Marietta Dog Bite Lawyer

Dogs make wonderful companion pets for millions of people around the world. In fact, it is estimated that there are about 70 million dogs living as pets in the United States.

Unfortunately, approximately 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year, and about 29 percent of those bites require medical attention. Children are most at risk for bites, with nearly 27 thousand dog bites needing reconstructive surgery to repair the damage caused in 2013 alone.

How Can the Marietta Dog Bite Attorneys at the CEO Lawyer Help Me?

After an injury, you may be feeling overwhelmed, traumatized, and confused about your rights and what to do next. Having an experienced dog bite attorney from CEO Lawyer handle all the legal aspects on your behalf will ease your burden and allow you to focus on your recovery.

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 Should I Do After a Dog Bite?

Most dogs are very friendly and play well with the people they know, but accidents happen. Children often do not recognize the warnings a dog will give them, leaving the dog to feel there is no other option than to bite.

Even a small bite or scratch can lead to a much worse injury if left untreated. After a dog bites you or your loved one, you will need to gather some information.

• The identity and contact information of the dog’s owner
• The vaccination status of the dog
• The age of the dog
• Whether the dog has bitten someone before
• Contact information of witnesses
• Take photographs of the dog, your location, your injuries, and any other pertinent details, such as a broken leash
• Write down or record all details of the incident so you will not forget anything later
• Call the police to get an official police report

All bites should be taken seriously as they can easily lead to serious infections. It is wise to seek medical attention for any animal bite, not only to prevent infection but also to have the bite and any subsequent injury officially documented in your medical record.

Insurance companies will use any delay in your seeking treatment as evidence that your injury was not serious.

What Makes Dog Bites So Dangerous?

All bites are dangerous and should be taken very seriously. Dog bites are dangerous because the dog will latch on and crush down into your tissue.

Their teeth may puncture or tear your skin, and depending on the size and strength of the dog, they may damage your muscles and even your bones, especially if they shake their heads while biting down. Some dogs will refuse to let go, which is why some breeds, such as pit bulls, have a bad reputation.

If you or your loved one falls victim to a dog bite, there are several things you should do to protect yourself from serious infection. Infection is the main concern of any bite, and every bite should be inspected by a medical professional.

Some bites require antibiotics, hospitalization, intravenous antibiotics, or even more serious medications if the dog is a stray or unvaccinated.

Doctors recommend getting medical attention within 8 hours of being bitten to minimize your risk of infection. Diabetics and anyone who is immunocompromised are at greater risk of infection and should be seen even sooner.

Follow these steps immediately to minimize your risk of infection if you are bitten by a dog:

• Wash the bite wound. Run warm water over the bite for at least five minutes and use a mild soap.
• Use clean gauze or another lint-free fabric and apply light pressure to stop the bleeding. You do not have to stop your circulation unless your arteries or veins have been severed.
• Apply an antibiotic ointment. Hydrogen peroxide is a common household antibiotic for deep wounds.
• Wrap your wound in a sterile bandage.
• Get medical attention for the bite wound and keep it as clean and dry as possible until medical personnel unwrap it and give you instructions.
• Try not to touch the wound, as this could introduce infection.
• Change the bandage several times per day and check for signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, fever, or increasing pain, until it has healed.

How Serious Is an Infection From a Dog Bite?

All animals have bacteria in their mouths, including humans. According to the National Library of Medicine, the most common bacteria found in dog bites is Pasteurella canis.

This is followed by staphylococcus, streptococcus, as well as capnocytophaga. Unfamiliar, unvaccinated, or stray dogs could possibly carry deadly diseases, such as rabies.

These diseases can potentially be transferred to you through the bite, so your healthcare provider will ask you questions to determine your risk level and treat you accordingly.

How Do I Know if a Dog Bite Is Serious?

The most common complication from a dog bite, or almost any bite, is infection. The most common symptoms of a serious dog bite include the following:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Fever
• Red Lines Extending From the Bite Toward Your Heart
• Foul Odor
• Pus or Drainage
• Heat Around the Wound
• Deep Puncture Marks
• Torn 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. According to Dog Bite Law, Georgia has mixed dog bite laws that make seeking compensation from dog owners complicated and challenging, so an experienced Marietta dog bite attorney is necessary.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After a Dog Bites Me?

The statute of limitations in Georgia for filing a personal injury claim for a dog bite is two years from the date of the bite. You will not be eligible to file a claim to receive compensation for damages after two years have passed.

How Does Contributory Negligence Affect My Ability to Recover Compensation?

Georgia’s contributory negligence law applies to dog bites. It states that a victim who is responsible for 50 percent or more of their own injury is not entitled to any compensation.

For example, if someone approaches a restrained dog, ignores the warnings from the owner to stay away, and proceeds to grab at the dog’s face, the fault of any subsequent bites would clearly fall on the bite victim. This law can also make obtaining compensation difficult for victims in cases that are not clear, especially when there are no other witnesses, and it is strictly the word of the victim against the word of the owner.

Should I File a Claim for Compensation on the Grounds of Negligence?

According to Forbes, the legal definition of negligence is the failure to exercise the level of care toward another person that a reasonable or prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. This “failure to exercise care” encompasses both a person’s actions and the failure to act.

Some cases may be based on negligence, depending on the circumstances surrounding the bite.

For example, the owner of a large dog should take precautions to prevent their pet from harming others. Their dog may be sweet and gentle, but the potential for great harm is ever present.

Owners of small dogs have the same responsibility to protect others from being bitten, even though they believe that their dog may not be able to cause much harm. Even small scratches that break the skin can lead to serious infections.

What Is Negligence per Se and How Does It Apply to Dog Bites?

Negligence per se is used to recover damages when the owner or person responsible for the dog breaks a law that has been put in place to protect the general public. For example, many parks and public areas have leash laws that state that all dogs must be kept on a leash.

When someone violates that law and allows their dog to run free, and their dog bites someone, the violator was negligent per se and, therefore, liable for the damage from the bite.

To seek compensation through a claim of negligence per se, the following elements must be proven:

• There was a duty created by a statute or ordinance
• The statute or ordinance was created to protect a certain group of people, which includes the victim
• There was a breach of that duty
• The breach of duty was what caused the injury
• The injury was what the statute or ordinance was created to prevent
• The injury was caused as a direct result of the violation of the statute or ordinance

Should I File a Lawsuit Against Someone I Know or Love After Their Dog Bit Me?

Most dog bites come from dogs belonging to people close to the victims. Filing a claim for damages against a family member, friend, or neighbor is difficult. Many people fear that it will be financially difficult for the dog’s owner to cover their damages, but the majority of dog bite injuries are actually covered by the dog owner’s homeowners insurance policy.

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 (833) 254-2923 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 professional Marietta dog bite lawyers will answer all your questions, guide you through the legal process, and get you the compensation you deserve.