Dog Bite Accident Lawyer.
Dog Bite Attorney in Georgia.
What may have started as a typical visit to a neighbor’s house or a stroll through the park can change in an instant when a dog attacks, leaving scars both mentally and physically. The dog owner should be held responsible for that attack. In the last year of available data, one nonprofit group that focuses on dangerous dog breeds reported that there were 63 dog bite fatalities. Even in nonfatal attacks, the damage can be lasting, whether from lengthy infections, scarring, or a permanent change in how you interact with dogs after an attack.
If you were recently the victim of a dog attack, then a dog bite lawyer at Valentine Injury Law can help you regain your financial footing and seek justice for the trauma you experienced. As a dedicated advocate for victims of dog and other animal attacks, Attorney Brad Valentine works with his clients to deliver the maximum compensation available. You can take comfort in knowing that an expert lawyer is handling your legal case while you focus on your recovery, both physically and mentally.
Understanding Georgia Dog Bite Law.
Georgia dog bite claims are a type of personal injury claim that can be complex and difficult to win. The basis for Georgia dog bite claims comes from O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7, which sets out the basic legal standard. Under this law, to demonstrate that an owner should be liable for the harm inflicted on an injured victim, that victim has the burden to prove several elements.
If an injured victim fails to demonstrate even one of these elements, then they may lose out on recovery, which makes it essential that victims have a trusted dog bite injury lawyer in their corner.
These elements can generally be described as follows:
The owner knowingly owned or kept a vicious or dangerous animal
Injured victims must first show that the defendant is the owner or keeper of the dog. Then, the injured person must prove that the person knew the dog or animal had a propensity to be vicious. Your attorney will need to seek discovery on previous incidents that would put a prudent owner on notice that the dog could attack others. Alternatively, victims can show that a local ordinance required the animal to be on a leash, but it was not at the time of the attack.
The owner carelessly managed the animal or let it “go at liberty”
Like knowledge of the attacking animal’s danger or viciousness, proving that the owner carelessly managed the animal depends heavily on the facts. A dog bite accident lawyer will attempt to locate evidence that failure to restrain the dog or comply with local procedures amounts to careless management.
The animal caused injury
For a victim to recover, a dog bite lawyer will have to prove that the attack caused injuries. These may be physical injuries that required medical care or psychological trauma that resulted from the attack.
The injured victim did not provoke the animal
Finally, a dog bite lawyer must demonstrate that the victim did not provoke the animal in any way.
Common dog bite injuries and long-term impacts.
According to estimates, there are over 300,000 emergency room visits due to dog bites each year.
While every dog bite attack is different, there are some common injuries dog bite accident lawyers see:
- Infections: Left untreated or poorly treated, a dog bite can lead to infections, even including rabies. Other infections include Staphylococcus, Pasteurella, and Streptococcus. Bites on the hand are some of the most likely to become infected.
- Lacerations: Dog attacks can lead to lacerations on the skin similar to those of a knife or razor. These are caused when the dog pulls away from the victim or from the dog’s sharp claws.
- Crushes and Fractures: A dog’s weight and speed can knock victims down, causing bone fractures, ligament tears, or similar injuries. Depending on the breed, a dog attack can crush bones, causing different types of fractures.
- Avulsions: In some cases, a dog may cause a skin avulsion, where all the skin is torn away. These injuries especially require immediate medical care and supervision.
- Puncture wounds: Dog bites can also puncture the skin, creating deep wounds susceptible to all manner of infections.
- Psychological trauma: A dog attack can be a traumatic event for a person’s life, whether young or old. It can permanently change a victim’s attitude towards dogs and their ability to be near them ever again. This might impact their work, social life, and family relationships as a result.
Maximum settlements with personalized legal strategies.
Brad Valentine has an impressive record of representing victims of dog bite accidents, securing significant recoveries for clients injured due to negligent pet owners. He is committed to helping individuals and families recover physically and financially, providing skilled legal guidance and dedicated advocacy throughout every stage of the case.
$50K Settlement for leg puncture wounds.
The case involved a vicious dog bite.
A settlement was secured as a result of multiple leg puncture wounds sustained in the accident.
What do I do after a dog bite attack?
In the moments after a dog attack, you can protect your health and your claim if you know what steps to take and when.
Call 911
Wherever you are and however the attack occurred, it’s essential to call for emergency services. Police provide one of the first and most objective reports of the accident, which helps corroborate key facts in a claim. Calling 911 can also get necessary paramedics to the scene quickly.
