Dog bites are incredibly painful and may require many months of recovery. If the owner’s careless failure to control the animal led to your injury, an experienced Gainesville dog bite lawyer can help you recover financial compensation.
If you or a loved one was bitten by a dog in Gainesville, GA, the experienced personal injury lawyers at H. Groves Law can help you file a claim against the owner of the dog responsible for your injuries. If your claim is denied, we can take your case to court to fight for damages.
Call us today at (770) 329-1868 for a no-obligation, free evaluation of your case!
What Should I Do If I Was Bitten by a Dog?
If you have been bitten by a dog in Gainesville, GA, your health and safety are of utmost importance. The subsequent actions that you take will help preserve your right to hold the owner of the dog liable. Here are the steps to take after being bitten by a dog.
Seek Medical Attention
The first thing you should do after being bitten is to call 911 or visit an emergency room. Your injuries may seem minor depending on the attack, but you should still seek medical care. If you don’t treat the bite, it may turn into a more serious issue, such as an infection.
Report the Dog Bite
You should also ensure that you report the incident to Animal Control and your treating medical provider. Animals are typically quarantined following an attack.
Collect Information and Evidence
If you can, start collecting any relevant information, which may include:
- A description of the dog
- The location of the incident
- The dog owner’s information
- Photos and video of the dog, the attack, and/or your injuries
- Witness information
Discuss Your Case With a Dog Bite Lawyer
It is important that you contact our experienced dog bite lawyers at H. Groves Law in Gainesville, GA following an attack. Call us at (770) 329-1868 to schedule a free consultation where we can answer all your questions and start working on your case.
Who Do I Report a Dog Bite to in Gainesville, Georgia?
If you have been bitten by a dog in Georgia, you need to file a report of the attack as soon as possible after the incident.
In Gainesville, dog bites are reported to the Hall County Animal Control. You can also report it to the Gainesville Police or the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. The police or sheriff’s department will usually notify Animal Control after you contact them.
Why Should I Hire a Gainesville Dog Bite Lawyer?
You might assume that it isn’t necessary to hire a lawyer if you have been bitten by a dog in Gainesville, GA. A lawyer, however, can help in many ways following the attack. Your lawyer can help prove that the dog owner was negligent and should have taken steps to keep others safe.
A lawyer will be your advocate and always work in your best interests. Here are some of the ways H. Groves Law can help you.
- Our team will evaluate your case.
- We will explain the law on dog bites and how it applies to your case.
- We will conduct an investigation to show that the owner knew of their dog’s history.
- We use experts to help back up your claim.
- Our attorneys will deal with the insurance company on your behalf.
- We are ready to represent you in court if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement.
Who Is Responsible for Dog Bite Injuries?
Dogs in Georgia are not presumed to be dangerous. If you have been bitten by a dog in Georgia, you will be required to prove that the dog was dangerous and that its owner was negligent, which is why you were injured.
To hold the dog owner liable for your injuries, you will need to prove these 3 elements.
- The dog is considered dangerous or vicious.
- The owner of the dog was negligent in managing their pet.
- You (victim) didn’t do anything to provoke the attack.
Dog owners could be negligent in a variety of ways. The owner could mishandle the dog, leaving him/her owner unable to control the animal in stressful situations where it could be dangerous. The owner is negligent if the dog was required to be leashed or at heel by city or county ordinance but wasn’t at the time of the attack.
If you did nothing to provoke the dog to attack you, then you should be able to prove all the 3 elements above. The easiest way to do that is with the help of our experienced lawyers at H. Groves Law in Gainesville, GA.
Call us today at (770) 329-1868 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and case evaluation.
What Type of Compensation Can I Expect in a Dog Bite Case?
The costs associated with a dog bite injury usually add up relatively quickly. In Georgia, victims are entitled to file a claim for compensation to help recover these costs. Here are the different types of compensation common in a dog bite case.
Lost Wages
If you have very serious injuries, you may be forced to miss time at work while you recover. You may also be unable to do the same kind of work in the future. Any loss of earning capacity and loss of income can be included in your claim.
Medical Costs
The medical costs associated with your dog bite include the expenses associated with your medical care. The cost of prescription medication, doctor’s visits, and rehabilitative therapy can all be included in your claim.
Emotional Anguish
Victims of dog attacks or dog bites often develop a fear of the animals soon after. They may have a traumatic memory of the incident. All these losses need to be included in your compensation claim.
Disfigurement
Dog bites and attacks frequently leave victims with permanent scarring and disfigurement. Fortunately, this is recognized as a loss under the law, and victims are allowed to claim compensation for it.
What Does Georgia Law Say About Dog Bites?
Georgia law specifies when an owner will be liable for injuries caused by a dog, including dog attacks or dog bites. Owners of a “vicious or dangerous” animal of any kind are held liable for any injuries caused by their dog if they carelessly manage the animal or allow the animal to roam free.
To determine whether the animal is dangerous or vicious, it is presumed to be vicious under the law if there’s a city ordinance that requires the animal to be either at heel or on a leash, and the dog is off-leash when the attack or bite occurs.
Under the law, breed type is not important in determining whether a dog is considered dangerous or vicious. Furthermore, the law doesn’t require there to have been prior incidents of aggression or bites. If there was a leash law in place that the dog owner violated by not having the dog on a leash when the dog bite occurred, the law imposes liability on the owner.
Statistics for Dog Bite Injuries
Dog bites pose a serious health problem to American communities. Over 4.5 million dog bites are reported each year in the U.S.A. with at least half of them being children. Furthermore, over 800,000 people receive medical attention for dog bites annually according to the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Dog Bite Lawsuit?
Yes. The time within which you are required to file a dog bite lawsuit is 2 years from the date of your injuries. The clock starts ticking whether you are the victim or are filing a claim on behalf of a child. If your loved one was killed by a dog, you must file a wrongful death claim within two years of the death.
If you fail to file your claim before this period ends, the courts have the right to deny your case, and you won’t receive compensation. That’s why it is so important to work with an experienced dog bite lawyer who will ensure that you file your claim in time.
Were You Bitten by a Dog in Gainesville, GA? If So, We Can Help!
If you were bitten by a dog in Gainesville, GA, you deserve a chance to hold the dog’s owner accountable for their negligence. After all, most dog bites and attacks are completely avoidable. If the owner’s carelessness played a role in the dog bite or attack, you can bring a claim or lawsuit forth against the at-fault party.
Unfortunately, pursuing compensation for a dog bite injury can be quite challenging. The owner may refuse to admit fault or their insurance company may try shifting the blame onto you. That’s why it is so important to work with an experienced Gainesville dog bite lawyer who will guide you through the process and help you build a solid case against the dog’s owner.
Call H. Groves Law today at (770) 329-1868 or fill out our online form for your free, no-risk case evaluation.
