A dog bite can cause you immense pain and long-lasting effects. It might leave you with permanent scarring that affects your social life. A dog bite may also affect your ability to go to work during recovery. Losing income and rising medical bills may place you in financial peril.
If you suffered a dog bite in Gretna because of the owner’s negligence, you could recover compensation. A settlement or award could help pay for medical costs and the intangible effects of the dog bite in your life. Our Gretna dog bite lawyers can advocate for your right to compensation. They can analyze your case and map out the best strategy for obtaining compensation.
Steps To Take After a Dog Bite in Gretna
What you do after a dog bite in Gretna can either help your case or jeopardize it. You can do certain things to benefit your claim. The first is to obtain the dog owner’s contact information. This may include their address and name. If you can, also get the dog breed.
Document your dog bite injury through photos or videos. This will help prove your claims. Also, take pictures or footage of the dog to help in identifying it later. Then, seek medical help as soon as you can. Dog bite injuries range in severity; they can be minor injuries or deadly wounds.
However, even the most minor injuries from a dog bite may get infected and lead to complications. In some circumstances, a dog may infect you with rabies. This is a viral disease that can cause illness in your brain and eventually death if left untreated. Your personal injury lawyer will consider this when valuating your losses.
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.
ClientHow Louisiana Laws on Dog Bites Affect Your Case
LA Civ Code Art. 2321 states that the dog’s owner is responsible for the harm you suffered because of the animal. Certain criteria have to be met for the dog owner to bear responsibility.
- The owner must have been aware that their dog posed a threat to others.
- The owner could have prevented the harm caused by their dog if they exercised reasonable care.
- The owner did not exercise such reasonable care, and the dog bit someone.
- You sustained losses from the dog bite.
The dog owner might not be responsible for the injuries inflicted by their dog if you provoked the animal or were trespassing on the owner’s property. If none of these apply and you can prove that the dog owner is negligent, you could recover compensation.
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 | ClientWhat Obtaining a Settlement in a Gretna Dog Bite Case Might Include
The settlement you receive in a dog bite claim depends on the kind of damages you can seek. You may recover economic and non-economic damages in your dog bite case. Economic damages include the monetary costs of the dog bite. These include:
- Lost wages (from missing work during recovery)
- Cost of medical care (now and in the future)
- Loss of future earning abilities
Dog bites have psychological impacts too. For example, they can cause you to have trouble sleeping and develop new fears. Non-economic damages include these and other intangible impacts. An attorney can help you calculate the value of your dog bite claim.
We Can Negotiate a Settlement on Your Behalf
Most personal injury cases usually settle out-of-court. This means that you reach an agreement with the defendant’s insurance company on the settlement amount. The insurance company wants to avoid paying out claims and thus protect its profits. So, they can try to deny your claims or give a low settlement offer.
You don’t have to go through the stress of handling negotiations in addition to your recovery. We can take care of negotiations on your behalf. Unlike the insurer, we place your interests first as we fight for a favorable settlement.
Our Team Could Utilize Our Resources and Knowledge for Your Dog Bite Case
Your will require an investigation to establish the negligent party, how the dog bit you, how you were affected by the attack, and what party we could pursue for damages. You might not know how to do this on your own.
However, our team has handled cases like yours before. We can turn to medical experts for guidance about your recovery process. Our team can also seek out all available forms of evidence and valuate all your losses. You might not know all the opportunities for compensation available to you, and could leave money on the table in negotiations. Our team can stand by you and guide you throughout the case.
Our Lawyers Can Meet Your Case Deadlines
A dog bite case is a type of personal injury case. Under LA Civ Code Art. 3492, you have one year from the day of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. One year can go by faster than you anticipate.
If this time elapses, you could lose the chance to bring a case against the defendant and recover damages. That is why our attorneys work hard to ensure they meet this and any other deadlines.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientContact a Gretna Dog Bite Legal Team Today for Legal Help
At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, our dog bite lawyers can help you build a strong case with the help of sound evidence. A strong case is critical in getting compensation for your dog bite injury. Call for a free consultation and legal aid. You have no obligation to work with us after this initial call.
Our team can answer any of your questions on dog bite laws in Louisiana. We can also correctly apply these laws to fight for compensation in your case. Reach out today so we can get started. Our team is ready to hear about your experience.
