Dog Bite Information

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, nearly 2% of the U.S. population is bitten by a dog each year. This translates to nearly 5 million dog bite victims per year, most of whom are children. If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog and need to retain legal counsel, please contact us today so we can put you in touch with dog bite attorneys who are experienced with dog bite information and litigation. Here are a few frequently asked questions about dog bites.

WHY DO DOGS BITE?

There are many reasons why a dog bites. Dogs bite out of fear or to protect their territory or to establish their dominance over the person bitten. Some owners mistakenly teach their dogs that biting is an acceptable form of play behavior. Another factor could be how the owner has treated the dog over time. Lastly it could be just due to the breed of dog and genetics.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE BITTEN BY A DOG:

1. Try to identify the dog that bit you and see if you can get the address to the house at which the dog bite occurred. If it's a stray, you could end up having to get rabies treatments, which is very painful. However, if the dog belongs to someone you may not have to get rabies treatment and you also may be eligible for a personal injury lawsuit claim against the owner.

2. Get medical attention quickly because any delay in getting medical attention could affect your eligibility for a claim.

3. As soon as possible after you've received medical attention, focus on finding out as much as you can about the dog and the owner, including whether or not the owner has insurance (homeowners, renters, commercial, or landlords insurance).

4. Have good pictures taken of your injuries on the date of the attack and at reasonable intervals afterwards.

5. Interview witnesses (if there were any) at the location of the attack taking down names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses to the attack.

6. Lastly, contact us to get in touch with experienced and qualified dog bite attorneys to represent you and help you with your claim.

CAN OTHER PEOPLE BESIDES THE OWNER BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR A DOG BITE?

Landlord liability law differs from state to state. Some do not ever impose liability on the landlord. However, a landlord may be liable for injuries and bites inflicted by dogs belonging to tenants and possibly other people who bring dogs onto the landlord's property. It all depends on your state's laws.

As a dog bite victim, you may be entitled to damages and losses, ranging from medical bills and emotional damage, to loss of the opportunity to earn income in the future because of the injury. Only an experienced dog bite attorney will be able to determine if you are eligible for a lawsuit claim. State statutes of limitations do apply, and you may have little as 60 days to start your claim.