Dog bites are often unexpected and can occur even if the dog initially seems friendly. Most people are cautious around unfamiliar dogs for this reason, but sometimes, a canine might bite you despite your best efforts to give it space.
These attacks may occur in a public place, such as a park, or private property, like a neighbor’s home or yard. Frequently, delivery drivers are bitten by dogs while simply doing their jobs.
Unfortunately, dog bites are sometimes more serious than minor wounds. A particularly aggressive dog can cause severe damage, necessitating stitches, and may even break bones.
Additionally, dogs’ mouths can be home to numerous bacteria and other pathogens that can cause infection and illness, even with a small bite. Nerve damage, permanent scarring, and other long-term complications are possible.
With these health complications come medical bills and potentially lost income if your injuries force you to stay home from work. But in many cases, the dog’s owner is uninterested in helping you with these and other damages.
Should You Consult a Gwinnett County Dog Bite Attorney?
Yes. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries from a dog bite, the best way to protect your rights is to contact a Gwinnett County dog bite lawyer for a free consultation about your case.
You shouldn’t have to fight for compensation on your own, and you will benefit from an accurate assessment of your damages (in many cases, we find the client has more damages than they realize). If you have grounds for a lawsuit, we’ll assist you with filing a claim, and we can negotiate with the dog owner or their insurance company to get you the best settlement possible.
Does Georgia Have a One Bite Rule?
“One Bite” rules are used in many states to hold dog owners liable when a dog who has previously bitten someone does so again. In some states, it’s difficult to hold a dog owner accountable if you can’t prove the dog bit someone before.
Georgia uses a modified version of the one-bite rule that allows dog owners to be held liable if they knew or should have known the dog was dangerous or vicious. As a result, you may be able to seek compensation if the dog has a history of:
- Biting people.
- Aggressive behavior, such as charging or lunging at someone.
- Intense growling or snarling.
- Trying to escape the owner or handler while on a leash for the purpose of attacking someone.
Georgia’s dog bite laws also address issues with irresponsible owners who allow their dogs to roam the neighborhood unattended. A dog can be considered vicious if allowed to wander off-leash in an area with a leash law—essentially, the owner’s carelessness makes the dog “vicious” in this situation.
Does Gwinnett County Have a Leash Law?
Gwinnett County requires that pet owners keep their animals under control or restraint. In most cases, this means keeping your dog on a leash when not on your property.
You can walk outside with your dog off-leash if they are very well-trained, will stay at heel, and always respond to your voice commands. However, many people have unfortunately discovered that their pet wasn’t quite as obedient as they thought while walking off-leash.
Keeping your dog on a leash can reduce the risk of problems if the canine unexpectedly takes off after a squirrel, etc.
Dog owners also have a responsibility to keep a dog constrained to their own property if they are not outside with the dog. If the dog isn’t always inside, you could put up a fence or use an invisible containment system with a sign to ensure it stays in your yard.
Please note that Gwinnett County also has rules about “humanely” restricting the dog to the property and in most cases, tethering is not permitted except in very limited situations. Individual cities within Gwinnett County may have additional ordinances for dog owners, so you should check your city’s laws to learn more.
What Should You Do if the Dog’s Owner Claims You Provoked the Dog Attack?
This is one of the more common defenses used in dog bite cases. If the injured person provoked the dog, then the owner is usually not liable, so it stands to reason that many dog owners will say the animal was provoked.
What counts as “provoking” a dog?
- Teasing or taunting the dog.
- Yelling at or hitting the dog.
- Trying to take the animal’s food and water dishes.
- Trying to take the dog’s puppies.
In most situations, if you are minding your business and not bothering the dog, you aren’t provoking it.
Another possible defense is that the injured person was on the owner’s property illegally, so you may need to prove that you weren’t trespassing. People doing their jobs, such as delivery workers or postal carriers, are not considered to be trespassing if being on the property is necessary for the job.
If there is some disagreement about the legality of how you entered the property, please talk to a lawyer immediately. We will investigate what happened and work to find evidence in your favor, such as witness testimony or documents showing you were expected on the property.
What if You Don’t Know Who Owns the Dog?
Sometimes, the offending dog doesn’t appear to be accompanied by a person. This can be a difficult situation because you will want to get away from the dog to prevent further bites. As a result, you won’t be able to get close to the dog and examine its collar for contact info, etc.
What you should do instead is:
- As soon as you’re able to get somewhere safe, call 911 to report the dog attack. Request an ambulance if you’re injured, and give the authorities the best description you can for the dog. Let them know which direction the dog was headed the last time you saw it.
- The 911 operator will usually dispatch local Animal Control officers to the scene. Give them a statement, and do your best to answer their questions. Afterward, they will search for the dog, and if they find it, place the animal in quarantine. This is so the canine can be observed for signs of rabies.
- Seek medical attention for your injuries. As we discussed earlier, even bites that seem small should be cleaned thoroughly to prevent infection. Your doctor may recommend rabies vaccination if the dog’s vaccination status can’t be determined, or they might prescribe antibiotics to prevent bacterial infections.
- Follow up with the Animal Control office after a few days. If they have located the dog and its owner, you can get a copy of the report with the owner’s contact information.
- Avoid confronting the owner yourself. These situations often become heated, and an argument could complicate your case. Instead, give the contact information to your lawyer, and we’ll negotiate with the owner on your behalf.
What if Animal Control Can’t Find the Dog?
Animal Contol is often very busy and may be searching for multiple dogs at any given time. If they haven’t located the animal who bit you within a week or so, please tell your lawyer.
We will also investigate the situation, visiting the scene of the attack and canvassing the area. Sometimes, our investigators talk with a neighborhood resident who recognizes the dog’s description and can tell us where it lives.
What Damages Can You Seek in a Dog Bite Case?
A serious dog bite could leave you with a number of damages, including:
- Medical bills. Please save the invoices for any out-of-pocket costs for your medical care. We’ll also consider future medical expenses if you’re still in treatment.
- Lost income. If you had to miss time at work, you should be compensated for lost income or PTO.
- Lost earning potential. When a dog bite leads to a permanent disability that prevents you from working, you can pursue lost earning potential.
- Permanent disability or disfigurement. If the dog attack causes significant scarring, nerve damage, or another disability, whether or not it affects your ability to work, you may have a reduced quality of life.
- Pain and suffering. Dog attacks can be very painful, and not only in a physical way. Some people suffer from nightmares, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, or symptoms of PTSD following a dog bite.
- Wrongful death. Although a rare occurrence, sometimes dog bites can result in a person’s death. If so, we will pursue multiple damages, including loss of financial support, loss of consortium or companionship, funeral or burial expenses, final medical expenses, and more.
How Can You Find a Gwinnett County Dog Bite Law Firm?
Please contact the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm for a free consultation about your case. Our legal team will review the report on the attack, answer your questions, and explain the options for pursuing compensation.
The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm was founded by attorney Ali Awad and quickly became one of the fastest-growing law firms in the country. We don’t charge anything for your initial consultation, and if we take your case, there are no fees until we win or settle it.
Mr. Awad and his talented team have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for injured people and their families. You can also find Mr. Awad on social media, delivering no-nonsense legal advice to more than a million followers.
Call the CEO Lawyer today at (470) 323-8779.
