A dog attack could be traumatic as even small dogs may cause disfiguring scars and serious bite wounds. Due to the potential danger, Louisiana dog owners have a responsibility to take steps to ensure their dogs do not harm anyone. When they fail to do so, and their dog causes an injury, they may be held liable in court.
If you have been a victim of a dog bite, you may be entitled to compensation. An experienced Alexandria dog bite lawyer could evaluate the facts of your case and explore your options. If you decide to move forward with a claim, a skilled personal injury attorney could stand by you throughout the process.
Establishing Liability in Dog Bite Cases in Alexandria
A dog owner has a duty to control their dog in a responsible fashion and may be held liable for any harm their animal causes when it attacks a person without provocation. In Louisiana, defendants must adhere to the state’s applied strict liability statute (CC §2321). This means that dog owners may be held liable for the actions of their dog, even if the dog had no history of aggression or violence.
Louisiana also has several other requirements for the dog owner to be found liable for damages, including:
- The dog owner needs to have known or should have known that the dog was dangerous
- Any injury or damage must have been preventable had the owner taken reasonable care and caution to prevent it
- The owner must not have taken sufficient care to prevent the victim from being injured
- The victim needs to not have provoked the animal prior to the injury
For a free legal consultation with a dog bites lawyer serving Alexandria, call (318) 777-7777
Arguments Dog Owners may Use that We Can Counter
The dog owner may raise a number of defenses to try to reduce their liability. A common defense is that the injured party may have provoked the animal, and as a result, they were attacked.
An owner may also try to claim that the injured party bears part of the blame, also known as comparative negligence. If the owner’s argument is successful, the plaintiff’s damages may be reduced by a percentage the court finds them at fault. This is why it may be important to work with an Alexandria dog bite lawyer who knows how to argue against these defenses.
Alexandria Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me (318) 777-7777
Recoverable Damages in a Dog Bite Injury Case
Someone who was attacked by a dog may be entitled to fair compensation for their losses and damages. The two main categories of harm are economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages may include compensation for tangible losses, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages
- Property damages
- Future psychological costs, and
- Past counseling expenses
Non-economic damages may include compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- The humiliation caused by scarring
- Loss of quality of life
- Emotional and psychological trauma
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages may also be applicable in dog bite cases if the dog was known to be vicious or had a history of attacking others and its owner acted recklessly in exposing others to the danger presented. These damages are meant to punish the responsible person, set an example, and reduce the chance of future attacks. Therefore, they are only awarded for especially egregious behavior. For help with recovering damages, retain the services of a dedicated lawyer.
Click to contact our Alexandria Personal Injury Lawyers today
Why Hire an Alexandria Dog Bite Lawyer?
When you are bit by a dog, you may have legal options. When you hire a lawyer, they will investigate the incident and determine what the best course of action is.
Dog bite laws differ from state to state. In some jurisdictions, dog owners are always liable, and others do not place liability on the owner until the dog causes a problem. Under CC §2321, dog bite liability is rooted in negligence law. Under this law, a dog owner is liable for the damages their dog causes from a bite or another incident, such as knocking someone down, if:
- The owner was aware or should have been aware that their dog’s behavior would inflict damage upon another
- Taking reasonable care would have prevented the damage
- The owner did not take reasonable care to prevent harm
- The injured party did not do anything to provoke the dog to bite
In essence, the plaintiff in a dog bite case or their Rapides Parish dog bite attorney must prove that the owner failed to take reasonable care and the failure caused their injuries. Also included in this law are injuries from other animals, such as cats or horses.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Don’t Let Time Run Out on Your Claim
If you wish to file a personal injury lawsuit against the owner of the dog that bit you, you only have one year to do so, according to CC §3492. You do not want to procrastinate on filing a lawsuit as it takes time to build a solid case. Our dog bite lawyer needs plenty of time to collect evidence, speak with witnesses, calculate your damages, and more.
If a family member passed away due to a dog bite, CC §2315.2 states that you have one year to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Your family may be eligible to recover damages like loss of your loved one’s financial support, loss of companionship/guidance, and funeral/burial costs.
We want to get started on your case today so that we have enough time to collect all the evidence we need to prove the liable party’s negligence. Don’t wait to reach out.
We are a Contingency Fee Firm
You don’t have to worry about whether you can afford our services because we operate on a contingency fee basis. If you hire one of our lawyers, there is no upfront payment, and you never pay out of pocket. We only get paid if you do. If we secure a settlement or court award for you, we take our fee from the compensation you receive.
Contact a Reliable Alexandria Dog Bite Attorney Today
A knowledgeable Alexandria dog bite lawyer could review your case and help you explore your available sources of compensation. To learn more, call today at (318) 777-7777 to set up a free consultation.
Call or text (318) 777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
