Dog bite incidents happen far more often in Tucker than you might realize. In many situations, the dog involved in the incident belongs to someone you know, which makes it harder to do anything after a bite. But, dog bites can be severe and result in problems that may haunt you for years to come.
In those situations, you can’t ignore the possibility of having a legal claim for damages – and you need medical attention immediately. Once you see a doctor, your next step should be to talk to a Tucker personal injury lawyer to work through your legal options.
If you’re ready to talk to an attorney, John Foy & Associates is prepared to analyze your case. Our team has over 20 years of experience helping dog bite victims in Tucker, and we can help you determine your options as well. Working through the damages involved in a dog bite can be tricky, and they may be far more serious than you might think at first.
Don’t hesitate to contact us to determine your rights in this type of situation. Let us give you a free consultation. Call us at 404-400-4000 and get your free consultation today.
What Should I Do If I Was Bitten by a Dog?
You should always get medical attention after a dog bite. If you are reading this, and you haven’t seen a doctor yet – make an appointment right away! Dog bites are prone to infection because of how the teeth enter the skin and the various bacteria that dogs carry.
It’s a good idea for both your health and your legal case to see a doctor. Your physician will be able to outline what caused the injury and give you an idea of how it will affect you in the future, including potential limitations you may face, additional treatment necessary, and general recovery time.
Other steps that you should take after a dog bite include:
- Attempt to identify the dog and its owner. In some dog bite cases, it will be easy to locate the dog and its owner, sometimes because the owner is a neighbor or friend. In other situations, the dog may be running free, and there is no owner in sight. Getting a good look at the dog’s tags or having a general description of the dog will be helpful for your legal case.
- Talk to witnesses. If there were any witnesses to the bite, you should talk to them about what they saw and get their contact information. These individuals may have valuable information about who owns the dog and whether it has been in similar incidents in the past as well.
- Call the police and animal control. You should make a police report about the incident. Having a report helps your legal case because the police will investigate the incident hopefully provide vital information about the dog, it’s owner, and may even talk to witnesses on your behalf. Calling animal control will help you get a dangerous animal detained. This is step is particularly important if the dog is running around freely.
Your dog bite lawyer can also help you do this investigation as well. In fact, it’s much better if your lawyer does this investigation on your behalf because they have more experience getting this type of information—and you can focus on making a full recovery.
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How do I Get Damages After a Dog Bite?
You may be able to get money damages for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, time away from work, and any other losses you experience after a dog bite. You do this by proving your dog bite case to either an insurance company or through the course of a lawsuit. In some situations, you may need to show specific facts to a jury to get reimbursed for those expenses.
Proving your dog bite case in Tucker will require showing that:
- A dog attacked you and caused harm
- The dog’s owner kept a vicious animal
- The owner did not restrain the dog properly
- You did not provoke the dog to attack you
Georgia law is somewhat complicated in how it defines a “vicious” dog. Specifically, the owner must know that the dog was dangerous for it to be considered vicious enough to lead to legal responsibility for your bite. This is sometimes referred to as the “one bite rule.”
It is called this because sometimes it takes the dog biting someone else for an owner to realize that a dog is dangerous. But, a dog doesn’t have to technically bite anyone else before it can be considered vicious. Instead, it just has to show some dangerous or aggressive tendencies, such as charging at those who walk by or growling at neighbors or other dogs.
Does Insurance Cover Dog Bites?
Most home insurance policies will cover dog bites for the homeowner’s dog. It may not cover visiting animals. You should keep in mind that even if you knew the dog owner or the dog, you would generally be working with the dog owner’s insurance company for your legal claim if homeowners’ insurance applies. That means that the dog’s owner may not have to pay anything out of pocket, even if they lose the legal claim that you have started.
Your health insurance will also address generally cover any medical care you need to deal with your dog bite. But, if someone else is responsible for the dog, that person may have to reimburse your health insurance company for the fees that they paid to the hospital on your behalf.
Talk to a Tucker Dog Bite Lawyer for Free
John Foy & Associates wants to help you or your loved one after a dog bite. You may have legal options that can help you address costly medical bills, time away from work, and more. Give us a call to get started.
Let us give you a FREE consultation. Call us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to your right and get your FREE consultation today.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
