In most states, a dog owner is liable for dog bites by owning the dog. The owner cannot avoid liability by attempting to show that he or she obeyed all laws, acted reasonably, and did not know the dog was capable of biting. The owner’s state of mind and freedom from negligence are irrelevant because liability is based on ownership of the dog.
If the conditions for liability are met, the victim can get money for all of the following things:
- Medical treatment such as first aid, emergency room, hospital, and ambulance
- Future medical treatment for scar reduction
- Psychological counseling to overcome the emotional trauma of the attack, fear of dogs
- Loss of earnings from work or the victim’s business
- Torn clothing and broken glasses
- Medications
Steps to protect your rights:
A dog bite victim needs to do the following things to protect his or her rights. The facts of your claim have to be proved and the extent of your injuries has to be established. As obvious as these things might be to you, they will have to be proved to an insurance adjuster a few weeks or months after the attack. Make sure you get as much of the following information about the dog and owner as possible and make sure a doctor treating you notes all the facts concerning your injuries.
Make sure you do the following as soon after the attack as possible, including:
Identify the dog:
- Get the name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the dog. If you can, obtain the dog license information.
- Get the name, address, and telephone number of any potential witness.
- You may have to return to the accident scene and knock on the doors of nearby homes and businesses.
- You also should revisit the scene of the accident several times at the same time at which the accident took place, because people may have a habit of going there as part of their daily routine.
- Take photos of all of your wounds, bruises, and bloody clothing.
- If possible, obtain insurance information from the dog owner.
- Be careful not to waive your rights.
There are several ways you can lose your rights. Here are some rules to follow:
Do not sign anything! Sign nothing presented by any insurance company, the owner of the dog, the landlord, or other owner of the property where the attack took place. Do not write or make a report for, any insurance company, dog owner, landlord or other property owner.
If you or a loved one has suffered as a result of a dog bite, call the lawyers at the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. at (312) 384-1920 to advocate on your behalf. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations so please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.
