Dogs are beloved companions to many people worldwide, with a stagger 70 million dogs in the United States. Regrettably, approximately 4.5 million individuals suffer dog bites annually, leading to about 29 percent needing medical treatment.
Children are particularly vulnerable, with almost 27,000 requiring reconstructive surgery to address the injuries caused by dog bites in 2013 alone.
Contact Our Experienced Marietta Dog Bite Attorneys After Your Injury
Following an injury, you might be feeling distress, shock, and uncertainty about your legal rights and subsequent steps. Consulting with an experienced dog bite lawyer from CEO Lawyer to manage all the legal matters for you can alleviate your stress and enable you to concentrate on your healing.
Insurance companies are tough to deal with and often try to offer you low settlements, place blame for the bite on you, or deny your claim completely. Our Marietta dog bite lawyers know how to overcome these challenges to get you the compensation you need.
What To Do After a Dog Bite
Most dogs are friendly and interact well with familiar people, but mishaps can occur. Kids often fail to understand the warning signs a dog may show, leaving the dog feeling it has no choice but to bite.
Even a minor bite or scratch can escalate into a severe injury if not addressed promptly. After a dog bites you or someone you care about, it’s crucial to collect some information.
- The name and contact details of the dog’s owner
- The dog’s vaccination history
- The dog’s age
- Whether the dog has a history of biting
- Contact details of any witnesses
- Take photos of the dog, the location, your injuries, and any other relevant details, like a broken leash
- Document or record all aspects of the incident to ensure you don’t forget anything later
- Contact the police to obtain an official police report
Every bite must be treated with utmost seriousness as they have a high potential to cause severe infections. It is prudent to get medical help for any animal bite, not only to avert infection but also to officially record the bite and any resulting injury in your medical history.
Insurance firms may interpret any delay in seeking medical help as proof that your injury was not severe.
Are Dog Bites Dangerous?
All bites are dangerous and should be taken very seriously. Dog bites are dangerous because their teeth can pierce or rip your flesh, and based on the dog’s size and power, they can harm your muscles and possibly your bones, particularly if they shake their heads while clamping down. Some dogs won’t release their grip.
If you or someone you know gets bitten by a dog, it’s important to take steps to prevent infection. Make sure to have a medical professional check every bite.
In some cases, when a person is bitten by a dog, the wound may become infected and require treatment with antibiotics. If the infection is severe, hospitalization may be necessary to monitor the wound and administer intravenous antibiotics. In more serious cases, such as when the dog is a stray or unvaccinated, additional medications may be needed to prevent the spread of diseases such as rabies. It is important to seek medical attention promptly after a dog bite to prevent complications and ensure proper treatment.
Physicians advise seeking medical care within 8 hours post-bite to reduce the likelihood of infection. Individuals with diabetes or those with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to infections and should seek medical help even earlier.
If you’ve been bitten by a dog, following these steps immediately:
- Clean the injury using a gentle soap.
- Employ sterile gauze and exert slight pressure to stop the bleeding. Unless your arteries or veins are cut, stopping your blood flow is unnecessary.
- Administer an antibiotic cream. Hydrogen peroxide is a typical domestic antibiotic for profound wounds.
- Clean and dress your injury with a sterile bandage and try to keep it as dry as possible.
- Seek medical care for the bite injury
- Refrain from touching the injury, as this could lead to infection.
- Replace the bandage multiple times daily and monitor for infection indicators, such as redness, inflammation, fever, or escalating pain, until healed.
Can a Dog Bite Get Infected?
Yes, in fact, infection is the most common problem resulting from dog bites. Dogs mouths carry bacteria, such as Pastuerella canis, staphylococcus, streptococcus, and capnocytophaga. Unvaccinated dogs may carry rabies.
All of these disease can be transmitted through saliva. If you are bitten by a dog, your healthcare provider will ask you questions to determine your risk.
Infection is the most common problem resulting from a dog bite, or practically any bite. These are the most usual symptoms of a serious dog bite:
- Redness
- Inflammation
- High Temperature
- Red Streaks Spreading From the Bite Toward Your Heart
- Unpleasant Smell
- Discharge or Pus
- Warmth Surrounding the Wound
- Deep Piercing Marks
- Lacerated Skin
What Is Georgia’s One Bite Rule?
Georgia’s One Bite Rule is a common phrase applied to state laws that actually protect dog owners by limiting their liability when their pets have no history of aggressive behavior.
In Georgia, the laws regarding dog bites are a combination of strict liability and negligence principles. This means that in some cases, dog owners can be held strictly liable for any injuries caused by their dog, regardless of whether or not they were aware of the dog’s aggressive tendencies. In other cases, the victim must prove that the dog owner was negligent in some way in order to seek compensation.
