If you got bit by a dog and are injured, you have the right to pursue compensation for the damages. Whether the dog bite occurred with someone you know or a stranger’s dog, you can seek recovery of damages. Dogs can do quite a bit of damage if they attack a person, especially if the dog is large.
Even a smaller dog can cause injuries to a person. If you are dealing with a dog bite, you can receive help from a Terrytown dog bite lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers. Your lawyer will negotiate a fair settlement for you so you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Dog Bite Statistics
Millions of dog bites occur every year in the United States, according to the Canine Journal. These dog bites can range from serious to mild in nature. Some people have life-threatening injuries, while others have severe injuries that require medical attention. According to the Journal, about 800,000 people each year need to go to the emergency room for help after a dog bite.
Even if a person doesn’t have severe injuries, they are still harmed mentally due to the incident. They will suffer pain and mental anguish. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) looks at the demographics of dog bite injuries as well as other data. Here is what they report:
- 52.6% of males were bitten by dogs, while 47.4% of females were the ones attacked.
- The average age of a person bit by a dog was 28.9 years.
- The location of the dog bite was upper extremity — 47.3%, head/neck — 26.8%, lower extremity — 21.5%, and trunk — 4.4%.
- Younger people were bitten more on the head/neck area.
- Older patients were bitten more on the upper extremity.
- 1.7% of people bitten by a dog had to be hospitalized.
- Most dog bites happened in the summer and on weekends.
- More than 80% of dog bites occurred at home.
Laborde Earles injury was great for me they took care of me very fast and professional. If for any reason I need legal help they will be who I use.
ClientWhat Precautions Must a Dog Owner Take to Avoid Liability?
Dog owners must follow reasonable precautions, or they will be found liable for their dog’s bad behavior. If a dog owner has any reason to believe that a dog is dangerous, they must take precautions to restrain it while in the presence of another person.
If they don’t keep the dog confined or restrained and the dog bites the person, then they are negligent and can be held responsible for the damages.
I thank God for Digger & David. I don’t know what we would have done if it hadn’t have been for them.
Rick Smith | ClientWhat Is Louisiana Law Concerning Dog Bites?
A dog bite injury falls under personal injury law. This means that a person can file a claim against the dog’s owner if they were injured by the dog. The attorney will build the case to show the owner was irresponsible and didn’t keep the dog contained. So, there will be a negligence argument made.
There is a statute of limitations in a dog bite case. A statute of limitations means that the person has a limit on the time they can file a lawsuit. In a dog bite case, the Louisiana statute of limitations is two years from the date of the incident. If you do not file in time, the court may bar you from seeking compensation.
Our lawyer can prevent this from happening. We will ensure we meet all deadlines in your case.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientHow Our Terrytown Dog Bite Lawyer Builds a Case
In your dog bite personal injury case, your lawyer must establish the following:
The Dog Owner Had a Duty of Care
A duty of care refers to a situational position a person is in that dictates another party owes them a duty of care, meaning the latter has a responsibility to keep them from harm. For example, the dog owner owed you a duty of care to keep you safe from their aggressive dog.
In another example, if you are invited to someone’s house, the owner owes you a duty of care. However, if you go into someone’s yard without being invited, this could negate the duty of care because the person didn’t take on the responsibility.
The Dog Owner Breached the Duty
Assuming the other party had a duty of care, the next step is to show how they broke or breached the duty. As noted above, the owner has the responsibility to ensure a known aggressive dog is kept secure.
The Injuries and Incident Are Linked
This step involves proving the injuries were a direct result of the dog attack. This should be straightforward, but there may be some gray areas. For example, if you already had an injured leg (from something else) and the dog attack caused you to fall and injure the leg even worse, things could get complex. Your attorney would need to show what part of the injuries are new and not from the pre-existing problem.
Damages
In this last element of negligence, your lawyer will show that you have damages from the dog bite. These damages could be pain and suffering, medical bills, lost income, and more.
They treated us like no other people would. Whenever we needed something they were there for us. I put my trust in them and I don’t regret it.
ClientWork With Our Dog Bite Lawyer for Help Seeking Compensation
Get in touch with Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers for help with filing a personal injury claim. Our attorneys have 350 years of combined legal experience and have won millions in damages for their clients. They will provide you with quality service and argue for a fair settlement on your behalf. In some instances, you won’t need to go to court.
If you’d like to discuss your Jefferson Parish case with a dedicated team member, you can contact us for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Get started with no money down. Our attorneys will take on the case on a contingency basis. So, you don’t pay unless there is a win.
