 percent
• Dog bite hospital stays, on average, cost about 50 percent more than other hospitalizations (about $18,200)

So, you have to ask yourself, do you have $18,000 lying around to pay for a hospital bill if you are bitten by a neighbor’s dog? Would you know what to do if you were bitten and how to go about suing to recover not only the costs of the hospitalization but also for pain and suffering, lost time at work, and other medical costs, such as medication and therapy?

You Are Entitled to Compensation

When bitten by a dog, there are laws in place that put the onus of the responsibility on the owner of the dog. Most states will have specific laws on the books that specify dog owners must pay if their dog bites someone in a public place or when you are lawfully on private property, including the home of the dog owner. For instance, if you were invited to a party and the owner of that home has a dog that bites you for some reason, he or she would be liable.

Dog bites are rarely just “random” happenings. Dogs often show more aggressive signs and it is the owner’s responsibility to pick up on that. Not to mention if the owner has a dog that tends to be more aggressive, it is his or her responsibility to secure the animal when allowing others to lawfully enter his or her property. In that sense, an aggressive dog should be treated like a gun. It should not be loaded or openly present around company.

Determining Who Is Responsible

It may seem like an open and shut case that the dog owner is the only one responsible, but that is not always the case. For instance, if the dog is located on a rental property, the owner could have just as much liability as the dog’s owner. If someone is renting to another party and knows that the individual has an aggressive dog on the property, he or she could be held just as liable as the actual owner of the animal. Bringing a case against both of them increases the chances you will get the settlement you are entitled to.

What To Do After Suffering a Dog Bite Injury

First and foremost, you need to seek medical attention right away to ensure the bite does not get infected. What may seem like even a mild bite could cause health complications later, so always go to your doctor or the emergency room after being bitten.

You will also need to have the bite immediately documented. You can do this by calling the local authorities or organizations in your area dedicated to reporting dog bites. You should immediately take pictures of the injury as well as documenting where it took place, the circumstances surrounding the bite, the dog owner’s information, and any witnesses that were present when the bite took place.

In addition to that documentation, you will also need to take note of any medical bills you paid to that point as well as any possible lost wages directly due to the bite.

Finally, you need to call a dog bite attorney. These waters can be particularly hard to navigate because you will not only be dealing with the owner of the dog but also his or her insurance company. If you have recently been bitten by a dog and were injured, give us a call at 855.633.0888 to discuss your case. Your initial consultation is free of charge and you are under no obligation to use our services for consulting with us.