Navigating these mixed laws can be complicated and challenging, which is why it is important to have an experienced Marietta dog bite attorney on your side. A skilled attorney will be able to assess the circumstances of the dog bite incident, gather evidence, and build a strong case to help you recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Additionally, a dog bite attorney will be familiar with the specific laws and regulations in Georgia regarding dog bites, and will be able to guide you through the legal process with expertise and efficiency. By working with a knowledgeable attorney, you can increase your chances of a successful outcome in your dog bite case.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After a Dog Bites Me?
In Georgia, the statute of limitations for submitting a claim for personal injury due to a dog bite is two years from the incident date. After this two-year period, you lose the right to seek compensation for any damages.
Can I Recover Damages Due to the Dog Owner’s Negligence?
Negligence is the failure to exercise the level of care that a reasonable or prudent person would exercise in similar situations. This concept of “failure to exercise care” includes both actions and inactions.
Dog bites can sometimes result from negligence, which varies based on the incident’s circumstances.
For instance, if a dog owner does not properly restrain their dog or ignores signs of aggression, they may be deemed negligent if their dog bites someone.
Similarly, if an owner knows their dog has a history of aggression and fails to take preventive measures, they could be liable for negligence.
Determining negligence in dog bite cases hinges on the specific details and actions (or lack thereof) of the dog owner leading up to the incident.
Owners of large dogs need to take steps to prevent their pets from harming others. Even if the dog is typically gentle, the risk of significant harm is always present. Small dog owners also have the responsibility to prevent their dogs from biting others, as even minor bites or scratches can cause serious infections.
What Is Negligence per Se and How Does It Apply to Dog Bites?
Negligence per se applies when a dog’s owner or caretaker violates a law intended to protect the public, such as leash laws in parks and public spaces. If an owner allows their dog to run free in violation of these laws and the dog bites someone, the owner is considered negligent per se and is liable for the resulting damages.
To claim compensation through negligence per se, the following elements must be established:
- A duty was established by a statute or ordinance.
- The statute or ordinance was created to protect a specific group, including the victim.
- There was a breach of that duty.
- The breach of duty caused the injury.
- The injury was the type the statute or ordinance aimed to prevent.
- The injury was a direct result of the violation of the statute or ordinance.
What is Contributory Negligence?
In Georgia, the contributory negligence law applies to cases involving dog bites. This means that if a victim is found to be responsible for 50 percent or more of their own injury, they will not be entitled to any compensation for their damages. This law places a significant burden on the victim to prove that they were not at fault in any way for the incident. It is important for individuals in Georgia to be aware of this law and take precautions to avoid being found partially at fault in the event of a dog bite. This may include following leash laws, avoiding aggressive dogs, and seeking medical attention promptly if bitten. It is also important for dog owners to take responsibility for their pets and prevent them from causing harm to others.
For instance, if an individual ignores the owner’s caution to keep distance and provokes a leashed dog, any resulting bites would undeniably be the responsibility of the person bitten. This legislation can also complicate the process of securing compensation for victims in ambiguous cases, particularly when there are no additional witnesses, and it solely depends on the victim’s account versus the owner’s statement.
Should I File a Lawsuit Against Someone I Know or Love After Their Dog Bit Me?
When a dog bite occurs, it can be a difficult situation to navigate, especially if the dog belongs to someone you know personally. Filing a claim against a family member, friend, or neighbor can be emotionally challenging, as it may strain relationships. Additionally, many people are concerned about the financial implications of pursuing a claim for damages.
However, it is important to note that most dog bite injuries are covered by the owner’s homeowners insurance policy. This means that the financial burden of medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages resulting from the dog bite may be covered by the insurance company, rather than coming directly out of the dog owner’s pocket.
It is crucial for dog bite victims to understand their rights and options in these situations. Seeking legal advice from a personal injury attorney can help victims navigate the claims process and ensure they receive the compensation they are entitled to. By understanding the insurance coverage available and taking appropriate legal action, victims can focus on their recovery and moving forward from the incident.
Our Marietta Dog Bite Law Firm Works For You
If you or your loved one has been bitten by a dog, call the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm at (470) 323-8779 today to get your process started with a free consultation. When we take your case, we won’t charge you anything until we win or settle it for you.
Our team of experienced dog bite attorneys in Marietta are here to assist you every step of the way. We understand that being involved in a dog bite incident can be a traumatic experience, and we are here to address all of your questions and concerns.
From the moment you contact us, we will guide you through the legal process, ensuring that you understand your rights and options. We will work tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve for your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Our attorneys have a proven track record of success in handling dog bite cases, and we will fight aggressively on your behalf to hold the responsible party accountable for their actions. You can trust us to provide you with the personalized attention and dedicated representation you need to achieve a favorable outcome in your case.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of dog bite attorneys in Marietta for a free consultation. We are here to help you seek justice and obtain the compensation you are entitled to.
