A dog bite can be excruciating and traumatic. If you suffered a dog bite in Lawtell, you might be facing high medical costs and an inability to go to work. You could recover compensation for these and all other impacts that the dog bite had on your life.
In almost all dog bite cases, the injury happens because of the owner’s carelessness.
If this is true in your case, you could hold the dog owner responsible. They will have to pay for the damages you suffered due to their reckless actions. Our Lawtell dog bite lawyers can fight hard for your right to compensation after a dog bite.
You Can Protect Your Ability to Recover Damages
After a dog bite, you can take measures to safeguard your ability to recover damages from the negligent party. Get the dog owner’s contact details and identify the dog that bit you. Doing so is helpful if you want to take legal action against the negligent party. Collect evidence of the incident by taking photos of the bite, the dog, and the incident scene.
Gathering evidence will strengthen your claim. Talk to people who witnessed the dog bite and get their contact information. Witness statements can further support your case. Be sure to seek medical attention. Dog bites can cause severe injuries and infections, including:
- Muscle and bone injury
- Tetanus
- Rabies
- Skin tearing
The doctor will document your injuries in a medical report, which can also serve as evidence. After receiving treatment, make an official report, especially if you got rabies. This can help the authorities protect others from harm. Your personal injury lawyer can help you file a claim and build your case.
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.
ClientLegal Help If Your Child Was Bitten by a Dog in Lawtell
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that children are more likely than adults to suffer dog bites. In children, dog bites have a higher chance of occurring on their heads and necks. Because of the location of the bite, it causes more severe injuries or even death in some situations.
As discussed above, if the bite causes serious injuries, the medical bills can be very high. If a dog bit your child, the animal’s owner should be responsible for the financial recovery. A dog bite attorney in Lawtell can handle your child’s dog bite case to help you recover damages.
Understanding Louisiana’s Law on Dog Bites
The law on liability for dog bites in the state is in Louisiana Civ Code Art. 2321. It states that the animal’s owner is responsible for the damages the animal causes. But certain pre-set conditions have to be true for you to hold the owner responsible.
The first is that the animal owner knew or should have had knowledge that their dog’s behavior would lead to damage. The second is that the owner had a chance to take reasonable care to keep the damage from occurring.
The third condition is that the owner failed to take reasonable care to avoid such damage. The last condition is that the injured person did not provoke the dog. This final condition is often used as a defense by the other party. Your lawyer can defend such allegations and answer all your queries on dog bite laws in the state.
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 | ClientCompensation You Could Get in a Dog Bite Settlement in Lawtell
The damages you can claim in a dog bite case can be economic or non-economic. Economic damages include the monetary costs of the dog bite. Medical expenses fall under this category. Under medical expenses, there is the cost of current and future treatment.
This includes physician’s fees, surgery, physical therapy, medication, etc. During your recovery from the injury, you may need to stay in the hospital or at home. This means you cannot go to work. Economic damages include the resulting lost income. Non-economic damages cover the unmeasurable losses that you incur. This includes pain and suffering from the injury.
It also covers loss of enjoyment of life when you cannot do the same things as before your injury. Emotional distress is also included if you suffer from anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the dog bite. Your lawyer can evaluate your case and help you estimate what amount you can recover in damages for the dog bite.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientWhat Our Lawyers Can Do for Your Dog Bite Case
Our lawyers can gather more evidence to strengthen your dog bite claim. Some of the evidence may include:
- Records of prior aggressive behavior by the dog
- Video footage
- Witness statements
Your lawyer can deal with negotiations with the defendant’s insurer. Negotiations may result in a favorable settlement. But it can also lead to a situation where the parties cannot agree. If that happens, your lawyer can help you file a case in court where a jury can help settle the matter.
We Can Help You File a Lawsuit on Time
The statute of limitations is a deadline provided by law on how much time you have to take legal action. Louisiana Civ Code 3492 imposes the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits in Louisiana.
In Lawtell, you have two years from the day you suffered the injury to file a dog bite lawsuit against the negligent party. When two years runs out, there is a high chance that the court will throw out your case.
So, if the deadline lapses, you might lose your opportunity to recover damages from the dog owner. We will work to ensure you take legal action within the relevant time frame, thereby safeguarding your chance to recover damages.
They treated us like no other people would. Whenever we needed something they were there for us. I put my trust in them and I don’t regret it.
ClientLegal Help You Can Rely on After a Lawtell Dog Bite Incident
When hiring a dog bite lawyer, you might want to work with one who places your interests at the forefront. We can help you get compensation from the appropriate party while paying attention to your needs. Get the help of a Lawtell legal team today.
