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Dog Bite Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog, a full recovery may feel impossible. An Advocate can help.

Client talking with Personal injury Lawyer

A Dog Bite Injury Attorney Can Help Your Case

Dog attacks can cause serious damage to the victim in the forms of physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial damages from medical bills. Even one bite can make you feel like your life has flipped upside down.

The Advocates’ personal injury attorneys have been representing dog bite victims for nearly three decades, and we are ready to help you too. We understand the difficulties you are facing in the wake of your injury and are committed to getting you on the road to recovery.

If you or a family member has suffered an animal attack and need an experienced attorney for your personal injury claim, contact The Advocates law firm today for a free consultation.

The Next Steps In Your Case

Injury

Immediately after your accident, check for injuries

Hire Attorney

Contact The Advocates as soon as possible to begin the road to recovery

Treatment

Seek medical attention as soon as you can

Medical Records

Keep track of any and all treatment you receive during recovery

Finish Treatment

Once you've completed treatment, your case can move forward

Demand

Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party

Frequently Asked Questions

Not every accident requires an attorney. However, if the accident resulted in injuries or significant property damage, it is a good idea to contact a lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate the claims process, which can be lengthy and complex. Your attorney will build your case, keep track of your medical records, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary. Studies have shown that accident victims who hire a personal injury lawyer can receive settlements up to 3.5 times larger than if they settled on their own.

The best way to know if you have a case is to speak with an attorney. The Advocates offer free consultations—you can speak with a qualified legal team to understand what your case is worth without paying a dime. Once you have decided to hire an Advocate, we will investigate your accident to firmly establish liability.

Your initial consultation with us is always 100% free. There are never any upfront costs or hidden fees when you hire The Advocates.
Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that our attorney fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement. You will not pay us unless we win your case, and you receive a settlement.

Every personal injury case is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to accident claims. The length of the claims process will depend on the severity of your injuries, the willingness of the other party to settle, the court’s caseload, and more.
In general, personal injury cases can take anywhere from several months to a few years. It’s important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to get your case started. Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, after which you will lose your right of action.

When you hire The Advocates, we will begin investigating your accident immediately while you finish medical treatment. Once all evidence and medical records have been compiled, your attorney will send a demand letter to the other party’s insurance company. At this point, negotiations will begin.
In many cases, a settlement can be reached during negotiations. If the other party refuses to make a fair offer, you may choose to file a suit. In the litigation phase, your attorney will represent you in court in front of a judge, jury, and/or arbitrator.

A Team of Legal Professionals Assigned to Your Case

The Advocates have helped thousands of accident victims receive the compensation and care they deserve after their accidents, and we are prepared to do the same for you. 
We will:

  • Provide you with a free case review
  • Help you understand the claims process
  • Investigate your accident
  • Build your case
  • Negotiate with insurance adjusters
  • Fight for your legal rights

You only pay if we win your case!

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Talk to a professional

United States Dog Bite Statistics

300,000 Americans visit the emergency room each year from dog bites.

Dog attack statistics

  • Between 30-50 people are killed by dog attacks each year in the United States
  • It is often assumed that pit bulls, rottweilers, and German Shepherd Dogs are the most aggressive breeds; however, Chihuahuas, cocker spaniels, and terriers also make the list
  • More than 300,000 Americans visit the emergency room as victims of dog bites
  • Dog bites are particularly dangerous for children and elderly people, who may lack the strength and speed to get away from the dog

When do dog bites often happen?

Any dog has the capability to bite or attack unexpectedly, but certain situations present a much higher risk than others. Dog bites are most likely to happen when:

  • A dog is approached by a stranger: Many dogs are uneasy around unfamiliar people. When approaching a dog you don’t know, it’s important to ask the owner of the dog if it is okay to interact with it
  • A human breaks up a dog fight: If two or more dogs are fighting, it may feel instinctive to jump in and break it up. However, this puts you at risk of being seriously hurt, even if the dog is one you know. There are safe ways to break up a fight without becoming physically involved
  • Aggressive dogs are unsupervised or unrestrained: Dogs without excellent recall training should always be on leash and under close watch of their owner when in public or around other people and dogs

Dogs are not properly trained and socialized: Dogs who have not received the socialization they need may learn that barking, lunging, and biting is the way to get out of stressful situations. Dog owners should put plenty of time into training their dogs and exposing them to a variety of environments

Several people pet a dog scared dog
Common injuries from dog bites

Common dog bite injuries 

Depending on several factors, dog bite injuries can range from mild to life-threatening. Some common injuries resulting from dog attacks include:

  • Punctured skin
  • Broken bones
  • Eye and face injuries
  • Permanent scarring and disfigurement
  • Lacerations and bruising
  • Tissue and nerve damage

What Should I Do After a Dog Attack?

