Dog bites are painful and frightening at best and potentially lethal at worst. Most of the time, dogs only attack when they are hurt or starving, but negligent owners who let their animals run free are liable for the injuries their pets cause. If you or a loved one have been bitten by a dog roaming loose, you deserve compensation for your pain and suffering.
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Why Hire The Millar Law Firm for My Locust Grove Dog Bite Case
At The Millar Law Firm, we’ve been handling dog bite cases throughout Georgia for more than 30 years. We’ve helped people at dog parks, delivery drivers, mail carriers, and neighbors recover compensation for injuries due to improperly restrained animals.
The Millar Law Firm takes all personal injury cases on a contingency basis. That means you won’t pay until we win or settle your case. You have enough to worry about while recovering from a painful injury and getting on with your life.
How The Millar Law Firm Evaluates the Strength of a Dog Bite Case
Like other personal injury cases, dog bite cases are a type of negligence case. In assessing a dog bite case, The Millar Law Firm attorneys review your case for negligence.
What are the rules for dogs?
Dog owners owe the public (and their dogs!) a responsibility to obey state and city ordinances about the care and maintenance of their pets. These laws exist for the benefit of people and animals. It’s not healthy or safe for dogs to run loose in the city or suburbs.
In most cities in Georgia, dogs are not allowed off their owners’ property unless they are leashed or under the verbal control of a competent person. The dog must be leashed or kenneled even on the property if the owner does not have an enclosed yard. Dogs that have been cited as a “nuisance” two or more times, trained as guard dogs, or been classified as “vicious” or “dangerous” must be kept in an enclosed yard or kennel. Dogs cannot be tethered in an open yard. (Atlanta Code § 18-124)
Negligence in a dog bite case
As the plaintiff, your attorney must prove that the dog’s owner was negligent in some way that let it attack you. Proving negligence has four steps.
The defendant must have a duty to others. In this case, dog owners must obey regulations about leashing and regulating their animals. If the dog is known to be vicious or dangerous, the owner must keep it kenneled at all times.
Breach of duty means that the owner failed to obey the laws. If the dog was not leashed or under verbal control, the owner breached their duty.
The breach must be the cause of the injury. If the dog is properly restrained and a victim goes up to it and teases it until it bites them, there is no negligence claim because there was no breach. However, if a dog was on a leash and ran after someone and bit them, despite the owner trying to pull it back, there might be a breach because the dog was not under control.
The breach must cause an injury. In a dog bite case, injuries may include bites, pain, suffering, and emotional trauma. However, you cannot file a negligence claim because a loose dog “might” have bitten someone. The only damages you can recover in a negligence claim are those you actually suffered.
What Damages and Compensation Can I Recover in My Dog Bite Case?
Everyone wants to know what their dog bite case might be worth. Of course, there are no guarantees in any legal case. The Millar Law Firm will fight to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. You are entitled to compensation for:
- Lost wages and income, including any future income, if you cannot work or return to the same job.
- Medical costs for doctor’s bills, surgery, and rehabilitation. If your injuries require follow-up care or reconstructive surgery, you are also entitled to future coverage.
- Pain and suffering. Dog bites cause emotional trauma and psychological stress. You deserve compensation for these injuries too.
How to Protect Your Legal Rights After a Dog Attack
If a dog has bitten you, there are a few things you should do at once to protect yourself and your legal rights. Even if you know the dog’s owner and think everything is fine, do a few things to keep yourself safe.
Visit the Hospital Immediately
Don’t believe the old story about dogs having cleaner mouths than humans. Dog bites become infected, and you should have the bite cleaned and checked by a doctor. If the dog is a stray, you may need a tetanus or rabies shot.
Keep all copies of your hospital reports for your insurance claim.
Call the Police or Animal Control
If you know the dog’s owner, you may feel reluctant to contact police, but you should make a police report anyway. You need one for your insurance claim. Dogs with a habit of biting are categorized as “nuisance” or “vicious” and treated differently by law.
If the dog is a stray, you must notify animal control. Strays must be caught and tested for rabies and other dangerous diseases. Animal control may not respond immediately, but you should notify them anyway.
Document or Photograph Important Facts
Get the owner’s contact information if possible. Get a photo of the dog, or write down the description. If there are witnesses, try to get their names and other contact information.
Make a note of the date, time, and location of the injury. When you go to the hospital, get photos of the injury before the doctor treats it.
Report the Attack to the Insurance Company
Once you see the doctor, you should file your insurance claim. Give them as much information as you can. The insurer will want all medical information and police or animal control reports if you have them.
Consult with a Dog Bite Attorney
Even if you don’t plan to retain an attorney, you should have a dog bite attorney review your case. Most insurance claims are denied due to improperly filed forms or lack of documentation. An attorney can double-check all your claim forms before you send them in.
Continue Medical Treatment
Never stop medical care until your doctor releases you. Dog bites are serious injuries and can have long-lasting repercussions. Always do what the doctors and therapists advise to ensure a complete recovery.
How to Get Started with The Millar Law Firm
The Millar Law Firm is here to help you with your dog bite case and any other personal injury claim. We’ll review your case and let you know the best way to proceed. Call us at (770) 400-0000 for a free consultation about your case.
FAQs About Georgia Dog Bite Cases and Injury Claims
Unfortunately, there are many cases just like yours. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about dog bite cases.
Should I report my dog bite to animal control?
Yes. Georgia state law requires all dog bites to be reported to police or to animal control. Officials must investigate for rabies and other communicable diseases.
Should the police be called for a dog bite?
Yes. The police may not respond to a dog bite call, but they may give you an incident number, which you will need for your insurance claim. Police can also notify animal control if a vicious or injured dog must be captured.
Can both a police report and an animal control report be used as evidence in a dog bite claim?
Certainly. Animal control reports may contain information about the animal’s condition when it was captured and what was eventually done with it.
If the dog attack happened on the dog’s property, do I still have a case?
Maybe. Dogs that are known to be “dangerous” or “vicious,” such as guard dogs or dogs that have bitten people before, must be kept in kennels even if the owner has a fenced yard. You may still have a case if you were lawfully on the property when the dog attacked you.
Are visible dog attack scars awarded more compensation compared to non-visible scars?
Nobody can say what a jury will do when awarding damages in a dog bite case. It’s always better not to have visible scars, and The Millar Law Firm does its best to maximize your compensation, no matter what your injuries are.
