Dogs may be considered man's best friends, but if you are the unlucky person who gets on the bad side of a canine, you could end up with major injuries after an attack. In fact, between 2006 and 2008 in the United States, there were actually 88 dog attacks that had fatal results.
If you are injured by your own dog, there may be little you can do but fork over cash for your bills and deal with lost wages. However, if you are injured by a dog that belongs to someone else, they have to step up and handle the responsibilities of being the owner of a dog that caused an injury. Here are some important facts you will want to know before contacting a personal injury attorney about a dog bite.
Does it matter if the dog bit you when you were trespassing on the dog owner's property?
If you were trespassing, there can be other considerations that come into play, and you may not always be able to sue for damages. However, every state has its own laws regarding this type of situation. For example, you may be entitled to damages if the owner did not have a sign posted alerting that there was a dog on the property.
Will the dog have to be euthanized if you file an injury claim after an attack?
In a lot of locations, a dog that has attacked a person will be collected by animal control as soon as the incident is reported. This is because the authorities have a responsibility to keep the public safe from a supposed dangerous animal. However, this may not always mean that the dog must be euthanized. In most cases, it will depend on a few factors:
- The state in which you live
- The severity of the attack
- The age of the victim
Is it true you may be able to obtain pain and suffering damages because of being traumatized by the attack?
Being attacked by a dog can change the rest of your life. You may have to deal with scars and other injuries, but in some cases the emotional damage is even more difficult to handle. Living your life afraid of dogs due to an attack is a difficult thing, as dogs can be found everywhere. This is why you may be entitled to damages from being traumatized.
If you have been bitten by a dog, it is crucial that you talk to a personal injury attorney right away. You may be entitled to money to help you pay for associated medical bills, time off of work, and even pain and suffering from emotional damage. For more information, contact a lawyer from a firm such as Gibbs and Parnell.
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