August 21, 2014
What You Need to Know About Dog Bite Injuries
A few million people in the U.S. become the victim of dog bites each year. Of these, the majority are not serious and don’t require medical attention. Several thousand of them, on the other hand, cause serious injury and require extensive treatment.
Dog Bites and Personal Injury Law
As a personal injury lawyer, I consult with several dog or other animal bite victims each year. Some are young children, others are adults. Regardless, many of them have suffered horrific injuries that may severely impact their life. It’s the duty of the personal injury lawyer to help their clients recover from these wounds.
When an animal bites someone, a personal injury lawyer can help hold that animal’s owner responsible. Only a personal injury lawyer who is experienced with animal bite cases has the experience necessary to evaluate the merits of a case and determine whether or not a lawsuit may be brought against the dog’s owner.
In many animal bite lawsuits, the personal injury lawyer is able to help their client recover compensation for medical expenses, particularly those that were not covered by the victim’s insurance. The victim may also receive compensation for lost wages if he or she was unable to return to work for some time after the accident. A personal injury lawyer similarly helps their client to make a claim for the pain and suffering that resulted from the bite. In some instances, the victim may be able to recover for property damage. Some animal owners may even be liable for punitive damages, which are designed to punish the owner for intentional or reckless misconduct.
Protect Yourself with a Personal Injury Lawyer
Most people who are injured by an animal don’t immediately consider hiring a personal injury lawyer. However, sometimes an animal bite victim cannot make a full recovery until a lawsuit is commenced. Any funds received as a result of the lawsuit can help the victim get back on their feet, essentially restoring them to the health and financial standing they enjoyed before the attack.