If a dog bit you, your child, or another family member, you might be eligible to file a personal injury insurance claim or lawsuit. If you can prove that your dog bite injuries were the result of negligence, you may be able to hold the dog’s owner financially liable for your damages.
A New Orleans dog bite lawyer might be able to help you prove the dog owner’s negligence and why you might be entitled to receive compensation. Contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers by calling (504) 777-7777 today. We can explain your legal options for pursuing financial recovery after a dog bite.
Louisiana Dog Owners Are Responsible for Their Pets
A dog bite or attack can cause catastrophic physical damage and lead to severe emotional trauma, which might include a new or worsening fear of dogs. If you or someone you love was injured by a dog bite in New Orleans, you might be able to hold the owner of the dog financially responsible for your injuries and injury-related expenses.
The Louisiana Civil Code (CC) §2321 allows you to hold dog owners financially responsible for damages caused by their animals if you and your lawyer can prove that the owner was aware of or should have been aware of their dog’s aggressive behavior. If the owner “failed to exercise such reasonable care” to prevent their dog from harming others unprovoked, they may be held strictly liable for injuries and property damages.
A New Orleans dog bite lawyer may be able to help you collect compensation if you or someone you love was the victim of an unprovoked dog bite. Contact a case review team member at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers by calling (504) 777-7777 to review the circumstances of your dog bite case. We can start strategizing on how to build your claim or lawsuit right away.
Potential Dog Bite Damages
Dog bite injuries can lead to extensive and long-term medical treatments. Our team may be able to help you fight to receive compensation for the following economic and non-economic damages:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Current and future loss of earnings
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
According to the Mayo Clinic, 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 may assess your current and future injury-related expenses to reach a conclusive value of your claim. After valuing your claim, we may begin negotiating a financial settlement with the dog owner or their insurer.
Proving Negligence After a Dog Bite in New Orleans
While you focus on recovering from the physical and emotional damage of a dog bite or attack, our client care team can start working on building your case. Your case will be built on the evidence presented to the at-fault dog owner and their insurance company or legal representative.
Our personal injury team may request some or all of the following items to build your case:
- The police report
- The animal control report
- Medical records
- Medical bills
- Proof of income
- Photos of your injuries
- Witness statements
- Available video footage
- The dog’s vaccination and medical records
Your ability to compel compensation for your damages from the at-fault dog owner is time-sensitive and subject to Louisiana’s statute of limitations. According to the CC §3492, you generally have one year from the date of the dog bite incident to file a lawsuit against the dog’s owner. By using the dates on the police report and your medical records, our team can make sure your personal injury lawsuit is filed in compliance with the state’s time restriction. Failure to file your lawsuit within the state’s deadline could forfeit your right to compensation.
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving New Orleans, call (504) 777-7777
The Physical Aftermath of a Dog Bite Can Be Painful
According to the Merck Manual, a dog bite can lead to the following physical injuries:
- Risk of dangerous infection
- Pain, swelling, and redness
- Ragged, unsightly wounds
- Canine teeth puncture wounds
In rare cases, a dog bite might also lead to rabies. According to the Merck Manual, once rabies symptoms develop, there is no effective treatment. So, it is imperative that you seek medical attention after a dog bite injury as soon as possible. You also want to get the identification of the at-fault dog and its owner. Through veterinary records, the owner may be able to certify that the dog’s vaccinations are current and possibly nullify your risk of rabies exposure.
If your dog bite injury led you to incur costs for emergency treatment, follow-up doctor’s visits, and other medical treatments, these costs can be included in your request for compensation. Other medical care costs may include pain medication, hospital admissions, and emergency and corrective surgeries. Address these medical expenses with your lawyer to find out if you are entitled to receive compensation for these costs.
New Orleans Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me (504) 777-7777
Let Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Help You with Your Dog Bite Case
A New Orleans dog bite lawyer might be able to help you navigate the claims process if you would like to file a personal injury claim for a dog bite injury. While you concentrate on your physical recovery or helping your child or another relative through their recovery, our legal team can focus on your financial recovery.
Contact the personal injury team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers by calling (504) 777-7777 to start building your compensation claim today.
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