A dog attack can be traumatic; even small dogs can cause disfiguring scars and severe 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. The owner may be held liable in court if they fail to do so, and their dog causes an injury.
You may be entitled to compensation if you have been a dog bite victim. An Alexandria dog bite lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can evaluate the facts of your case and explore your options. Your personal injury attorney will stand by you throughout the legal process if you decide to move forward with a claim.
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?
We will answer these and any other questions you have. We act quickly to preserve sensitive evidence. We will also help you find medical care and obtain records of your injuries and treatments.
Our law firm 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 completely as possible.
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving Alexandria, call (318) 777-7777
Common Types Of Dog Bite Injuries
Dog bite injuries can take many forms. Sadly, dog bite injuries can be far more severe than many realize. Until you have been involved in a dog attack, you may not understand just how impactful these injuries can be. With that in mind, it is important to remember that your dog bite injury will not determine your right to compensation or ability to file a claim.
However, there are some types of dog bite injuries we see more frequently in the insurance and civil claims process. Some of the more common types of dog bite injuries in Alexandria include:
- Lacerations
- Sepsis
- Internal bleeding
- Organ failure
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety and depression
- Broken and fractured bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Concussion
- Back injuries
If you suffered another type of injury not listed here, you could still be entitled to financial compensation through a dog bite claim. Explore your legal options for financial recovery further when you contact our office for a free consultation.
Alexandria Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me (318) 777-7777
Grounds For A Dog Bite Lawsuit
You know that the type of injury you were diagnosed with will not determine whether you have the right to be awarded compensation. But what will determine whether you have the right to be awarded compensation? Unfortunately, the answer is not always so simple.
First, you will need to be able to prove that someone else is responsible for causing your injuries. In dog bite claims, this should be relatively simple, as the dog’s owner should be accountable for their pet’s actions. However, proving your case could prove more challenging if the dog has not previously shown a propensity towards aggression or violence, meaning they have not once attacked before.
You also need to show that your dog bite injuries have tremendously impacted your life. This does not necessarily need to be a significant injury or financial loss, but you must have suffered economic or non-economic damages to have the right to financial compensation. When you are unsure whether you have a civil or insurance claim on your hands, reach out to your attorney to find out whether you have grounds for a claim.
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Establishing Liability In Dog Bite Cases In Louisiana
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 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 not have provoked the animal before the injury
These conditions are not always as black-and-white as they appear. Therefore, it may be wise to work with a dog bite attorney from our firm to review your case on its specific merits.
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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
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. Again, working with dog bite lawyers in Alexandria who know how to counter these defenses is important.
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 do not 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.
Louisiana Law Limits Your Time To File A Dog Bite Lawsuit
If you wish to file a lawsuit against the owner of the dog that bit you, you generally have one year to do so, according to CC §3492. However, you do not want to procrastinate filing a lawsuit, as it takes time to build a solid case. Your dog bite attorney 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 passes away due to a dog bite, CC §2315.2 states 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 we have enough time to collect all the evidence we need to prove the liable party’s negligence. So do not wait to reach out.
How Insurance Claims For Dog Bites Work
In many dog bite claims, you will have the opportunity to file a claim with the insurance company. This is because dog owners may have purchased homeowner’s insurance coverage, renters’ insurance coverage, or general liability insurance coverage. If they did not buy this coverage, you might not have an insurance company to file a claim with. However, many of these policies will cover dog bite claims if they did.
If you have the opportunity to file a claim with the insurance company, the insurer will be required to cover your losses up to the limits of the policyholder’s claim. This means the amount of coverage you can expect to collect from the insurance company will depend on the policyholder’s coverage limits.
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers’ Results Are Indisputable
Once you have decided to seek coverage for your dog bite, you will 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. Our financial 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 the 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 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
Our attorneys never back down. Our clients trust us to secure the recovery they deserve—not a dollar less. You should have this same expectation when hiring us for your dog bite claim.
We Are A Contingency Fee Firm
You do not 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 A Dog Bite Attorney In Alexandria 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, contact our law firm for a free consultation.
Call or text (318) 777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
