A dog attack could be traumatic, as even small dogs may cause disfiguring scars and serious bite wounds. Due to the potential danger of a dog bite, 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, the owner may be held liable in court.
If you have been a dog bite victim, you may be entitled to compensation. An Alexandria dog bite lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can evaluate the facts of your case and explore your options. If you decide to move forward with a claim, a personal injury attorney will stand by you throughout the legal process.
Our Firm Is Ready to Help with Your Dog Bite Case in Alexandria
A dog bite may leave you with many questions, such as:
- Who is responsible for this?
- How will I pay for my medical care?
- What are my options for pursuing justice?
- What should I do to protect my rights?
A dog bite lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers will answer these and any other questions you have. We act quickly to preserve sensitive evidence. We will also help you find medical care, obtaining records of your injuries and treatments.
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers has deep knowledge of Louisiana law. We have helped many clients before you. We establish two goals when we accept your case:
- To secure the financial recovery you deserve
- To leave a lasting positive impression upon you
A dog bite is a traumatic event. Our team hopes to help you move on from your trauma as soon, and as completely, as possible.
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving Alexandria, call (318) 333-3476
Establishing Liability in Dog Bite Cases in Alexandria
Dog bite laws differ from state to state. In some jurisdictions, dog owners are always liable. Other jurisdictions do not place liability on the owner until the dog causes a problem. Generally, a dog owner has a duty to control their dog and may be held liable for any harm their animal causes when it attacks a person.
In Louisiana, defendants must adhere to the state’s applied strict liability statute (CC §2321). This means dog owners may be held liable for their dog’s actions, 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 before the injury
These conditions are not always as black-and-white as they appear. It may be wise to work with a lawyer from our firm to review your case on its specific merits.
Alexandria Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me (318) 333-3476
Examples of Negligence By Dog Owners
We consider the circumstances of each dog bite case – yours will be unique from all others. However, our team has seen many instances of dog owner negligence, including:
- Allowing a dog to roam off-leash in a public area
- Failing to install adequate fencing around a yard
- Leaving gates open or unlatched
- Leaving doors to a home or apartment open when a dog is roaming free
- Keeping a dog on a leash but allowing the dog to approach strangers
Any behavior that allows a dog to have unwanted contact with a person could qualify as negligence.
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Arguments Dog Owners May Use (That We Will Counter)
A dog owner may raise several defenses to try to reduce their liability. A common defense is that the injured party provoked the animal, and as a result, the dog attacked.
An owner may also claim that the injured party bears part of the blame. This approach is known as comparative negligence. If the owner’s argument is successful, the plaintiff’s damages may be reduced in accordance with the percentage the court finds them at fault. It’s important to work with an Alexandria dog bite lawyer who knows how to counter these defenses.
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Recoverable Damages in a Dog Bite Injury Case
When a dog attacks someone, that person may be entitled to fair compensation for their losses. The two main categories of harm are economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are generally those with a clear monetary value, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages
- Property damages
- Future psychological costs, and
- Past counseling expenses
Non-economic damages don’t have an obvious monetary value and may include:
- Pain and suffering
- The humiliation caused by scarring
- Loss of quality of life
- Emotional and psychological trauma
Punitive damages may also be applicable in dog bite cases, especially if the dog has a history of attacking others. 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, you may want to retain the services of a personal injury lawyer.
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 generally have one year to do so, according to CC §3492. You do not want to procrastinate filing a lawsuit, as it takes time to build a solid case. Your dog bite lawyer will use all the time you allow them to collect evidence, speak with witnesses, calculate your damages, and seek fair coverage.
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 for the loss of your loved one’s financial support, loss of companionship and guidance, and funeral and 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.
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers’ Results Are Indisputable
Once you’ve decided to seek coverage for your dog bite, you’ll face a key question: which law firm do I choose?
During your search, you should consider how a law firm has performed in previous cases. A track record of financial recoveries speaks for itself. In the case of Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, our recoveries include settlements and judgments of:
- $23 million
- $17 million
- $10.4 million
- $7 million
- $5.5 million
- $5.25 million
- $5 million
- And more
Our mission remains the same for each client: to obtain the compensation you deserve. For many clients, it is compensation they need—for medical bills, lost income, and other hardships.
Our Client Testimonials Speak to Our Success
Many of our past clients have left us great reviews about their experience working with our firm. Just a few examples include:
- “Feel like I am in good hands. Great professional attention.” – Daniel, former client
- “Sometimes you take a chance in life because you truly need help and the right person is there at the right time. [Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers] so far has done far more than I could have done myself… I know they heard and understood what I was going through. My calls and texts were returned and everything was explained clearly to me. If I had to do it over I would do the same thing and [choose] them to help me.” – Geo, former client
- “I have nothing bad to say about [Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers.] They have done an excellent job with my case and I would hire them immediately in the future should the occasion arise great job guys!!!!!!” – Alfred, former client
- “I had a very positive experience with Laborde Earles. They provided excellent service, demonstrating professionalism and personal attention to detail. My paralegal Kimberly is smart, realistic, efficient, pleasant and very personable: all the qualities you want. I will recommend to my family and friends. Thank you for all your hard work!!” – Danielle, former client
Our Experience Allows Us to Represent You Confidently
Our legal experience allows us to represent you with confidence. Our past dog bite cases allow us to:
- Understand how Alexandria’s legal system processes dog bite cases
- Anticipate the defenses that liable parties may use
- Understand the cost of a dog bite, both in the short- and long-term
- Execute effective rebuttals to defendants’ arguments
- Stand firm against pressure to accept a low settlement
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers never backs down. Our clients trust us to secure the recovery they deserve—and not a dollar less. You should have this same expectation when hiring us for your dog bite case.
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 judgment for you, we take our fee from the compensation you receive.
Learn How an Alexandria Dog Bite Attorney Can Help You Today
An Alexandria dog bite lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers will review your case and help you explore your available sources of compensation. To learn more, call (318) 777-7777 today for a FREE consultation.
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