While you yourself may own a dog and you have many people in your neighborhood who have dogs, this doesn’t mean that you aren’t at risk for a dog bite. In fact, you are more likely to get bitten by a friendly neighborhood dog or familiar family pet than you’d think: there are around four and a half million dog bites in the United States yearly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
You’ve been unlucky enough to actually be bitten by a neighbor’s dog, and whether the bite is serious and requires surgery or advanced medical care or not, you may have a case and the need for an injury attorney. While this may seem uncomfortable a subject for you and certainly for any neighbor involved in your case, getting a personal injury lawyer is your best bet to protect you and your family.
If you are bitten by a dog, don’t hesitate to get legal help. Here are reasons why you mus call a personal injury firm for your dog bite case.
The Dog May be a Repeat Offender
Any dog bite that results in a person seeking medical treatment, even for a minor wound, will result in a phone call to the police. The incident must be reported.
If the dog is a repeat offender or if the neighbor who owns the dog is being defiant about your situation, you can face a lengthy legal battle simply in getting treated in the first place. A dog who has a history of biting can be a sign of not just an aggressive canine you don’t want around you or your children, but an owner who isn’t being responsible as well; both bad signs and red flags.
Get an injury attorney so you have the legal representation you need in the event the dog tries to bite you again, you become a witness in a civil lawsuit with the police department, or have another legal battle with harassment or other unwanted attention from the dog’s owner.
Your Dog Bite Can Lead to Medical Issues
What starts out as a small dog bite can quickly turn to infection or a surgery to repair the wound. When you get bitten by a dog, the area that is affected often determines just how severe the injury really is, and the medical bills as well as therapy for the traumatic event, add up.
Even if the owner of the dog assume’s liability and their homeowners insurance offers to foot the bill for your injury, you’ll likely be encouraged to settle for a set dollar amount. This amount can seem impressive, but keep in mind, the money you can potentially get for your dog bite is all you’ll ever get if you settle without the watchful and experienced eye of an injury attorney.
Don’t sell yourself short in your dog bite case; get the funds you deserve for your current and future medical — including mental health — needs so you can move forward with the best resources possible.
The Dog’s Owner May Fight You Legally
For a variety of reasons, the dog’s owner may fight you legally over the bite incident. The dog’s owner may not want to admit they have an aggressive dog or they may truly feel you deserved to be bit, or may deny the bite entirely. You need an injury lawyer to help you keep the dog’s owner in check and get the justice you deserve.
With the right legal assistance, you can have success with your dog bite case. A personal injury lawyer will help you with every step of your case, and represent you with all legal interactions.