Dog bite injuries mainly occur if the dog owner is negligent and leaves the dog in an unfenced compound or without a leash. A Slidell dog bite lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can help you take legal action against the dog owner and seek financial remedies for the damages you have suffered.
You can also sue the dog owner if your child has suffered a dog bite or attack.
When a dog attacks you without provocation, you have the right to hold the dog owner liable for the damages resulting from the incident.
What to Do If You Have Suffered a Dog Bite in Slidell
After suffering a dog bite, the first mistake you could make is refusing to get medical attention. Medical professionals can treat the injuries you have sustained and test you for rabies. Many dog owners may not have ensured that their dogs received a rabies shot. Refusing to get medical treatment gives the liable party leeway to argue that you did not sustain injuries caused by their dog.
The second step you should take is to begin gathering evidence. But you may not know the evidence needed to start building a successful claim. Connect with our Slidell dog bite lawyer as soon as possible after the incident. They will be able to gather evidence and investigate the scene where the incident occurred. Your lawyer may focus on:
- Taking pictures of the injuries you have suffered
- Talking with eyewitnesses and getting their statements
- Determining if there is video evidence of the incident
- Ensuring that you keep the medical records made when you received treatment
The third step you need to take is to contact the dog owner. But this is another step that is better handled by your dog bite attorney. They will ensure that the dog owner or their insurer does not try to take advantage of you by forcing you into accepting a poor settlement offer.
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.
ClientProving Negligence in a St. Tammany Dog Bite Injury Claim
Winning a dog injury claim requires showing that the dog owner could have prevented your injuries from occurring if they exercised reasonable care. The state requires that you show that the dog owner knew that the dog’s behavior could cause harm or damage to other people and their property.
Showing that the dog owner knew the dog’s behavior is dangerous may require you to show that there is evidence of the dog biting someone else in the past. Your Slidell dog bite lawyer can help you gather evidence that the dog owner has faced similar claims in the past or collect witness testimony that the dog has bitten other people.
You can also show that the dog owner is negligent for failing to prevent the dog bite or attack. For instance, dogs not kept on a leash or in an unfenced compound make the dog owner liable if they attack people without provocation. Our firm can help you prove the dog owner’s negligence by investigating your claim and the dog owner’s history.
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 | ClientWhy File a Dog Bite Injury Claim
The main reason you should file a dog bite injury claim is to recover the medical costs you have suffered in getting treatment for your injuries. Dog injuries can be serious, causing victims illnesses or death. Your injuries may translate to high medical costs if you need plastic surgery or physical therapy.
You should also file a dog bite injury claim if the injuries you sustained prevent you from working. The dog owner should compensate you for earnings lost and reduced earning capacity resulting from the injuries. You should also file your claim to recover the non-economic damages you have suffered, such as:
- Mental and emotional anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Physical disabilities
- Loss of consortium
You should file a wrongful death claim if a dog bite or attack results in the death of a loved one. A wrongful death attorney on our team can help your family understand which family member can file the claim. For instance, Louisiana only allows immediate family members of the deceased such as their spouse, child, parent, or sibling to file a wrongful death claim.
Help Bring an End to Dog Bites
You should file a claim to ensure the dog owner becomes more responsible with their pets. This may prevent more dog bites and eventually reduce the prevalence of dog bites in the country.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientStatute of Limitations for Dog Bite Injury Cases in Louisiana
You only have two years from the date of the dog bite or attack to file a case for damages against the liable party. This is in accordance with CC. Art 3492. The statute of limitations does not apply to minors, and many of the parties that suffer dog bites are children. Parents can file suit for damages on their children’s behalf.
Adults who have suffered a dog bite must file suit within the statute of limitations; otherwise, they forfeit the right to any economic and non-economic damages. Hiring a dog bite lawyer from our firm can help you with the legal process and ensure that you recover damages before the statute of limitations lapses.
You do not have to incur any upfront fees when you hire any of our lawyers. We work on a contingency-fee basis and only get paid if you can 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.
ClientConnect With a Dog Bite Lawyer from Our Firm
After suffering a dog bite, the monetary costs you may incur can be high. We can help you recover damages for any losses that might accrue due to your injuries or a loved one’s. Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today and get a free consultation.
