If you or your loved one was injured by a dog bite in Ville Platte, LA, the owner of the attacking animal should be the one to pay for the damages. Under Louisiana law, dog owners have a long list of responsibilities pertaining to keeping others safe from their animals. At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we hold those owners accountable and help the victims recover compensation.
The Ville Platte dog bite lawyers at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers will help you get paid the money you deserve for your dog bite injury. We will investigate the owner, collect evidence proving they are liable under Louisiana’s legal codes, and pursue compensation. We offer a free consultation to all dog bite injury victims and never collect a fee until you get paid.
To receive a free consultation right away with a member of our team, call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (337) 777-7777.
Dog Owners’ Responsibilities in Louisiana
Dog owners bear liability for injuries caused by their animals. If the owner of the animal that bit you failed to take necessary precautions, we will use it against them when seeking compensation. However, even if they took every precaution and their animal still managed to attack you, we may be able to hold them liable.
The responsibilities of a dog owner in Louisiana are:
- Preventing escape: A dog owner must take adequate steps to ensure the animal does not get out of the house or yard and roam without supervision or restraint.
- Conduct: The owner must take every possible step to prevent the dog from biting, attacking, threatening, or intimidating others while out in public.
- Restraint: A dog in Louisiana must be restrained when off the owner’s property, except at designated locations—such as dog parks—that are specifically cordoned off for dogs to run free. Even at these locations, the owner must supervise the dog closely and is responsible for any injuries it causes to a person or another animal.
In many dog bite cases that we have observed, the owner failed to uphold at least one of these three provisions. But in Louisiana, we can hold the owner liable even if the dog was properly confined, supervised, or restrained. The owner has close to absolute liability for the actions of their animal. Call (337) 777-7777 to learn more from a Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers representative.
Unlike in many states where a dog owner is liable for a bite only if the dog has a documented history of aggression (or the owner knew about its aggressive tendencies), owners in Louisiana can be held liable on the first bite under Civil Code 2321, even if the dog had never shown a hint of violent behavior in the past.
A dog owner in Louisiana is also liable for bites or attacks that occur in their own home—provided the victim was not a robber, burglar, or otherwise unauthorized to be on the premises. If you were an invited guest in someone’s home and suffered a dog bite injury while there, the owner is liable.
The bottom line is this: The law in Louisiana makes it clear that a dog should never have the opportunity to bite a human in this state. Therefore, when someone suffers a bite injury, someone else is responsible for allowing it to happen. That someone is almost always the owner of the pet.
However, in some circumstances, the responsible party might be someone else who was in control of the animal at the time—such as a pet sitter, a pet spa or daycare owner, or a veterinarian. The Ville Platte dog bite lawyers at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers will hold the responsible party liable and help you recover compensation for your injuries. Call us today for a free consultation.
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.
ClientWe Help You Recover Fair Compensation
If you got bitten by a dog in Ville Platte, you deserve compensation from the owner and from anyone else who should have been supervising the dog that bit you. The dog bite injury attorneys at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers will investigate your injury, gather evidence showing who was liable, and go after them and their insurers for compensation.
We can help you recover both economic and noneconomic damages. Your settlement or award for your dog bite injury may include compensation for:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering and inconvenience
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
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 | ClientMake Sure You Are Aware of the Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations is two years for dog bite injury lawsuits in Louisiana under Civil Code 3492, but it can vary if your case has unique circumstances or factors. A lawyer can help you understand how this timeline may affect your case. Your attorney can inform you of your rights and obligations. If necessary, Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can take quick legal action to prevent the statute from expiring.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientCall for a Free Dog Bite Injury Case Evaluation Today
The Ville Platte dog bite lawyers at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers are ready to get to work for you. We will hold the dog owner responsible and help you recover compensation. For a free consultation with a member of our team, call (337) 777-7777. We can get started as soon as you call. Begin collecting all relevant medical receipts, insurance communication, and a written testimony of the events that occurred before, during, and after your injury.