Get medical treatment
Seeking medical treatment as soon as possible helps avoid magnifying harms because rapid response can help prevent infections and further injury. Following up with appointments and being vigilant for signs of infection are necessary as well.
Document the accident and aftermath
In addition to any incident report, take additional steps to document the attack. This includes photographs and videos of the scene and eyewitness contact information or statements. You should report the incident to local authorities, such as animal control. You should also create or keep any relevant documents, such as bills you incur for seeking treatment or documents concerning your missed work.
Don’t accept fault or blame
A dog owner may try to blame you, arguing that your behavior provoked the dog to attack. Provoking the animal can undermine a dog bite claim, so injured victims must avoid making any statements that could be seen as taking fault or blame.
Contact a Dog Bite Lawyer
Once your condition is stable, contact an experienced dog bite accident lawyer for help. Reaching out immediately ensures your attorney will have an opportunity to collect relevant evidence before it is lost or destroyed.
How a Dog Bite Lawyer can help you!
It’s not uncommon for the aftermath of a dog attack to overwhelm injured victims. That’s why getting a trusted dog bite injury lawyer involved early is critically important.
Here are a few of the ways we assist our clients from the first call:
Collect necessary evidence
We help our clients to collect the evidence they’ll need to substantiate their claims and recreate the scene of the attack. This also includes doing the time-consuming work of documenting all the medical bills, missed paydays, and other bills that our clients incur as a result of the attack.
Preparation for the road ahead
For dog bite attack victims, the future seems uncertain. But our dog bite lawyer understands not just this apprehension but also what lies ahead. Our firm can help demystify the process, the law, and what comes next.
Negotiate with Insurers
The dog owner’s homeowners insurance might deny the claim first in the hopes an injured victim will simply go away. But their tactics don’t stop there. That’s why our dog bite accident lawyers jump in to protect our clients’ interests and prevent low-ball offers from occurring. We understand the law and how the law applies to the fact of your case, and we ensure you receive maximum compensation.
Represent clients in Court
If stubborn insurers and dog owners don’t offer a satisfactory settlement, then our experienced dog bite accident lawyer stands ready to bring all responsible parties to court. As an experienced advocate for injured victims, we know to plan for this step as soon as we take the case.
Recoverable compensation in a dog bite claim.
Part of our firm’s commitment to securing maximum compensation for injured dog bite victims means pursuing every recoverable form of compensation possible, including but not limited to:
- All medical bills, including bills from emergency care, hospitalizations, doctor’s appointments, radiology and imaging, bloodwork, and lab tests
- Physical therapy
- Medication
- Care-related transportation and associated expenses
- Physical pain and suffering, both past and future
- Mental anguish, pain, and suffering, both past and future
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Inconvenience and interference with daily life
- Disability, permanent injury, and disfigurement
- Punitive damages, if applicable
Areas of expertise.
Valentine Injury Law proudly represents clients across a wide range of personal injury and wrongful death cases, including but not limited to:
Catastrophic injuries
We help you pursue the financial foundation you need to rebuild your life.
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Tractor trailer collisions
Tractor trailer accidents can come with complex liability issues. We navigate the nuances for you.
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Rideshare collisions
Uber and Lyft accidents are becoming more common. We know how to pursue compensation and put money back in your pocket.
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Slip and fall accidents
Negligent property owners can cause immense harm. Make them answer for maintaining unsafe conditions.
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Hit and run collisions
We don’t let hit and run drivers get away with fleeing the scene and their responsibility.
Learn MoreOther areas of expertise
Discover how we can helpIf you or a loved one has experienced an injury due to any of the above cases, then you need to contact Valentine Injury Law immediately. Getting the ball rolling early on your legal case is essential to achieving the maximum result that you deserve. Call us today.
Injured by a Dog? You deserve complete compensation for your physical and emotional scars. Contact us now!
If you were injured in a dog bite attack, then your search for justice demands a trusted, experienced dog bite lawyer. At Valentine Injury Law, we understand the applicable law as well as the struggles you face while recovering from such a traumatic attack.
Our dog bite injury lawyers pursue every possible avenue for compensation because we understand how difficult the attack’s aftermath can be for our clients. Contact Valentine Injury Law to get connected with an experienced dog bite lawyer today.
We’re ready to fight for you.
If you’ve been injured, you’re not alone. Contact us for a free case evaluation. You only pay if we secure a settlement for you.
