Who Can I Sue for My Dog Bite Injury?
Who you can sue for your dog bite injury depends on the specific details of your accident. A dog’s owner may generally be one of the first parties we examine for liability. Other parties may also be liable for a dog bite.
Louisiana’s personal injury and dog bite laws will determine who may owe you compensation. We are familiar with such laws and can apply them to your case.
We Can Help You Sue a Negligent Dog Owner
Our team can identify all potentially liable parties who played a role in your attack. We will compare the facts of your case to the legal standard for negligence and all applicable dog bite and personal injury laws.
In Louisiana, CC §2321 states that a dog owner “is strictly liable for damages for injuries to persons or property caused by the dog and which the owner could have prevented and which did not result from the injured person’s provocation of the dog.”
RS §14:102.14 defines special rules that apply to the owners of “dangerous” dogs. Proving liability in a dog bite case may require us to prove that the dog’s owner did not take reasonable steps to prevent the attack. We can collect evidence to prove this legal element in your case.
Bite-Related Losses That You May be Compensated for
A lawyer from our firm can record and calculate all of your bite-related losses. We can work with medical professionals and experts to identify and value your damages as needed.
Damages generally fall into two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages. A lawyer from our firm can pursue a financial recovery for both types of losses.
Economic Damages
You may have significant economic costs as a result of your dog bite injuries. Those costs may include:
- Emergency cleaning of your injuries
- Emergency care for your injuries, which may include stitches and possibly surgery
- Hospitalization
- Loss of income (temporary)
- Loss of earning power (permanent)
- Counseling
- Medication costs
- Rehabilitation costs
Non-Economic Damages
Not every loss has a clear economic cost. Non-economic damages may include emotional and physical losses such as:
- Mental anguish
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Fear of dogs
- Loss of quality of life
We understand how to value non-economic damages such as this.
Things We Can do to Strengthen Your Case
We understand that each case is unique and that each client has different needs. Our team will review your case and determine the appropriate legal approach. Then, we will handle all aspects of your case from start to finish.
Some steps we can take on your behalf include:
- Communicating with all parties involved in your case
- Documenting your injuries with medical records, pictures, and other means
- Gathering evidence that the dog owner or another party was negligent
- Calculating your current and future losses
- Creating and filing your insurance claim or lawsuit
- Representing you during settlement negotiations with the other party’s insurance company
- Taking your case to trial if necessary
We are a Contingency Fee Firm
Our lawyers work for contingency fees. You do not have to pay us before we start your case. Any fee that we collect comes from your judgment or settlement.
If we do not secure a judgment or settlement, you pay us nothing.
The Deadline to Sue in Louisiana
It is important to act promptly after a dog bite injury. Per CC §3492, Louisiana generally gives accident victims just two years to file a personal injury lawsuit.
After this deadline passes, you may lose your right to sue.
Call the Attorneys at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Today
Our firm has recovered more than $200 million for clients through judgments and settlements for both economic and non-economic damages. Together, our lawyers have over 100 combined years of experience. Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777 for your free consultation.
