Serious dog bite cases happen more than you might realize. They are often underreported out of fear for the consequences for the family, friend, or neighbor who owns the dog. Thankfully, many home insurance policies will apply to situations that involve dog bites.
That means that your friend, neighbor, or family’s home insurance company will actually end up defending and paying for your dog bite injuries. In those situations, you can get the money damages that you deserve without directly harming your loved ones.
Of course, there are also situations where you are harmed by a dog that has no connection to you—and you may not even know who the dog belongs to. Regardless of how the dog is connected to you, dog bite victims still need to start their dog bite lawsuit within the timeframe set out by Georgia law.
What Is a “Statute of Limitations”?
Virtually every legal case has a limitation associated with it that requires you start your lawsuit within a certain period. If you don’t bring your claim within this time, it can, likely will, be dismissed immediately. This period is referred to as the statute of limitations.
The statute of limitations serves two major purposes:
- Allows defendants to have some restrictions regarding legal actions
If there were no limitations period, defendants might live in fear of being sued forever. Having a period of limitation allows a defendant to avoid having to defend legal situations that occurred years ago.
- Keeps evidence fresh
Memories fade, and it becomes harder to get evidence and information from witnesses and other sources as time goes on. The sooner a victim brings a legal case, the easier it is to get information and documents. That is a big part of the reason you should speak with an attorney as soon as you can after an accident or injury that may trigger a legal claim.
How Long does the Statute of Limitations Give You to Sue for a Dog Bite Claim in Georgia?
When a dog bites someone, that person has two years from the date of the bite to file a lawsuit. Keep in mind that the deadline is to file a lawsuit, not just to contact an attorney or notify the insurance company of the claim. There’s a lot of preparation that your Atlanta dog bite lawyer must do to get your case ready to be filed, including:
- Talking to witnesses
- Negotiating with the insurance company
- Reviewing your medical records
- Gathering information about your missed days from work
- Analysis of how much impact your injuries will have your future
To do all of this behind-the-scenes work, you need to contact an attorney as soon as you can after the dog bite incident.
Schedule a Free Consultation for Your Dog Bite Case
Dog bite cases can be severe. They can lead to injuries that include:
- Serious soft tissue injuries
- Nerve damage
- Immobility and restrictions of movement
- Injuries that lead to infections and other complications
You need to get an attorney that has experience dealing with these particular cases. John Foy & Associates has over 20 years of experience helping dog bite victims navigate the legal system and negotiate with insurance companies. Call us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
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