Atlanta Dog Bite Lawyer

Were you injured in an unprovoked dog attack? The Atlanta dog bite lawyers at our firm can help prove that the dog’s owner or caretaker was negligent, and that their negligence led directly to your physical, financial, and emotional suffering.

With the money you get from legal action, you could pay your bills and support your loved ones without worry. Call Bader Scott today to see what our Atlanta personal injury lawyers can do for you. We are very accessible to our clients, and you will receive our full attention from the moment you hire us.

What Should You Do After a Dog Bite Injury in Atlanta?

Being bitten by a dog is a frightening and chaotic event that you may not know how to respond to. Our dog bite attorneys in Atlanta urge you to put your health and safety first by taking the following actions:

Get Your Dog Bite Treated Immediately

When it comes to any dog bite, seek medical attention first. Aside from putting your health in danger, delaying medical care does not look good in a court of law. If you fail to act on getting medical attention, the insurance company is more likely to determine that your injuries are not severe enough to warrant further action.

First aid after a dog bite might include the following:

• Immediately wash the wound with soap and water.
• Use an antibiotic cream on the wound.
• Use a clean bandage to cover the wound.
• Monitor the wound. If it becomes red, swollen, painful or warm; if the dog was acting strangely; or if you develop a fever, seek medical attention immediately.

For more significant wounds, treatment involves the following steps:

• Stop the bleeding using pressure and a dry clean cloth.
• Call 911 if you cannot stop the bleeding or feel faint or weak.
• Tell the doctor if you know the dog. If you do not, and if you cannot confirm if the dog was rabid or not, you will need urgent treatment.

Our Atlanta law firm urges you to always see a doctor after a bite that breaks the skin, but whether you go to an emergency center like the one at Grady Memorial Hospital or call your own primary care provider depends on the circumstances. It is better to err on the side of caution and see a doctor “just in case” than to ignore symptoms.

Collect Evidence From the Scene of the Dog Bite

If you feel comfortable taking the time to do so, gathering materials like the following could make it easier to file an insurance claim down the road:

• Photos of the area where the accident happened
• Photos of your injuries
• The name, phone number, and address of the dog owner (or whoever was with the dog)
• The name and phone number of witnesses or those who tried to help you

You should also report the bite to animal control, which may be Fulton County Animal Services or DeKalb County Animal Services, depending on where you are. Reporting is especially important if the dog is acting strangely or sickly or if you do not know the dog’s vaccination history.

Start the Legal Process by Speaking to Our Personal Injury Lawyers

You have legal options that afford you the right to take dog owners, dog sitters, or even landlords to court, should your lawyer see fit. The course of action will largely depend on the history of the dog and its owner. Our legal team can determine what the right steps are in your case by:

• Investigating the accident, how it happened, and who is responsible
• Confronting the liable party on your behalf
• Filing and receiving all necessary paperwork
• Negotiating a fair settlement with the owner’s insurance company
• Taking the owner to court if necessary
• Answering your legal questions in terms you can understand, ensuring you have every chance to take full advantage of your rights

If you or your loved one was injured by a dog, you have every right to pursue legal action. Contact the Atlanta dog bite injury attorneys at Bader Scott today. We have already represented 10,000 injured Georgians, and now we want to apply that experience to your case.

For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving Atlanta, call (404) 888-8888

Atlanta Dog Bite FAQs

Our Atlanta Dog Bite Attorneys Fight for Maximum Compensation

Dog bites can be very dangerous and often have a devastating effect on victims’ lives. We can answer questions like the following to determine what kinds of compensation you should recover as you try to move on from this attack:

Where Were You Bitten?

Any bite is painful and could entitle you to damages for pain and suffering, reduced quality of life, and disability. However, if you suffered severe injuries to a particularly sensitive area, such as the face or throat, our Atlanta lawyers could seek additional damages for disfigurement and permanent scarring.

What Diseases Can Dog Bites Cause?

There are many diseases potentially caused by dog bites, including:

• Rabies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rabies is extremely rare in the United States and is usually transmitted to humans by wild animals, not pets. However, it is fatal if untreated, so prompt medical care is essential.
• Tetanus. Tetanus is a bacteria that can enter the body through uncleaned wounds and results in painful paralysis and seizures.
• Sepsis. Sepsis may develop if the bite becomes infected and your body has trouble fighting it off the way it is supposed to.

Any dog bite infection could cause these or other serious illnesses. They may cost a lot to treat, which would increase the amount you pursue for medical bills, and they can be extremely painful, which would increase the amount you can ask for pain and suffering.

