Dog bites can be mild that require minimal care. Alternatively, severe dog bites can cause significant damage and scarring. You will need medical intervention, even surgery, in some cases. Dog bites can also result in deadly infections, such as rabies. Treating these conditions can get expensive fast, but the good news is that you don’t have to handle these burdens alone.
A Forked Island dog bite lawyer at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can help you seek compensation from the negligent dog owner. They know the laws surrounding dog bite cases and will follow all procedures to help ensure you get the justice you deserve.
Liability in Dog Bite Cases
All states have their laws regarding dog bites. In Louisiana, the dog owner is responsible for any damages caused by their dogs, especially if they know their dog has a history of aggressive behavior.
There is a one-bite rule that gives the dog a “free bite” before you can hold the owner accountable. However, it can still be hard to prove the dog owner’s liability, so you will need to show that the owner knew their dog has that previous history. If you cannot prove this, you have to show that the owner should have known, in the exercise of reasonable care, that their dog can cause injuries.
You also need to show that the owner did not take reasonable action to stop the attack and that the injuries would not have occurred if the owner had contained the dog in some way. These tasks can be challenging. However, it is still possible to hold the owner accountable for their actions. Allow our lawyers to assist you.
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How a Forked Island Lawyer at Our Firm Can Help You
A Forked Island dog bite lawyer at our firm can help you navigate the multiple steps required to preserve your rights by:
Determining the Laws Applying to Your Case
Multiple laws can affect your case, depending on the severity of your injuries and how and where you were bit. For example, according to CC Art. 2321, the law cannot protect you if you were trespassing or provoked the dog.
The laws also factor in how long ago the attack happened. You have to file a lawsuit within the state’s statute of limitations codified in CC Art. 3492. An injury that happened long ago raises questions, and failing to file your lawsuit on time can get it dismissed. Your Forked Island dog bite lawyer will look at your circumstances and determine the applicable laws.
Calculating Damages
You can file for any damages you incurred from the dog bite. This includes any economic damages from the attack. These are easy to prove, as they are tangible. However, you may have non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering or grief over losing a loved one from a dog bite.
Your lawyer can assess your non-economic damages and assign them a monetary value. They can then file for compensation using the total they get from the economic and non-economic damages. However, your lawyer will need evidence when calculating the damages. Some of the evidence you will need to provide includes:
- Receipts, documents, and bills showing the amount spent treating the injuries or infections
- Pay stubs, tax information, and documents showing the wages you missed because of your injuries
- Testimony from expert witnesses, which will help calculate any potential losses and costs you might incur in the future
- Testimony from you, your family and friends, and the medical staff to assess how the injuries impact your quality of life.
Negotiating a Settlement
You can file your claim with the negligent dog owner’s insurance company to get compensation. If they don’t have insurance, you can file a lawsuit against them directly. The dog owner might have their own legal representation when dealing with the case.
Your Forked Island dog bite lawyer can negotiate with the insurance company or defendant’s legal team to get you a fair settlement that meets all your needs, current and future. They are also ready to take the defendant to court if they refuse to give you a satisfactory settlement.
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Compensation You Can Recover in a Dog Bite Injury Case
The compensation you recover depends on your injuries and how long they are expected to last. You may be entitled to recover:
Economic Damages
These are tangible, quantifiable damages you incurred. They include:
- Lost income
- Medical expenses for past, current, and future care
- Reduced capacity to earn income
- Cost of repairing or fixing damaged property
Non-Economic Damages
These losses are the unquantifiable losses you got from the bite:
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Emotional anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Reduced quality of life
Punitive Damages
This is compensation meant to punish an especially reckless owner. The court may choose to make the owner pay an extra amount from the set compensation to punish them. The damages are also meant to caution the owner from letting such an incident happen again.
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Get Started on Your Forked Island Dog Bite Case Today
A Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers attorney is here to help you. They will work to hold the dog owner accountable and get compensation for your injuries. We have the resources necessary to take action against negligent dog owners.
We offer free case evaluations to help us learn more about your Forked Island dog bite case. Your attorney won’t take any fees unless and until they obtain a financial award for you. Call us today to learn how our Forked Island dog bite lawyer at our firm can help you.
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULATION
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