Atlanta
Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog bite injuries can be painful and may take months to fully recover from. If you’ve been attacked or bitten by another person’s dog, you might be wondering how you can get the money you need to cover your medical bills and deal with the other challenges that have been forced upon you.

If you’re searching for a dog bite lawyer in Atlanta, you deserve clear answers and real support. The Atlanta personal injury lawyers at John Foy & Associates have been helping injured Georgians since 2003. Our team brings over 350 years of combined experience and has recovered more than $1 billion for our clients. 

We believe in respect and superior care. And we don’t charge fees unless we win. If a dog has hurt you or your child, we’re here to explain your rights and help you move forward.

Damages an Atlanta Dog Bite Lawyer Can Pursue for You

Dog bite incidents can leave you with painful injuries, costly medical bills, missed workdays, and many other losses. An Atlanta dog bite attorney can work closely with you to identify the damages you’re eligible to receive and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Depending on your unique case, you could receive any of the following forms of compensation from a winning claim:

• Medical expenses
• Rehabilitation and therapy
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Property damages
• Lost income
• Pain and suffering
• Mental distress

Often, young children are most damaged by the physical scarring and the psychological aftermath of being attacked by an uncontrollable animal. We can help you calculate your economic and non-economic damages and use this information in settlement negotiations.

Do I Need a Lawyer for a Dog Bite?

Some dog owners may try to stop you from getting the damages you’re owed by claiming that the incident was your fault. If that’s the case for you, you’ll need an attorney to help you prove that the dog owner was at fault.

Hiring a skilled Atlanta dog bite lawyer will dramatically improve your chances of getting the compensation you need to pay your medical bills, replace income losses, and deal with other challenges you’re facing due to the incident. 

Schedule a free consultation with a skilled lawyer today to learn more about how our firm can help you seek justice.

How Our Team Can Help You

Here’s what an experienced attorney from our firm can do to file a successful claim or lawsuit on your behalf:

• Provide a free, no-obligation consultation
• Investigate the dog bite incident
• Gather medical records, incident reports, witness statements, video footage, and other pieces of evidence to file a strong claim
• Negotiate a fair dog bite settlement with the dog owner’s insurance policy
• Take legal action, if necessary
• Guide you through the legal process and update you on your claim’s progress
• Meet important deadlines and comply with state requirements

As you can see, there’s a lot that a dog attack injury attorney can do to help you recover. Whether you’re dealing with serious pain, expensive medical bills, or lost wages, you’ll want to turn to a lawyer for help. No matter how bad your injury is, you can count on our team to get the results you deserve.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Attorney for Dog Bites?

With all the medical bills and other financial setbacks you’re facing, you might be hesitant to pay for an expensive attorney. The good news is that our highly experienced legal team won’t charge you a dime in upfront fees.

That’s because we work on a contingency fee basis. Instead of charging you out-of-pocket at the beginning of your case, we’ll take a percentage of the settlement or court-awarded payment you receive at the end of your case. This way, you won’t have to endure any more financial struggles to get the legal help you deserve.

Reach out to our law firm today to learn more about our contingency fee policy and how we can make effective representation accessible to you and your family.

Can You Sue for a Dog Bite in Georgia?

In some cases, you will have the option to sue the owner of the dog for damages after an attack. However, certain conditions must be met for you to pursue a lawsuit. For you to be eligible to file a lawsuit, the law states that the dog owner must have been aware of the dog’s propensity to attack or be aggressive.

Our Atlanta dog bite attorneys investigate whether animal control has been called for this dog before. If we find that the animal has a history of aggression, we can help you take legal action against the owner.

Proving the Dog Had Aggressive Tendencies

To further strengthen your case, we will need to prove that the dog had aggressive or even vicious tendencies. A dog can be shown to have presented an unreasonable risk when there is a history of:

• Bites
• Threatening behavior
• Attacks on other animals, other people, or the dog owner’s family

Sometimes, public information, such as local animal control records, can prove that an owner knew, or should have known, that their dog was dangerous or vicious. A personal injury lawyer can investigate the dog’s past and determine whether the owner should have known that it was a threat to others.

Understanding Georgia Dog Bite Laws

Georgia law has specific rules about when a dog owner is responsible for a bite. These cases are not always as simple as people think.

Under Georgia law, a dog may be considered “dangerous” if it:

• Causes a serious injury to someone without being provoked, or
• Aggressively bites or attacks after it has already been labeled as potentially dangerous, and the owner was notified.