If your loved one passed away from a bite-related disease, you could recover damages for loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and loss of financial support.

Did the Dog Bite Keep You Away From Work?

The more time you have to spend recuperating at home or in the hospital, the more Bader Scott can pursue for your lost wages and benefits. If the bite has permanently affected your ability to earn a living, we can seek damages for long-term loss of earning capacity and job opportunities as well.

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Georgia Law and Your Dog Bite Claim

Numerous state and local laws could affect your legal action. For example:

The Dog Bite Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations for dog bite cases in Georgia is two years. However, depending on the specifics of your case, certain exceptions may apply. Our attorneys in Atlanta want to hear from you as soon as possible so we have plenty of time to weigh your options and help you make sound, informed legal decisions.

Dog Owner Liability

Atlanta Code of Ordinances Sec. 18-170, which applies to Fulton County, states that dangerous or vicious dogs are not allowed “to run at large” or to “run loose on or within the premises” of the owner. DeKalb County has its own ordinance, at Sec. 18-62, that prohibits dog owners from allowing their pets “to be out of control and unattended off the premises of the owner.”

Our lawyers can work to prove that the dog owner in your case failed to follow the leash laws in your section of Atlanta. Their negligence would trigger your rights under O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7, which states that dog owners are financially liable for damages they cause by ignoring local ordinances to keep their animals “at heel or on a leash.”

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How Can I Prevent Dog Bites?

There are a few basic steps you can take to help prevent dog bites and keep yourself safe if you encounter a vicious dog or any dog you do not know.

Do:

• Remain calm.
• Look for anyone who might be in charge of the dog. If you see someone, ask them to keep the dog away from you. If you do not see anyone, back away slowly. Do not make sudden moves.
• Curl into a ball, put your hands over your ears, and tuck your head in if you are knocked down by the dog or if you are unable to escape the dog’s approach. Use your arms to protect your face and neck.

Don’t:

• Allow young children to play unsupervised with a dog
• Turn and run away from a dog
• Approach a dog that is unfamiliar with you
• Make any loud noises or panic
• Pet a dog that has not sniffed you first or that hasn’t seen you
• Bother a dog that is caring for puppies, eating, or sleeping

When you consult with our personal injury law firm, please tell us all you can remember about what you did or did not do before, during, and after the attack. Knowing all of the facts helps us build the strongest possible case.

What Should I Do if an Unfamiliar Dog Approaches Me?

Even if the dog seems friendly, do not approach unless a person with the dog tells you it is safe to do so. Minimize your interactions with an unfamiliar animal by doing the following:

• Stay still
• Remain calm
• Do not make direct eye contact with the dog
• Do not make loud noises
• Say “No” in a deep, firm voice if the dog tries to come closer
• Do not look the dog directly in the eyes, as this can be seen as confrontational
• Simply back away or just let the dog pass

Why Do Dogs Attack People?

Unfortunately, even if you take the above steps, you could still end up the victim of a dog attack. Why? What provokes a dog to hurt another person, whether a stranger or someone they know? Common reasons for dog attacks include:

• Protectiveness – Biting someone can often be a sign the dog is asserting dominance. They may be trying to protect their territory (e.g., their owner’s backyard) or something else they value highly (e.g., puppies or food). Approaching whatever it is the dog wants to protect, even if you mean no harm, could prompt the dog to bite.
• Defensiveness – Fear can cause a dog to lash out. Even if you have no bad intentions towards the dog, it is important to watch their behavior. If it seems like they are scared or upset (e.g., their teeth are bared or their head is lowered), do not approach. Back away slowly.
• Surprise – In some cases, the dog is not trying to cause harm at all but was simply caught off-guard by something a person did. This is why you should never approach or grab a dog from behind or interrupt the dog when they are occupied with something. Otherwise, the dog might bite reflexively.

It is vital for dog owners to minimize the possibility of their dog biting someone else for any reason. That typically includes keeping the dog leashed or close by at all times, whether on their own property or someone else’s or in a public space.

If they did not do so, and if you did not purposely provoke the dog (e.g., hitting or poking at the dog), our dog bite attorneys in Atlanta can hold the owner accountable.

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After an Animal Attack, Let Our Big Bite Law Firm in Atlanta Help You

Contact Bader Scott for a no-cost consultation to learn about the merits of your personal injury claim. Our Atlanta dog bite lawyers represent bite victims by working directly with them—no middlemen. Our legal team always responds to calls within 48 hours, allowing you to stay updated on what is happening with your case.

Call or text (404) 888-8888 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form