If you required medical attention after a dog attack, civil law may allow you to hold the dog’s owner liable. Filing a lawsuit could help you recover the costs of medical attention, loss of wages if you missed work, and other damages.
A dog bite lawyer from our office would like to help you with your Kenner, Louisiana case. We can manage the case on your behalf from start to finish, including calculating damages, speaking with the insurance company, and negotiating an appropriate settlement.
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Represents Dog Bite Victims on Contingency
If we handle your case, Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers will not ask for any payment up front. We work based on contingent fees, meaning:
- You will not need to pay us attorney’s fees until we secure damages in your case.
- We will take the agreed-on percentage out of the settlement or judgment before depositing the rest of the money for you.
- You will not pay us any attorney’s fees at all if we cannot secure damages for you.
Building a case to hold a dog owner responsible in Kenner, Louisiana is not always easy, but the dog bite lawyers at our firm know what it takes. We can:
- Assess your case at no cost or obligation
- Gather evidence to support a claim against the owner
- Determine the monetary value of your damages
- Negotiate with the insurance company so that they cannot get away with offering less than you deserve
- Take care of all paperwork, including preparing the settlement agreement for your signature
- Keep you updated so that you always know what is happening with the case
- Prepare a legal case for court while you focus on overcoming your injuries
There may be multiple ways of securing compensation in a dog bite case, including settling with the insurance company out of court or taking the case to trial. We can also explore other options if this is not possible based on the facts of your case.
Not All Cases Require You to Sue the Dog’s Owner and go to Trial
In many cases, we do not have to sue the dog owner. We may be able to settle the case out of court, negotiating a reasonable settlement based on our client’s damages and the facts of the case.
Even if the insurance company refuses to settle, you do not have to worry about defending yourself in court. The team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can:
- Prepare and submit evidence
- Arrange trial dates
- Prepare and deliver oral arguments
- Find and question witnesses on the stand
Under CC Art. 3492, we have two years from the date the injuries occurred to begin a lawsuit. Suits filed after this date are not valid, and the people who file them are no longer eligible for damages. As such, the sooner we can get started, the better.
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.
ClientCalculating Recoverable Damages After a Kenner Dog Bite
When our team represents a dog bite victim, we gather evidence to prove their current and future damages. We use what we learn to put a fair settlement value on their personal injury case and present the evidence to the insurer or at trial. The recoverable damages in your case could include:
- Your medical costs, including both current and future medical care
- Rehabilitation, if necessary
- Plastic surgery for scarring, especially on the face, hands, or neck
- Mental health care
- Past and future loss of income
- Compensation for permanent injuries
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
If you lost a loved one to a dog bite injury, you may file a wrongful death suit. You could be eligible for any or call of the above damages, as well as:
- Funeral expenses and other end-of-life costs
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of companionship
Working with an experienced wrongful death lawyer in Kenner will increase your chances of recovering maximum compensation. They can gather crucial evidence and negotiate with insurance companies or pursue litigation on your behalf.
Evidence That Helps Us Calculate Damages
How can you be sure that you are suing for a fair amount that covers all of your needs and injuries? Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can review materials such as:
- Medical records: This may be a good source of information about your injuries and the physical and mental pain they caused.
- Medical bills: This includes how much money you have already spent on medical care, as well as the estimated cost of whatever treatment you will probably require in the future.
- Your paychecks: We can tabulate how many paychecks you missed and, if you are permanently unable to work, how much you would have earned over your lifetime.
- Witness testimony: Did anyone see your dog bite happen or try to help you afterward? Testimony from these witnesses can help prove that you deserve damages.
- Photos or video recordings: Visual evidence, either from you or another source, like a security camera, can confirm key aspects of your story.
An Additional Note on Medical Records
Medical records may be most valuable if you received treatment promptly after the bite. All dog bites should be taken seriously, even if they seem minor. Try to seek medical attention as soon as possible after a dog bite. This can:
- Prevent infection
- Minimize scarring
- Detect possible problems while they are still minor enough to be effectively treated
- Generate medical records that can serve as important evidence during a lawsuit
- Save your life
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 | ClientBuilding a Kenner Dog Bite Injury Case
Louisiana’s dog bite laws require victims to prove that the owner could foresee the incident was likely to occur. Under CC Art. 2321, an owner is strictly liable for damages caused by their dog under very specific circumstances. This includes:
- The owner “knew or, in the exercise of reasonable care, should have known that his animal’s behavior would cause damage;” and
- The damage would not have occurred if the owner kept the dog contained or took other reasonable actions; and
- The owner failed to take reasonable actions.
Even when everything else seems to align, dog owners often claim that the dog bite victim provoked the dog in some way, complicating these cases even more. We can counter such accusations by collecting evidence like witness statements, photos or video footage, and previous complaints against the dog owner (if such exist).
In addition to owing you damages, negligent dog owners may be punished under city law. According to Kenner Ord. § 4-97, anyone who does not properly train or restrain a dog that is known to be vicious may be fined or jailed.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientGet a Free Consultation Today
Our team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can build the strongest possible claim or lawsuit against a liable dog owner. A lawyer from our firm can help you with all aspects of your Kenner case and will charge no attorney’s fees until you win damages.
To learn more, call (504) 777-7777 now. Our consultations are free for dog bite victims.
