There’s a reason why dogs get called man’s best friend. According to recent surveys, over 50 million households in the US-owned at least one dog in 2019 and 2020.
Despite being great pets, dogs are capable of causing serious injuries to humans. If you’ve suffered a significant injury from a dog bite, then it’s important to know your legal rights.
Depending on your situation, you may be wondering if you can sue for dog bite injuries. Read on to gauge whether your situation warrants a lawsuit or not.
Injuries After a Dog Bite
First thing’s first. You need to get medical care for your dog bite injuries if you haven’t done so already. While some dog attacks are minor, others can lead to serious issues like:
- Head or neck injuries
- Scarring
- Facial injuries
- Infections
- The transmission of rabies or other diseases
If you don’t seek out care right away, then you might lose your right to seek compensation altogether. To avoid that, get the care you need as soon as you can.
Make sure to save any medical bills your receive. If you need prescription medication, then save those receipts, too.
The Basics of a Dog Bite Lawsuit
Next, you’ll want to try to determine what happened and what caused the dog attack. At the end of the day, most dogs are pets. That means the owner assumes responsibility for the pet’s actions.
That also means the pet owner is likely liable for the losses you suffer after a dog bite.
Do you believe you were bit by a stray animal? If so, then you’ll need to determine where the attack happened. If you were on private property, then there’s still a chance the property owner is liable.
The main thing you need to determine is whether another party was negligent. That means they failed to uphold their duty of care, which led to your injury.
Pet owners who know their dog has bitten someone before need to take steps to prevent another attack. Businesses that know about vicious dogs on their property need to tend to the situation. Otherwise, they’re negligent.
Calculating Damages After an Injury
Finally, you need to calculate your losses. On top of your medical bills, you might have suffered other losses like:
- Lost wages
- Temporary or permanent disability
- Scarring or disfiguration
- Emotional distress
If your losses are significant, it’s time to reach out to an attorney. Look for a trusted representative like those at justcallmoe.com to help speed up the process.
Should You Sue for Dog Bite Injuries?
So, should you use for dog bite injuries? In a nutshell, it depends on what happened and how significant your losses were. In most situations, you’ll be able to get compensation for losses you’ve suffered.
Despite that, it might not be in your best interests to sue if your losses were minor. If you’re still in doubt after reading this, then it’s a good idea to speak with an attorney. They’ll help you determine if pursuing legal action is right in your situation.
Are you looking for more tips and advice to help make 2021 your best year yet? If so, then you’re in the right place! Keep browsing through our blog to see more of our best content.
