Dog bites can lead to serious injuries and illnesses, including rabies, broken bones, head injuries, and physical disfigurement. They can also lead to fatalities, especially when children are involved. The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association states that an estimated 70% of all dog bite fatalities every year involve children aged 10 and younger.
Dog attacks usually involve injury to the face, neck, or shoulders, and large dogs and aggressive breeds can cause irreparable harm in an instant. Dog bites are very common. They can happen at home and in private settings, but they are also common in public places such as parks where there is a lot of overlap between dogs and people they are unfamiliar with.
If you or a loved one suffered a dog bite, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim, and a South Fulton dog bites lawyer may be able to help with your case. Contact the Bader Scott Injury Lawyers team for assistance at (404) 888-8888.
Dog Bite Injuries
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends victims of animal attacks to undergo a thorough checkup after the attack to screen for dangerous and often fatal illnesses such as rabies. Injuries commonly seen in dog bite cases include:
- Bite, scratch, and puncture injuries.
- Broken bones and head or brain trauma from falling.
- Scarring, disfigurement, or lacerations.
- Bleeding and bacterial or viral infections.
In addition to undergoing a medical checkup as recommended by the CDC, you may have to pay for various tests and medications after the dog attack. You may also miss time from work or suffer property damage. These financial losses may be compensable based on who is at fault for your attack.
Determining fault for a dog attack will involve an investigation of the circumstances of the attack. This helps to ascertain whether or not the dog owner or walker was negligent in handling the dog that attacked you.
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving South Fulton, call (404) 888-8888
South Fulton Dog Bite FAQs
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Statute 51-2-7 of the Georgia Code places the responsibility of managing a dangerous animal—and protecting others from being attacked—on the person who owns or keeps such an animal. This applies as long as the victim of the attack does not provoke the animal. It is sufficient to prove that an animal has the capacity to be vicious if there are any local ordinances that require it to be on leash or at heel—that is, always close to and slightly behind the owner or keeper.
Additional definitions and laws that are relevant to dog bite cases are outlined in Statute 4-8-21. It defines dangerous animals and potentially dangerous animals, as well as dog owners and the types of injuries that may warrant a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault owner of a dangerous animal. In most cases, injuries involving broken bones or lacerations that require multiple stitches, sutures, or surgeries qualify as serious injuries.
These laws make it clear that the liability for dog bite attacks rests upon the owner or keeper of the animal in question. The only exceptions are if an attack victim was trespassing on private property or committing a crime when he or she was attacked. If he or she was abusing, assaulting, or tormenting the dog when the attack occurred, or had done so in the past, this also qualifies as an exception.
Compensation for dog bites is usually taken from the at-fault party’s general liability or home insurance policy. However, there are cases in which another party may be responsible for the victim’s damages, such as if a shelter fails to inform someone who adopts a dangerous dog that it is dangerous, or has the propensity to attack people. In such cases, the shelter may shoulder some of the blame for harmful actions of the dog.
South Fulton Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me (404) 888-8888
Other Considerations
Here are a few important considerations that you should keep in mind when it comes to dog bite injury claims:
- Dogs used by law enforcement personnel in the course of their regular duties are usually exempt from dog bite litigation.
- If the dog owner made sure that he or she warned others about the dog’s inclination to attack and posted warning signs where the dog lives and roams, he or she may not be have liability.
A South Fulton dog bites lawyer may be able to assist you in determining who is liable for your injuries and what damages and losses you may be able to file a compensation claim for. Call Bader Scott Injury Lawyers at (404) 888-8888 to find out more about dog bite liability.
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Treatments, Compensation, and Next Steps
After suffering a dangerous dog attack, you can file a police report about the incident. Doing so is typically not mandatory, but an official police report can help support your claim. Your doctor may also be required to report the bite to the local health officer.
Your doctor’s report can help substantiate your personal injury claim, and it can also bring the presence of a dangerous animal to the attention of local officials. This can potentially help them prevent future attacks and bite cases involving the same animal.
As for seeking treatment for your injuries, you may have to pay for:
- Surgery or stitches.
- Diagnostic tests and X-rays.
- Various medications.
- Short-term hospitalization.
- Long-term care and treatments for serious illnesses, such as rabies.
You may have grounds to seek financial compensation for all of the above. You may also be able to file criminal charges against the party responsible for your attack, if their dog had attacked others in the past or if they had ever been charged with a failure to properly manage a dangerous animal.
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Dog bite cases can be tricky, especially if you cannot identify the at-fault party. At the Bader Scott Injury Lawyers Team, we have your long-term interests at heart, and our South Fulton dog bites lawyer will strive to:
- Help you identify the at-fault parties responsible for your injuries.
- Evaluate your damages and losses.
- Help you put together a complete and thorough personal injury claim.
- Ensure that you meet all statutory and administrative filing deadlines.
We are just a call away, so contact us at (404) 888-8888 for assistance. Statutes of limitations apply to personal injury cases, including dog bite cases, so we encourage you to call today.
Call or text (404) 888-8888 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form