No one wants to be involved in a dog bite situation. It’s painful, scary, and irritating for victims, and it’s extremely stressful for dog owners. However, these cases are common, and they often end up in court.
As a victim, you might simply want the owner to pay for the damage done to your body, or it might be a serious enough case that you believe extensive action needs to be taken both to compensate you and protect the rest of the public.
Should you hire a dog bite lawyer to handle your case, or is it something you should do on your own?
Well, it might not always be necessary, and not every dog bite case goes to court, but if you are in this situation, here are 5 signs you need a dog bite lawyer that you shouldn’t ignore.
1. It’s a Repeat Offense or the Dog is Normally Aggressive
First, the nature of the situation plays a big part in whether or not you need a lawyer.
We’ve all been in unpredictable situations where no real damage is done, and we know the owners well enough to know something was probably off that caused the event, but if the dog is normally aggressive, and it just happened to get its chance to bite, you need a lawyer. The same is true even if there isn’t serious damage done, but it’s a repeated offense.
This shows that the owner isn’t taking precautions to make the dog safe or to keep it away from people, and it’s a danger to the public.
Getting a lawyer and taking the issue to court not only helps you and the public, but it can also help the dog by forcing the owners to take action or getting it to someone who can handle it.
2. There is Notable Physical Damage
As we said, we’ve all been in situations where a dog got too rowdy, and maybe they playfully nipped a bit. We’re not talking about those situations, but if there’s notable damage, and you have been caused real harm, you need a lawyer.
Unfortunately, even if the owner is sympathetic and apologetic for what happened when they find out you want to make things right, they are likely to do what they have to in order to avoid losing their dog or provide the appropriate compensation to take care of you.
That includes fighting you in court with a lawyer of their own, and if you don’t have legal help, they will likely succeed. Then, the dog might do it again, the owner has no reason to handle anything, and you’re stuck with the physical, mental, and financial burden of it all.
3. The Owner Won’t Accept Blame
It’s unfortunate, but even if the owners understand your side of it and know they’re in the wrong, they will likely avoid all blame and flip it to being your fault you got bit.
Maybe you walked into their yard to deliver a package, and the dog got out. They might try to say that you trespassed or that you let their dog out of a secured area, and that’s why you got bit. They might even try to make it out as if you were being aggressive on the property and the dog was simply protecting itself.
Whatever the case is, your best bet is to get a lawyer.
A dog bite lawyer will be able to determine the liability of the owner and properly present it to the court. This ensures that the owner doesn’t get off easy simply because you aren’t experienced with the courtroom’s way of doing things.
4. You’re Having Insurance Issues
Anytime a dog bite is something notable enough to call the authorities, you should be going to the hospital. You don’t know if it has its shots, a disease, or anything else, and in the worst cases, the damage can be extensive and permanent.
That costs money, and it’s often far more expensive than the average person can afford.
Another reason to get a lawyer on your team actually doesn’t have anything to do with pursuing compensation or justice against the dog owner. The lawyer can help speed up your insurance processing while you wait for the case to properly compensate you.
A case can take a year or more to complete in some cases, and trying to manage expensive medical bills while you wait for compensation can be financially devastating. A dog bite lawyer will work directly with your insurance company to make sure your claims are processed as quickly as possible, and you can stay financially safe.
5. The Situation is More Complex
A lot of dog bite situations are black and white. A mishandled dog got free, bit someone, and now they need to be compensated. However, there are plenty of cases where the victim might not be entirely free of blame.
The best example of this is the classic situation where a person has gone somewhere they shouldn’t or done something they shouldn’t, the dog bit them, and now they want compensation. In those situations, you might be entitled to some compensation still, but the case isn’t quite as fruitful as a clean-cut case.
In any case, you need a lawyer to help handle that situation, because it’s not as easy to convince the court that you deserve anything if you’re partially at fault.
Get a Dog Bite Lawyer to Help Your Case
If you’ve experienced a dog bite, it’s important to seek legal guidance as soon as possible to ensure your rights are protected. At The Law Office of Scott D. DeSalvo, we can clarify the complexities of your case and provide the support you need.
We also specialize in other areas of personal injury law, including car accidents, medical malpractice, and construction accidents, ensuring that no matter how you were injured, you get the legal representation you deserve.
When you’re ready to take the next step toward justice, our team is here to guide you every step of the way. Contact us today for a free consultation and take the first step toward securing the compensation you’re entitled to!