It’s important to know that barking or growling alone does not make a dog legally dangerous.

If you file a claim, you (the victim) must prove the dog was dangerous under the law. That’s not always easy. It often requires evidence, witness statements, and sometimes prior records of the dog’s behavior.

What Is Georgia’s “One-Bite” Rule?

You may have heard of the “one-bite rule.” Georgia follows a modified version of the one-bite rule. In simple terms, a dog owner can be held responsible if they knew or should have known that their dog had dangerous tendencies. This might mean the dog bit someone before or showed clear signs of aggression.

If an owner knew their dog had a history of biting, they could be held legally responsible for injuries, even if they were not careless at that exact moment. This is called “strict liability.” It means the focus is on the dog’s history, not just the owner’s actions that day.

These legal details matter. And they can make or break a case.

What to Do Immediately After Being Bitten by a Dog

If a dog has bitten you or someone you know, you should always prioritize health over filing a claim. If you’ve suffered injuries that require immediate medical attention, call 911 and wait for an ambulance to arrive.

If your injuries don’t require immediate care:

• Speak to the owner and take down their name and insurance information
• Take photos of the dog and your injuries
• Talk to any witnesses and get their names
• Call 911 and have the police make an official report
• File a dog bite report

The important thing you can do after a dog bite, aside from getting medical treatment, is to find out 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, we can hire investigators to return to the scene and try to find the owner.

What if Your Friend’s or Neighbor’s Dog Bit You?

If a friend’s or neighbor’s dog bites you, the owner is still liable for the bite. No matter how socially awkward the situation may be, it is essential to follow the proper protocol. Remember, when you file an insurance claim with their homeowner’s insurance provider, the money you receive won’t come out of their pocket.

Our dog bite lawyers in Atlanta have handled cases like these before and can advise you on what to do if your friend’s or neighbor’s dog bit you. We can handle every aspect of your case and fight for the insurance settlement you need to treat your injuries and put this incident behind you.

What if You’re Not Sure Who Owns the Dog That Attacked You?

In some dog bite cases, the number-one problem is determining the owner’s identity. It can be very challenging to identify the owner of a stray or loose dog, especially if you have been bitten while at a public place or apartment complex.

Our team will do further investigation to determine who the legal dog owner was. Our legal team can talk to the neighbors to see if anyone knows the particular dog and then call animal control to see if there have been any previous reports. We’ll work tirelessly to identify the dog’s owner and get the damages you’re owed.

Statute of Limitations for Dog Bite Claims in Atlanta

If you’ve been hurt in a dog bite incident, it’s important for you to understand that Georgia has a statute of limitations that may apply to your case. According to the statute, you have two years from the date of the dog bite or attack to file a civil suit against the dog’s owner.

If you fail to take legal action within the two-year timeframe, you could be permanently blocked from pursuing the damages you need to get back on your feet. Fortunately, with the help of a dog bite attorney in Atlanta, you’ll have the help you need to meet this important deadline.

As long as you reach out to our law firm soon, we’ll have the time we need to conduct a thorough investigation, identify the liable party, and file a strong lawsuit on your behalf. Schedule a free consultation with our firm today to learn more about the statute of limitations and how we can help you comply with important filing deadlines and other requirements.

Common Injuries After a Dog Bite

Animal attacks can cause serious harm, especially to children. Common dog bite injuries may include:

• Deep puncture wounds
• Infections
• Nerve damage
• Scarring or disfigurement
• Emotional trauma

Scars can affect someone for life. Emotional effects, like fear or anxiety around animals, are just as real as physical injuries. Medical treatment can be expensive. Some injuries require surgery, physical therapy, or counseling.

Contact an Atlanta Dog Bite Law Firm for a Free Case Evaluation

Dog attacks cause painful injuries, rising medical costs, and serious emotional distress. If a vicious dog caused harm to you or your child, you have the right to explore your options. Many insurance companies move quickly to settle personal injury claims, often before you understand the full impact of your injuries.

Speaking with an experienced attorney can help you decide whether filing a personal injury lawsuit is the right step. Strong legal representation means someone is gathering evidence and protecting your rights while you focus on healing.

At John Foy & Associates, we offer a free case evaluation to review what happened and explain your next steps. There’s no pressure and no fee unless we win. Let us help.