Do I Have to Go to Court for a Dog Bite Lawsuit?
If you got hurt in a dog attack, you may be wondering if you will have to go to court for a dog bite lawsuit. Personal injury lawsuits, such as a dog bite lawsuit, can be resolved in two main ways, one of which is with an out-of-court settlement, and the other is by trial.
As the American Bar Association (ABA) explains, most personal injury lawsuits do not go all the way to trial. However, victims of dog bite injuries should be prepared to file a lawsuit and potentially go to trial to get the compensation they deserve.
For a dog bite victim to recover a fair out-of-court settlement, both parties have to agree. If an agreement cannot be reached, you may not be able to recover damages unless you are prepared to sue.
Many Cases Are Settled Out of Court
However, it is possible to reach a settlement at any stage of court proceedings before trial, so filing a lawsuit does not necessarily mean your case will go all the way to court. Instead, it means you should be prepared in case it does.
Our personal injury lawyer can work to help you recover an out-of-court settlement. However, if we cannot achieve a fair settlement for you, we will take your case to court and all the way to a trial, if necessary.
Compensation Is Available
You might have to go to court for a dog bite lawsuit if you hope to recover adequate damages for your medical expenses and other monetary losses. You also could be entitled to pain and suffering and other non-economic damages, depending on your injuries and the circumstances of the dog attack.
Economic Damages
- Medical costs
- Psychological counseling
- Transportation costs
- Loss of income
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-Economic Damages
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Disability
This list is not exhaustive. You could recover other types of compensation with a dog bite lawsuit. A personal injury lawyer can advise you on the types of compensation you could recover in your specific case and give you an indication of how much your case might be worth.
A Lawyer Can Help You Fight for Your Rights
Filing a dog bite claim or lawsuit in Louisiana can be tricky. Recovering compensation for your injury can be far from cut and dry, even if you have a good case. However, Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can help you with all aspects of filing a dog bite suit and seek damages for your injuries and losses.
Also, you have no financial risk when working with us. We do not charge any attorney’s fees upfront, and we get paid only if we win your dog bite case and you recover compensation.
We can help you get justice and work to hold the negligent dog owner to account by:
- Building a comprehensive case against the negligent party
- Gathering evidence to prove the dog owner’s negligence
- Collecting the evidence to prove your damages
- Negotiating for a fair out-of-court settlement on your behalf
- Representing you aggressively at trial
Louisiana Has Laws Regarding Dog Bite Lawsuits
Per Louisiana statute CC §2321, animal owners are generally responsible for any damage their animal causes. Although a dog owner is generally liable if their dog caused injuries to persons or property, the claimant has to prove the owner could have prevented the attack.
Another law that victims of dog attacks should be aware of is CC §3492, which sets the time limit for personal injury cases. In Louisiana, you generally have two years, starting on the day of the dog attack and injury, to file a lawsuit against the negligent dog owner. Claimants must be careful not to let too much time pass, as waiting too long could prevent them from recovering the compensation they need.
Do not waste any time contacting the office of a personal injury lawyer today. You can protect your legal rights, and we can look at your dog attack incident and determine if we can help you recover compensation for your losses.
Our Attorneys Can Help You Seek Justice and Compensation for Your Injuries
A personal injury lawyer with our law firm can help you fight for adequate compensation. Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers now for a free case review with one of our team members at (337) 777-7777.
