If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog in Atlanta, you may be entitled to compensation. Call a dog bite attorney at John Foy & Associates at 404-400-4000. We can help you file a claim for the dog owner responsible for the dog that bit you and, if your claim is denied, we can take your case to court to fight for damages to cover the medical bills associated with your injuries.
As one of Atlanta’s largest personal injury law firms, we’ve settled many high-profile serious dog bite injury claims. Our goal is to help you recover physically and financially from your traumatic experience.
What should you do immediately after being bitten by a dog?
If a dog bites or attacks you, get as much information as quickly as you can and certainly get the medical help you need immediately. Take photos of the dog and your injuries, and talk to any witnesses and get their names. Call 9-1-1 and have the police make an official report, and call Animal Control in Fulton County.
The most important piece of information is the name and address of the dog owner. Any compensation you receive should come from the dog owner’s homeowners insurance. If a stray or loose dog has attacked you and you can’t identify the owner, call our attorneys at 404-400-4000. Our investigators will return to the scene and try to find the owner.
Often someone in the area will know the dog. We’ll also determine if the dog has bitten anyone else. The law is that unless the dog is a vicious breed, the animal is allowed “one bite” before it is considered dangerous.
Do you really need to hire an attorney for a dog bite?
In most dog bite cases, the owner does not want to take responsibility for the victim’s injuries. Even if the owner agrees to file a claim with their homeowner’s insurance company, the insurance company may try to make the incident out to be your fault to avoid paying on your claim.
For this reason, yes, you should consider hiring a lawyer to help you with your dog bite claim. We can help you gather strong evidence that the other side can’t ignore. We can also make sure you’re accounting for all the damages to which you’re entitled.
The insurance company may not take you seriously if you file a claim on your own. It’s more difficult for them to ignore you when you’ve got an attorney by your side.
Atlanta Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me 404-400-4000
How much time do you have to file a dog bite claim in Atlanta?
The state of Georgia gives you two years from the date of injury to file a dog bite claim. This clock starts to run whether you are the victim or are filing on behalf of the victim, such as your child or your deceased loved one.
If you don’t file your claim before the two years is up, the courts the right to deny your claim, and you will be unable to receive compensation. We can ensure you file on time, and that your claim is comprehensive so that it doesn’t get kicked back to you and you miss your time to file.
Who should you report a dog bite to in the state of Georgia?
First, contact the local police and make a report. Call 9-1-1 if medical care is needed. The police will make an official report, capture the dog, and identify the owner. It’s also important to call Animal Control.
We urge you to contact our personal injury lawyers so that we can help get you the financial compensation you need to recover from your wounds. And don’t neglect your medical care. Remember that even non-scarring dog bites can lead to serious medical problems, such as rabies and tetanus.
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving Atlanta, call 404-400-4000
If you report a dog bite, will the dog be put down?
What happens to the dog after the bite is dependent on many things: Has the dog bitten another person? Is it considered a dangerous breed?
The law requires the owner to be aware of the dog’s propensity to attack or be aggressive. John Foy & Associates investigators will find out if Animal Control has been called about this particular dog. For a case to ensue, we need to prove that the dog owner knew his pet was aggressive.
Under the law, most breeds are allowed one bite without consequence. This is informally called the “one-bite rule.”
Who is legally responsible for a dog bite injury?
The dog’s owner is responsible for dog bite injuries. “It’s the dog owner’s duty to make sure that the dog is trained, behaved, and controlled so that it doesn’t hurt anybody,” says firm founder John Foy. If you consider yourself injured or hurt because of an incident with a dog, call us at 404-400-4000.
Our only goal is to protect and compensate the victim. We also want to ensure the dog is not able to injure another person.
What compensation can you collect for a dog bite?
A dog bite case is a personal injury claim that seeks to recover money for reasonable and necessary medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. Often young children and young women are most damaged by the physical scarring and the psychological aftermaths of being attacked by an uncontrollable animal. “It can be very traumatic if you have a big, aggressive dog coming after you,” says our firm founder John Foy.
What if you were bitten by a friend or neighbor’s dog?
If a friend or neighbor’s dog bites you, the owner is still responsible for the bite. It’s natural to underreact when something horrible has just happened.
Say you’re at a neighborhood barbecue and suddenly the host’s dog bites your son. Most people want to act as if it’s not a big deal, but your son is undoubtedly injured and requires medical attention. He may have permanent scars or nightmares.
No matter how socially awkward the situation, it is important to follow the proper protocol. Seek medical treatment immediately and report the incident to the police and Animal Control. Your friend may want to handle the matter privately without contacting authorities or insurance companies, but that’s the worst thing to do.
When in doubt, contact John Foy & Associates, and we’ll walk you through what we can do for you. We’ll handle your case quietly and sensitively. Typically, an insurance claim is made and a settlement is reached without having to file a lawsuit or go to court.
What should you do if the dog’s owner wants to talk to you about your injuries?
Our firm founder John Foy urges, “Do not talk to them. Nothing good comes from speaking directly to the person responsible for the injury.”
If the dog owner is at the scene of the attack, keep the conversation as short and cordial as possible. Ask if they are the dog owner. Get their homeowner’s insurance information.
Do not start a fight and do not discuss your injuries with them. As personal injury attorneys, we hear all the time that someone got into an accident or car wreck and the other person says: “Don’t call the police. I’m going to take care of it right now. Let me give you a hundred bucks and we’ll pretend it never happened.” These are often the cases that develop into something more serious.
What if you were bitten while working at someone’s home?
You may have a personal injury claim if you are bitten while working at someone’s home. Any dog owner has a duty to control his or her dog and to create a safe environment, especially for visitors and workers.
Any dog should be trained not to be aggressive or crated when strangers are in the home. Even friendly dogs can get overly “affectionate” and hurt someone. Speak to a worker’s compensation lawyer to help you file a third-party claim against the dog’s owner.
This is no different from getting into a car accident while you are working. Our personal injury lawyers can help you with both claims.
What if you’re not sure who owns the dog that bit you?
The number-one problem in dog bite claims is determining the identity of the dog owner. It can be very difficult to identify an owner of a stray or loose dog, especially if you have been bitten while at a public place or apartment complex. Give John Foy & Associates a call at 404-400-4000 and we’ll do further investigation to determine who was the legal dog owner.
Our team will talk to the neighbors to see if anyone knows the particular dog. We will call Animal Control to see if there’s a report on that dog. Don’t delay, call us immediately.
Call or text 404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
