New Orleans Dog Bite Lawyer

If you, your child, or another family member is a dog bite victim, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure how you’ll cover your medical bills and other losses. Fortunately, a New Orleans personal injury lawyer from Laborde Earles can pursue the compensation you need to get effective medical treatment and replace your other losses.

Our firm has over 350 years of combined experience handling cases like yours. You can count on our highly experienced attorneys to get the best result possible for you. No matter how serious your injuries and losses are, a New Orleans dog bite lawyer from our team will work tirelessly to get you a fair settlement.

Compensation a New Orleans Dog Bite Lawyer Will Pursue

Dog bite injuries can lead to extensive and long-term medical treatments. Our dog bite attorneys in New Orleans, LA, will aim to get the compensation you need to cover damages after a dog bite. Sometimes, a person’s home or renter’s insurance can cover the cost of any injuries. 

The compensation you get will depend on the severity of your injuries and the losses you’ve incurred. You may be able to receive compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and any disfigurement. Our law firm may be able to help you fight to receive compensation for the following economic and non-economic damages:

• Current and future medical expenses: Sometimes, you don’t realize the severity of a dog bite until later. Extensive medical bills can pile up after one of these injuries. Compensation helps cover emergency treatment, follow-up doctor’s visits, pain medication, hospital admissions, and corrective surgeries.
• Current and future loss of earnings: You may be unable to work for a time after your injuries. This could be while you get emergency treatment or during long-term recovery. Compensation may help cover lost amounts in tips, bonuses, commissions, hourly rates, and vacation benefits.
• Reduced earning capacity: You might not be able to work at the same job you did before the incident. Compensation can help cover your costs if you change jobs or are unable to work. Our dog bite lawyers in New Orleans will work tirelessly to get the money you need to make up for your reduced earning ability.
• Pain and suffering: A dog bite can be extremely painful. You may be able to receive compensation for physical pain and suffering. But you may also get compensation for the mental and emotional discomfort that you experienced.
• Emotional distress: Some people who are attacked by dogs suffer extreme anxiety and stress due to the experience. They may feel helpless, scared, angry, or sad. These feelings often last for months or years.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder: You may have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a dog attack. PTSD symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, depression, anger, and more. Compensating victims of PTSD can help pay for counseling sessions and medications.
• Disability: After the dog bite, you may end up on disability, temporarily or permanently. Compensation can help cover your disability costs. Sometimes, a dog bite injury will require plastic surgery as part of your medical care.
• Wrongful death damages: If your loved one died because of a dog bite incident, you might be able to receive compensation to help cover funeral and burial costs and loss of consortium. Reach out to a New Orleans wrongful death lawyer from our team to learn more.

A dog bite can leave severe and unsightly wounds that might require corrective surgery. You may be able to include the physical and emotional costs of your physical impairment or disfigurement in your claim for financial compensation. Our personal injury team will assess your current and future injury-related expenses to calculate the true value of your claim.

Steps We’ll Take to Get the Results You Deserve

After a dog bite incident, you need an attorney who will handle every aspect of your case, giving you the time you need to receive treatment for your injuries and cope with any emotional distress you’ve been burdened with. Here’s what our dedicated team of dog bite lawyers in New Orleans can do to get you the settlement you’re owed:

• Communicate with other involved parties.
• Calculate the value of your claim.
• Negotiate for a settlement that appropriately compensates you.
• Prepare your case for trial.
• Give regular updates on your case.

Proving Negligence

While you focus on recovering from the physical and emotional damage of a dog bite or attack, our team can start gathering evidence to prove negligence. A New Orleans dog bite attorney from our team may request some or all of the following items to build your case and prove negligence:

• The police report
• The animal control report
• Medical records
• Medical bills
• Determine if you suffered nerve damage
• Proof of income
• Photos of your injuries
• Witness statements
• Available video footage
• The dog’s vaccination and medical records

We’ll use the above-listed forms of evidence to prove that the at-fault party’s negligence led to your injury and build a strong claim on your behalf. Reach out to our team today to learn more about the steps we can take to get a fair outcome.

Sources of Compensation Our New Orleans Dog Bite Lawyers Will Explore

At our New Orleans dog bite law firm, we strive to get every last cent of compensation you need to move past your dog bite incident. We’ll explore all avenues to compensation and work hard to get what you need from the correct party. Depending on your case, we may seek damages from any of the following sources:

Homeowners or Renters’ Insurance Coverage

Dog owners sometimes have homeowners’ or renters’ insurance that covers dog attacks. That said, some dog breeds may be excluded from these insurance policies. Having a lawyer represent you and analyze the insurance policy can help ensure you receive the benefits you deserve.

Filing a Premises Liability Claim

Some dog bite cases involve premises liability issues. Landlords are responsible for ensuring their property is reasonably safe and preventing harm to others. If the property owner fails to repair hazardous conditions that cause harm to another person, they can be held liable. 

