Who Can I Sue for My Dog Bite Injury?

After a dog bites you, you will have to sue the owner of the dog for financial compensation. The primary person at fault for an unprovoked dog bite will always be the owner. You can hold them accountable for your damages and receive a settlement from their insurance company.

Successfully suing for your dog bite injury requires a lot of legal work. Instead of diverting your attention away from healing and recovering from your wounds, allow the dog bite lawyers at John Foy & Associates to help you today.

Georgia Law Places Dog Owners at Fault

When it comes to holding someone accountable for your dog bite injury, the law makes it easy to identify the responsible party. A dog is an animal and has no self-agency. It is the duty of the owner to keep their dog safe from others, not the other way around.

The Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) §51-2-7 states that dog owners need to keep control over their pets at all times. There are certain exceptions involved, but the dog owner will always be at fault on a general principle.

Exceptions that Prevent You from Suing

There are some instances in which you won’t be able to hold the dog owner accountable for your damages. This usually occurs depending on the circumstances surrounding how and why the dog bit you.

The One-Bite Rule

The one-bite rule is an old law that means that you can’t sue the dog owner if this is the first time the dog has bitten anyone. Georgia currently does not technically have the one-bite rule but has specific provisions that require that the victim prove the dog was aggressive and vicious.

The rules surrounding dog bite laws in Georgia can be very complicated. Our dog bite attorneys can review your case free of charge and see if you have the potential to file a claim for your damages.

Trespassing on Private Property

If you trespassed onto private property and a dog bit you, then you can’t sue the owner. The dog protecting the property was simply doing its job. The only time you can sue the dog owner if bitten on their property is if you had prior consent from the property owner to be there during that time.

Intentionally Provoking the Dog

If you intentionally aggravate or harass a dog to the point where it bites you, you can’t file a claim. Remember, the protections that Georgia law provides you only work if the bite was unprovoked. Constantly bothering a dog until it bites you isn’t a suitable reason to file a claim for compensation.

Additionally, if you try to attack the dog owner and the dog jumps in to protect their owner, you also have zero chance of filing a claim.

Retain a Lawyer as Soon as Possible

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) states that around five million people get bitten by dogs every year. The vast majority of the people bitten are small children. You or your loved one can sustain severe damages resulting from a dog bite.

Insurance companies won’t give you the settlement you need. They often try to downplay your damages and the negative impacts they’ve had on your life. With many legal resources at their disposal, it is a challenging uphill battle to negotiate a settlement alone.

Retaining a dog bite attorney to help you win fair compensation is an investment, not an expense. You could end up with way less than what you truly deserve when trying to fight for your claim alone. Allow us to assist you in getting a fair settlement from the negligent dog owner responsible for your injuries.

Don’t Wait to File Your Claim

Even though the law is on your side, you will still need to prove that the dog owner was negligent during negotiations or trial in their actions. Doing this requires critical evidence, most of which are time-sensitive. The longer you let time pass, the harder it will be to prove your claim.

You only have two years, according to the Georgia statute of limitations, to file your claim. There are many people who wait too long thinking they have enough time. Two years can pass by very fast, so we recommend you reach out to us immediately after your dog bite occurs.

Our Attorneys Have More than 20 Years of Experience

For more than two decades, the attorneys at John Foy & Associates have handled many personal injury cases. We have recovered large settlements for almost all of the clients we’ve represented over the years. With no upfront fees, call us today for your free consultation. If we can’t win you compensation, you owe us nothing.