Milton Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog bites can happen at any time in Milton. Even if an owner is adamant their pet loves people and wouldn’t hurt a fly, they are still at fault if the dog bites someone unprovoked. Dog bites can leave you with painful, life-threatening injuries, huge medical bills, missed work time, and even emotional trauma. A dog bite and animal attack lawyer in Milton can you seek compensation for these costs.

If you were hurt by a dog our Milton personal injury lawyers at John Foy & Associates can help. We have been helping dog bite victims win the recovery they deserve for over 25 years. We fight exclusively for injury victims, and we know what it takes to win cases.

To get a FREE, no-risk consultation with us today, call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online to get started. We’ll discuss what happened and how we can help you.

The Dog’s Owner Is Probably at Fault

In almost every situation, the dog owner is to blame for the attack. Dog owners have a legal duty to prevent their dog from harming another person. According to Georgia Code § 51-2-7, someone allows a dangerous or vicious animal to go at liberty or does not properly manage the animal and someone gets injured, the owner is liable for the damages.

The dog doesn’t necessarily need to have shown vicious tendencies before. In some cases, it’s enough to show that the dog should have been on a leash or “at heel” (but was not) before the bite happened. The details will depend on the local ordinances where you live, which a dog bite lawyer can research for you.

Always Report the Bite

Some dog bite victims are hesitant to report a dog bite, even when it’s serious. They might be a dog lover themselves or personally know the dog’s owner and be worried about what will happen. While this is understandable, it’s important to report the accident for your own legal rights and well-being.

Here are some things to understand about reporting a dog bite:

• If you do not report the bite, you will have a lot of trouble getting the compensation you deserve. A report on the bite will act as important evidence in your case.
• The dog will likely not get “put down” unless it’s exhibiting vicious behavior before.
• You will be filing a claim with the dog owner’s insurance company, so there is no bad blood against the owner. (In fact, we find that dog owners who know the victim are ultimately thankful that insurance was available to help cover the damages.)

Supporting Your Dog Bite Claim

When you file a claim for damages, you’ll need to show that:

• The dog owner was negligent in the dog bite.
• You suffered injuries and other damages from the dog attack.
• You did not provoke the dog before it attacked.

Negligence is often fairly easy to prove. You might just need to show that the dog owner allowed their dog to roam or did not have them properly leashed. Your Milton dog bite lawyer will know how to best demonstrate this in your injury claim.

What to Do If You Were Bitten By a Dog in Milton, GA

After the dog bites you, there are several things you can do to help protect yourself and begin building your insurance claim. Here are the most important steps you can take. When you reach out to a dog bite lawyer, it will help them to have this information as they start working on your case, too.

Get Medical Attention

Although any injury accident can be serious, dog bites come with additional risks. The wounds can easily become infected or worsen quickly. You also run the risk of disease if the dog was not healthy or up-to-date on its shots.

You’ll want to get your injuries checked out by a doctor as soon as possible. If your injuries are very serious or life-threatening, call 911 for emergency medical treatment. If you’re well enough to stay at the scene to gather information, be sure to see a doctor as soon as you can after leaving the scene.

Report the Bite

You should also make sure local authorities know about the bite. Contact Fulton County Animal Services to report a dog bite. Animal bites are considered an emergency, so a

Fulton County Animal Services officers should respond to your call no matter when the bite happened.

Animal Services might also have information about the dog if it’s bitten or been picked up in the past. Dogs that are allowed by their owners to roam freely are more likely to have been in trouble in the past.

Get Information About the Dog

Many dog bites happen when the dog owner is nowhere to be found. The owner might have even taken their dog and fled. However, if the owner is at the scene, ask them:

• If the dog has had its shots and
• Whether or not the dog has been aggressive before

Other people nearby or neighbors in the area might also be able to provide information about the dog, especially if it’s routinely allowed to run freely in the neighborhood. If you contact a dog bite lawyer in Milton, they can also send investigators to the scene to find out this information.

Talk to Witnesses

If there are people around who saw the dog bite happened, ask what they saw. Get their names and contact information. Your dog bite lawyer will want to reach out to them later for statements to support your claim.

Take Pictures

If you can, use your phone to take pictures of the dog, your injuries, and the whole scene. Picture evidence helps preserve what happened right after the incident occurred.

Talk to a Dog Bite and Animal Attack Lawyer in Milton, GA for Free Today

Many dog bite victims in Milton have a hard time fighting for the compensation they deserve after a dog bite. It’s often pretty easy to show that the dog’s owner was negligent—if you have the right experience and information on your side. At John Foy & Associates, we can help you gather the right information and build a strong claim for financial recovery.

Contact us today and we’ll give you a FREE consultation and case evaluation. Call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online to get started for FREE today.