It depends. An attorney is required if you, or your loved one, were bitten by a dog and feel the need to sue for safety reasons or to cover medical expenses. If your dog bites someone, you should hire an attorney. Most cases, however, will result in the bite being minor and occurring among close friends, neighbors, or acquaintances. In this case, you won’t need an attorney.
Facts about Dog Bites in the U.S.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are approximately 4.5 Million dog bites annually.
- Around 850,000 bites result in medical attention.
- It’s estimated that between 15,000 and 16,000 bites result in some type of settlement.
- The vast majority of cases do not require legal action or filing of an insurance claim.
I was bitten by a dog
Assess the severity of the dog bite if you have been bitten by a dog. It is best to get medical attention if there is any significant bleeding, puncture or tear. Dog bites pose the greatest risk to your health. Dog bites can become infected in between 10 and 15% of cases. It is worth checking for signs of infection, even if the bite wasn’t severe enough to warrant an urgent care visit or emergency room visit.
Dog bites can result in serious medical expenses depending on their severity. You should be compensated if you are incurred medical expenses by a dog bite. You may file a claim against either the homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policies. An attorney is a good idea if you need to negotiate with insurance companies. They are not interested in minimizing the payout.
My Dog Bit Someone
An attorney is recommended if your dog bites someone. The skills required to defend against a dog biting lawsuit are somewhat similar to those needed for prosecuting one. You can therefore likely turn towards a personal injury attorney for help. Dog bites are usually covered by your homeowners or renters insurance policies. The insurance company will typically pay for an attorney to represent your interests.
The outcome of a case will depend on many factors. Was your dog a danger to you? Did it have enough control? Was the victim able to control his dog without provoking him?
Summarized from an article by Ashton Prince.
