Dog bite injuries are permanent, and they can affect your financial future. The shock of a dog bite can affect your judgment and lead to you not taking the proper legal steps to protect yourself and recover the compensation you need. It is vital to have an experienced personal injury attorney from Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, who will evaluate your losses, file a demand letter, and negotiate with the homeowner’s insurance companies for fair payment.
When the homeowner’s insurance company is unwilling to negotiate, a Marion dog bite lawyer can look for other legal avenues.
Common Injuries from Dog Bite Accidents
Dogs can be cute, but they are also vicious animals that can attack a person within seconds, destroying their life. The dog attack is violent, and it is challenging to stop the dog once they have begun an attack. They may turn on their owner and others trying to stop them.
A dog bite takes seconds, and the results are lifelong and permanent, requiring surgeries and other extensive medical treatments. Children suffered facial injuries more than adults, leaving them with scars and disfigurement. Other examples of common dog bite injuries are:
While you will require extensive medical treatment, you should not be the one to pay for these costs if you did not cause the dog to attack you. Our Marion dog bite attorneys can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
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Strict Liability in Dog Bite Cases
There is no one bite rule in Marion, which means dog bites fall under strict liability. Dog owners are legally responsible for a bite or attack even when there is no history of aggression or attacks. There are very few exceptions to the strict liability rule, and you require the assistance of a Marion dog bite attorney to get a fair settlement.
While the pet owner is legally responsible, that does not mean the insurance company will offer you a fair settlement. A skilled dog bite lawyer will negotiate with insurance companies to prevent an undervalued claim.
Dog Owner Negligence
Since dog bites are under strict liability, you do not need to prove the owner knew the dog was aggressive. Now, if the owner was knowingly negligent, they can be held liable under common law negligence in addition to strict liability. Owner negligence cases result in punitive damage awards instead of tangible injury losses.
Common examples of owner negligence in Marion include:
- Letting a dangerous dog run free in public
- Letting dogs run at large
- Disobeying local leash laws
- Failure to warn visitors of a dangerous dog
- Not placing fences or other confinement tools around the yard
Dog owners must be aware of and follow all local and state ordinances regarding their dogs. When the dog attack results from owner negligence, there are additional legal options and complexities that you will need a dog bite lawyer in Marion to address.
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Dog Bite Injury Statute of Limitations
Since there is strict liability and common law liability, you will have two statutes to consider. If filing under strict liability, you have one year to file a lawsuit. The deadline is short because there is no need to prove the owner knew of the dog’s dangerous behavior. Common liability law has a more extended deadline of two years.
When there are complexities of this magnitude, you need an experienced dog bite injury attorney in Marion who can determine which law your circumstances fall under and the best route for compensation. The sooner you contact Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, the better we can assess your case and determine the next steps.
Dog Bites and Children
The highest rate of dog bite attacks happens to children between five and nine years old. Children in Marion are more likely than adults to suffer serious injury and harm from a dog bite because they do not always understand that dogs are dangerous. They often think all dogs just want to play.
Children under the age of four account for two-thirds of all child dog bite injuries. Many injuries happen to the face, neck, and head, which leave severe damage. Children will spend their childhood and adulthood suffering from emotional trauma due to permanent scarring.
Face and neck injuries are challenging to hide, so the child must accept their disfigurement. That is challenging for children who will face bullying and teasing in school. The emotional toll is often too much to handle, making children reclusive.
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Since injuries are so severe, many losses result from dog bites. You will require compensation for your losses and may even require lifelong payments for medical expenses and other expenses. The medical prognosis is vital to determine how much you can recover. Examples of compensation for a dog bite are:
- Lower quality of life
- Disability
- Past and future meal expenses
- Scar reduction surgeries throughout the years
- Property damage
- Loss of income
- Loss of future earnings
Hire the Right Dog Bite Lawyer in Marion
A dog attack is traumatizing to everyone around, especially the victim. Children have the most challenging time recovering from these attacks and will be fearful of animals for the rest of their lives. Many complexities come with dog bites, and you will need the right lawyer to guide you through the process.
Why we cannot erase the fear, we can recover compensation for your losses and ensure you have a solid financial future for additional medical expenses and other losses you will incur. Contact a Marion dog bite lawyer from Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, to secure your recovery options.
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