As much as we love our furry friends, there is always some risk whenever humans and dogs exist in the same space. Even a dog that is normally docile is capable of attacking humans in stressful situations.
Dog bites can result in severe injuries, emotional trauma, and seemingly never-ending medical bills. After being bitten, it may feel like life will never be the same.
The personal injury attorneys with The Advocates have been helping dog bite victims for more than 30 years. We are here to listen to your story, help you access medical care, and provide you with fierce, competent representation.
If you or a loved one have experienced an animal attack due to someone else’s negligence, you need a skilled attorney for your personal injury claim. Contact the Iowa dog bite lawyers with The Advocates today for a free consultation.
Immediately after your accident, check for injuries
Contact The Advocates as soon as possible to begin the road to recovery
Seek medical attention as soon as you can
Keep track of all treatment you receive
Once you've completed treatment, your case can move forward
Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party
Consultations are always free. You will pay nothing to speak with an attorney to discuss your case.
Additionally, The Advocates work on a contingency basis. This means that there are zero upfront costs to hire an attorney. The eventual fee you will pay your attorney will be calculated as a percentage of your settlement. Our fee will come out of that settlement, not your pocket.
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.
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.
For nearly 30 years, The Advocates have helped thousands of personal injury victims receive the compensation and care they deserve after their injuries, and we are prepared to do the same for you.
We can help you:
I was in an accident 3 years ago and had a very bad experience with the attorney back then I was in another accident last year and called the advocates mark and his team were amazing changed my view on accident attorneys they kept I'm touch with me every step of the way gave me authority on choices for myself I didn't have to go with what they said I could go against it and they still would have worked with me the same I had choices this time around I would always go with Mark I have even sent friends his way just cause I appreciate all the help and support the whole way threw.
My experience with the advocates was a good one. After being hit by a car on my motorcycle they helped me with a settlement with the insurance company to get the hospital bills paid. They were extremely helpful. They always answered any questions I had with in a day. Every email I sent was always responded to. If you unfortunately has to go through a injury by another person I would recommend them in helping you resolve any debt you have because if that injury. The Advocates were great to work with and help me get this unfortunate event behind me.
Steve and his crew at The Advocates were nothing short for amazing. They took my case after I was rear-ended resulting in neck surgery. Steve and company made sure all of the was taken care of and that I got the maximum compensation possible. I definitely recommend The Advocates
Mr. Brad Johnson, our lawyer; was Awesome! He was very informative, kept us up to date on my case with regular calls. He returned calls back to us within 24 hours or less. Brad Johnson is very courteous, honest, kind, and a pleasure to talk to and work with. There are very few Lawyers out there that could even come close to the high morals that Brad Johnson has and has shown towards us. We need more lawyers like Brad Johnson . If we ever needed a disability lawyer again in the future; it would be Brad Johnson and The Advocates Firm that he works at. We will definitely turn ALL of our family and friends towards this lawyer and firm; in a heartbeat!!!
I want to First say that I am truly thankful for the advocates Law Firm they have been a great service to me through this ordeal and Katie she is a tremendous lawyer someone that I would recommend she fights tooth and nail for her clients and the rest of the team they supported me to the fullest with that being said I would like to say for anyone who is trying to find an attorney to fight their case The Advocates is the way to go.
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 victim of a dog bite may suffer serious injuries after an attack. Some common injuries resulting from dog attacks include:
In general, leash laws are left up to local governments. Different jurisdictions have different laws regarding the leashing of dogs on public property.
Des Moines: When on the owner’s private property, dogs must either be restrained by a leash or fence, or be under voice command of the owner of the dog. When not on the owner’s property, dogs must be on a leash no longer than six feet.
West Des Moines: No animal may be permitted to run at large in West Des Moines. Animals are not considered “at large” if they are on a leash of no more than 10 feet or are immediately obedient to voice control of a responsible person.
Iowa City: All dogs and cats must be restrained on a leash not longer than 10 feet and under the control of a competent person, unless confined on their owner’s property or in a vehicle.
Dog owners are responsible for knowing the local laws and ordinances regarding pet ownership.
In most cases, dog bites are covered by renters’ or homeowners‘ insurance policies. The dog owner’s insurance should pay for bite victims’ medical expenses up to the liability limit. After the limit has been reached, the owner of the dog is responsible for additional damages.
Iowa is known as a “strict liability” state. Strict liability law means that a dog owner is responsible for a dog bite under the following circumstances:
Whether the dog has a bite history or is known to be a dangerous dog is irrelevant under Iowa law. The owner of a dog is responsible the first time their dog attacks.
If the dog bite victim was involved in an unlawful act, such as trespassing on private property, at the time of the attack (and no attractive nuisance was involved), the owner of the dog is typically not liable for the victim’s injuries.
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.
In Iowa, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is generally two years. It is a good idea to contact a personal injury lawyer immediately after you have been bitten, in order to have the best chance at obtaining a settlement.
If you or a family member have been bitten by a dog in Iowa, you may be dealing with pain, emotional anguish, and high levels of stress. It’s easy to feel hopeless while looking for a way forward.
To make matters worse, the at-fault party’s insurance company will likely do everything in their power to prove you had some responsibility for your injury. They will try to avoid offering you the compensation you deserve.
The Iowa dog bite attorneys with The Advocates injury law firm have years of experience representing injury victims and negotiating with insurance providers. We are prepared to take on all the stresses of your dog bite claim so that you can focus on feeling better.
From the moment you contact us, 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 initial consultation. You deserve an attorney who cares about you and your family. You deserve an Advocate.