For instance, perhaps the landlord fails to fix a damaged fence, and the dog escapes the property before attacking a neighbor. They would be financially accountable in that case. 

Similarly, the landlord may have been aware of complaints about the dog and failed to enforce safety regulations with the dog owner. Alternatively, maybe they failed to evict the tenant for not taking safety measures with the animal. If either is true, the property owner might be found negligent. A New Orleans premises liability lawyer can file a claim against the landlord in situations like these.

Pursuing a Third-Party Negligence Claim

If another person or company was caring for the dog when the attack occurred, you might be able to file a claim against them for negligence. They can be held liable for damages if they did not exercise care in protecting others from the dog, such as by failing to keep it on a leash, secure it in a kennel, or warn others of its presence.

Filing a Lawsuit Against the Dog Owner

Dog bite victims who suffered due to a dog owner’s negligence have a right to compensation, regardless of any insurance policy. If no policy exists or applies to your case, you can pursue money by filing a lawsuit against the pet owner. 

A dog bite attorney from our team in New Orleans can prepare a strong, evidence-based lawsuit and file it correctly. With our skilled team’s assistance, you’ll have an excellent chance at walking away with the verdict you need to move past this unfortunate and painful time in your life. 

Statute of Limitations for Dog Bite Lawsuits in New Orleans

If you’ve been bitten by another person’s dog, you have a limited amount of time to file a civil suit. Under CC Art. 3492, you generally have two years from the date of the dog bite incident to file a lawsuit against the dog’s owner. Failure to file your lawsuit within the state’s deadline could forfeit your right to compensation altogether.

According to CC Art. 2315.2, the same timeline applies for wrongful death lawsuits. By using the dates on the police report and your medical records, our team of skilled New Orleans dog bite attorneys can make sure your personal injury lawsuit is filed in compliance with the state’s time restriction. 

We Understand That the Physical Aftermath of a Dog Bite Is Painful

Our team understands how painful it can be to recover from a dog bite. We are closely familiar with the injuries and conditions dog bite victims often suffer from. You can count on our team to support you throughout the legal process and fight for the compensation you need to cover treatment costs if you’ve been left with one of the following injuries after a dog bite:

• Puncture wounds
• Lacerations
• Infections
• Nerve damage
• Fractures
• Scarring
• Soft tissue damage
• Facial injuries
• Rabies exposure
• Crush injuries

In some cases, dog bites can lead to disfigurement. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five people who experience a dog bite requires medical attention. In rare cases, a dog bite might also lead to rabies. Once rabies symptoms develop, there is no treatment, making it imperative to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Medical professionals can help you get the care you need. Make sure to follow any directions they give you. For example, take any prescribed antibiotics and follow any recommendations for pain relief or wound care. Remember, your health is the priority. Once you’ve seen a doctor, contact our New Orleans dog bite attorneys for legal help.

We Can Help You Like We’ve Helped Others

When you look for an attorney to handle your dog bite case, you’ll want to find a law firm that has an impressive track record of obtaining high-value case results. Our firm is proud to say that we’ve secured over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for our clients. Some of our most notable case results include the following:

• A $23,000,000 verdict for a woman’s wrongful death
• A $17,000,000 verdict for clients whose doctor(s) overcharged them
• A $7,000,000 verdict for an 18-wheeler driver who was injured
• A $5,500,000 award for a maritime worker who suffered injuries

After a dog bite, it’s also important to find a representative who isn’t afraid to share how their past clients feel about their work. At Laborde Earles, we’re thrilled to share the testimonials we’ve received from individuals just like you. Once you’ve taken a closer look at our past achievements and reviews, you’ll realize our New Orleans dog bite law firm is the right choice.

No Fee Unless We Win

After taking on financial losses from a dog bite, the last thing you want to do is pay for an expensive personal injury lawyer. Fortunately, our New Orleans dog bite attorneys operate on a contingency fee structure, meaning:

• Your first call to us is free and comes with no obligation.
• Our services cost you nothing upfront.
• There are no retainer or hourly fees involved.
• We don’t take our payment unless you recoup your damages.

Working with our dog bite lawyer is risk-free, and our payment structure allows us to start on your case immediately with no financial risk involved. You have time to explore your legal options without taking a financial hit. We can answer any questions you have about payments during your complimentary consultation.

Contact a New Orleans Dog Bite Lawyer Today

Moving forward after a dog bite incident can be incredibly difficult, especially if you’ve suffered painful injuries that stop you from going to work and performing other important tasks. Fortunately, a New Orleans dog bite lawyer from our firm can handle your entire case. That way, you can focus on your physical recovery or help your loved one through theirs.

Contact Laborde Earles today to schedule a free consultation and get started on your case. We’ll meet with you to discuss the incident that injured you and advise you on your best course of action. No matter how complicated your case is, you can rely on our firm to take the steps required to obtain a fair settlement or court-awarded payment.