Getting bitten by a dog can be a shocking and traumatic event.
You might expect that your troubles will end as soon as your wounds heal, but sadly, many dog bite victims struggle with anxiety, fear, and heightened awareness around dogs after a bite occurs. Further, unexpected medical bills can pile up quickly, leaving you in a vulnerable position.
If a dog attacked you, the pet’s owner should be held responsible. Depending on the circumstances, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, or other expenses.
An Alpharetta dog bite attorney can evaluate your case and help you determine the best path forward for receiving compensation.
If you need advice following a dog bite, contact the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm for a no-obligation consultation. Our firm doesn’t receive any compensation unless you do — so you don’t have to stress about up-front expenses as you recover from your stressful experience.
Give us a call at (470) 323-8779 or contact us online to schedule your free case review today.
Why You Should Hire an Alpharetta Dog Bite Attorney
Many dog bites are serious, with a high risk of infection and possible surgery needed to repair muscles, tendons, and other vital tissues.
Even if you received apparently minor injuries or recovered quickly from a dog bite, you might be tempted to let the incident go without taking legal action. However, foregoing legal action can have significant consequences for yourself and others.
You could easily end up responsible for hundreds if not thousands of unexpected expenses due to emergency medical procedures, rabies/disease testing, stitches or surgery, and lost wages if you’re unable to work. Even if you can cover these costs on your own, you shouldn’t be obligated to pay for someone else’s negligence.
Next, dangerous dogs are a matter of public safety. Every person who comes in contact with an aggressive dog could potentially be at risk.
Children and elderly people, in particular, are vulnerable to serious complications from dog attacks. Without consequences, a negligent dog owner might not be motivated to change their behavior.
As a victim of a dog bite, you are in a strong position to advocate for justice and help ensure that no one else is harmed by the same dog. While the overwhelming majority of dogs who bite will not be put down following a successful injury claim, the owner will certainly be more mindful of the risks they present to others afterward.
Taking legal action can feel like a significant step. You might be nervous about the outcome, uncomfortable with the idea of pursuing the owner, or worried about potential ramifications.
Rest assured that with an experienced personal injury attorney in Alpharetta by your side, you’ll have support and expert guidance as you navigate the legal system.
What To Do After a Dog Attack
After you’ve been attacked by a dog (or other animal), the first step to take is to call for medical help and reach out to 911. The police will collect as much information as they can about the owner and the dog.
If the owner is known, the police will ask for their name, contact information, and insurance details (if applicable). They’ll also gather facts about the dog, including name, age, and breed. If there are witnesses present, the police will speak to them to gather the facts about the incident.
If the dog owner is not present or is incompliant, the police will work to locate them and contain the dog. They may enlist help from animal control to ensure no one else gets hurt.
If you are physically able to do so without risking your own safety further, try to take pictures or video of the dog, the owner, or the scene where the incident took place. Document your injuries and hang onto receipts, hospital discharge papers, test results, and other pertinent items; keep in mind that all of this documentation may prove useful if you decide to pursue legal action.
Finally, reach out to a personal injury attorney to discuss what happened. Provide them with the documentation you have so that they can properly evaluate your situation.
Understanding the Dog Bite Scale
Animal behavior experts developed the Dog Bite Scale, which measures the severity of dog bite injuries.
- Level 1: A level 1 attack is the least severe on the scale. With a level 1 bite, the dog displays aggressive behavior, but its teeth do not contact your skin. Also known as “snapping”
- Level 2: In a level 2 attack, the dog’s teeth contact your skin, but the skin is not punctured. The dog acts aggressively and barks to warn you off.
- Level 3: Level 3 bites leave between 1 and 4 puncture wounds in the skin after a single bite. The deepest wound must be no deeper than the dog’s canine tooth for the bite to be classified as level 3. The dog is threatening and dangerous.
- Level 4: Level 4 bites leave between 1 and 4 puncture wounds after a single bite, and at least one of the wounds is deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine tooth. Dogs that leave these wounds are considered highly dangerous. They should not be allowed to interact with others.
- Level 5: A level 5 attack results in multiple dog bite wounds that meet level 4 criteria. A level 5-risk dog may have attacked multiple people, as well. Dogs that demonstrate this level of violence are frequently euthanized, especially if there have been repeated incidents.
- Level 6: A level 6 attack results in a fatality.
A medical professional can help you understand the level on the scale that applies to your injuries.
Note that a dog of any type or size can cause a significant injury; don’t assume you only have a level 1 or 2 injury if you’ve been attacked by a small dog. Further, remember that dogs can harbor bacteria, rabies, and other pathogens, so even a “minor” bite can lead to complications, such as an infection.
Always have an injury evaluated, and then refer to an attorney for the next steps you can take to seek compensation.
What Happens if You’re Attacked on a Jobsite?
Many people work in service jobs that involve accessing people’s homes. If you fix appliances, install security systems, deliver furniture, or do repair work, you’re bound to enter hundreds of homes per year.
When you first arrive at a home, check to see if there are any “Beware of Dog” or “No Trespassing” signs. If you see these signs, give the homeowner a call before approaching the house to verify that the dog is safely contained.
If you’re attacked by a dog while on the job, you’ll need to inform your employer in case they have specific procedures for dealing with an attack. You may be able to file a worker’s compensation claim to help cover the costs of your medical care.
If worker’s compensation doesn’t apply in your case, you may still have the option of filing a claim against the dog owner’s home insurance.
What You Should Know About Filing Dog Bite Claims in Georgia
Georgia has a two-year statute of limitations regarding personal injury claims. Therefore, if you want to file a claim for a dog bite injury, you need to do so within two years of the incident.
Under state law, you could be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical costs related to the treatment of the dog bite
- Rehabilitative services for restoring bodily functions
- Medical supplies, like bandages, creams, slings, or medications
- Property damage, if any items were broken or damaged during the scuffle with the dog
- Lost wages if you couldn’t earn your regular wage amount following the injury
- Damages for personal pain, suffering, or trauma following the attack
The One Bite Rule
The One Bite Rule stipulates that the owner of a dog should be held liable for damages following a bite if they knew (or should have known) that the dog was vicious. The law states that a dog is “vicious” if it has bitten before — or otherwise displayed obvious aggressive behavior — in the past.
Georgia follows a slightly modified version of the One Bite Rule. In Alpharetta and elsewhere in the state, an owner can also be held liable if the owner was careless or if the attack happened without the dog being provoked.
However, they do not necessarily have to have had “actual knowledge” of the dog’s aggression because of a bite or prior attack. Under this modified law, you have additional flexibility to seek damages if you’re attacked.
Contact an Alpharetta Dog Bite Law Firm Today
The days following a dog attack can be painful, overwhelming, and isolating. If you are unable to afford the proper care, things could easily get worse.
However, there is no need to suffer or fight on your own. Ali Awad of The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm is here to advocate for you. He will work tirelessly on your behalf to receive fair compensation from either the dog owner or their insurance company.
Establishing a pattern of behavior is a powerful tool for proving your case. In addition to interviewing you and gathering relevant documentation, our investigative team will speak with neighbors, witnesses, law enforcement, and other parties to learn more about the dog’s history and tendencies.
Our attorneys have the methods and skills to demonstrate patterns of aggressive or antisocial behaviors that dangerous dogs tend to have.
If you are ready to take the next step toward receiving compensation for your dog bite injuries, call the CEO Lawyer at (470) 323-8779 or contact us online today to schedule a free case review.