Man takes a picture of a dog with his smartphone

Take photos

As soon as you are bitten, even if you don’t appear to have serious injuries, take pictures. If the dog owner attempts to leave the scene with their dog, pictures can help identify the dog or owner later.
Take pictures of the scene as a whole as well, so that the location where the incident occurred can be verified.

Call the police

Many times, insurance companies require a police report to be filed before they will accept a claim. If your injuries are not severe, call the local non-emergency line and ask for an officer to be dispatched to the scene.
If your injuries are serious, call 911.

Person call 911 for an emergency on their smart phone
Patient is comforted by her doctor.

Seek medical care

If you have been bitten by a dangerous dog, the first thing to do is treat any injuries that are of immediate concern. This may include:

  • Washing the wound
  • Applying pressure to the wound with a clean cloth
  • Applying antibiotic cream
  • Bandaging the wound
  • Going to the hospital, if wounds are serious

As soon as you are able, see a doctor, even if you do not believe your injury is severe. Your doctor will be able to assess the extent of your injuries and help keep your wounds from becoming infected.

Exchange information

Obtain the following information from the owner of the dog:

  • Name
  • Phone number
  • Address
  • Renter’s or homeowner’s insurance policy information
  • Dog’s name and breed
  • Name of dog’s regular veterinarian

Getting this information will make it easier to locate the owner later if you decide to file a claim. If your injury happened in a public place or on the owner’s property while you were an invited guest, the owner’s insurance company may cover your damages.
Whether the owner is liable for the bite or not will also depend on the laws in your state. Some states observe strict liability for dog bites, under which the owner is often found liable, as long as the victim was not trespassing on private property. 
Other states follow the “one bite rule,” where an owner is liable if the dog has bitten before and the owner knew about its potential for viciousness.

Mother shows son something on her smart phone
man and woman have a discussion on a city block

Obtain contact information from witnesses

Whether you are the bite victim or your dog bit someone else, be sure to get contact information from anyone who witnessed the incident. Later on, if an insurance claim or dog bite lawsuit is filed, their accounts can help provide an accurate picture of what happened.

Notify animal control

Your local animal control agency can investigate the bite incident for you and may later help your case. It can also help prevent dog bites from occurring in the future. In fact, many states require dog bites to be reported.
Animal control will open a file on the incident. They will be able to verify the dog’s vaccination history and whether they have a history of biting.

German shepherd attacking dog handler during training session
Injured woman with bandaged arm signs document

Document the incident

Keeping records of the attack, your injuries, and any other relevant information can all be used as evidence if you decide to take legal action. You can use photos or videos, journal entries, medical records, and other written records to provide an accurate account of your injury and healing process.
Document the following:

  • What happened immediately before, during, and after the incident
  • Your injuries 
  • Any treatment you receive for your injuries
  • How your injuries impact your life (pain, limited mobility, inability to work or perform other tasks, etc.)
  • The progress your injuries make as they heal
  • Expenses related to your injuries (medical bills, lost wages, travel expenses, etc.)

When Should I Hire a Dog Bite Attorney?

For any personal injury case, a plaintiff only has a certain amount of time to file their claim. After that time period is up, they lose their right of action. This is referred to as the statute of limitations. Depending on your state, the statute of limitations for your case is likely somewhere between 1-6 years.
However, it is a good idea to file your claim much sooner than that. Personal injury cases can take a long time to settle, so it is a good idea to give yourself as much time as possible before the statute of limitations is up.
If you were injured in a dog bite attack, you will need to report the incident, seek medical treatment, keep track of your medical records, ensure your bills are paid while waiting for your case to settle, and more. It can be overwhelming to deal with a personal injury claim while experiencing the physical and emotional distress that comes with dog bite injuries.

The personal injury lawyers with The Advocates have years of experience negotiating with insurance providers and fighting for our clients’ right to fair compensation under the law. Our legal team is standing by to take care of the dog bite claims process for you so that you can focus on feeling better.
We are here to help every step of the way– our number one priority is your peace of mind. Contact us today for a free case evaluation. You deserve a peaceful recovery. You deserve an Advocate.

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