A terrifying encounter with a dangerous dog can make a pleasant day in Riverdale into a nightmare. A dog attack and the physical pain of a dog bite are bad enough, but if the attack is severe, it’s difficult to know what to do next. Do you call the police? Should you file a lawsuit? At The Millar Law Firm, we have had decades of experience handling dog attacks and can help guide you through what can be a terrible physical and emotional turmoil.

We always encourage our clients to seek medical care first, then talk to an experienced Georgia lawyer. An experienced personal injury lawyer will evaluate and help you to understand how to protect your legal rights. We hope to help you concentrate on healing while we handle the details of getting you a full and fair settlement.

You don’t have to go far to encounter a dangerous dog. As a matter of fact, most dog bites happen close to home. But they can happen anywhere – from the dog park, to the grocery store parking lot. If this happens to you, you can count on our legal team to make the entire matter less stressful.

What Should a Riverdale Resident Make Sure They Do After a Dog Bite?

The steps you take after a dog bite are crucial, making it essential to seek both medical and legal assistance immediately. Medical treatment is vital not only for your recovery but also for documenting your injuries. Prompt medical attention and thorough therapy documentation can significantly aid your Riverdale dog bite lawyer in negotiations with insurance companies.

Timeliness is key, as delays could negatively impact the value of your claim. After receiving medical care, it’s important to contact legal assistance right away to avoid common communication pitfalls. Our attorneys can guide you on how to interact with the dog owner, handle discussions with property insurance companies, and navigate social media postings. We recognize that every case is unique, so we work closely with you to provide the personalized support your case deserves.

Choosing a law firm familiar with the Riverdale area is extremely important. You deserve attorneys who not only understand the local community but are also well-versed in the dog bite laws specific to this region. Our firm has handled numerous cases throughout Georgia, particularly in Clayton County and the surrounding areas.

Who Should a Dog Bite Victim in Riverdale Contact After a Dog Bite?

The most important step after a dog bite in Riverdale is to seek immediate medical attention. It’s also crucial to notify the local police right away so they can file an animal control report. This report will include key details such as a description of the incident, how you were injured, and a list of eyewitnesses—all essential for your injury claim. Filing the report with the police will automatically notify local animal control, but you can also contact Riverdale Animal Control directly if you prefer.

Finding the right lawyer for your case can be challenging and sometimes costly, but it’s necessary. As a premier personal injury law firm specializing in these cases, we offer expert advice at no cost through our complimentary consultation. During this consultation, we’ll guide you on the next steps and address your specific needs. We’re also flexible and can meet you where you are as you recover. Since our founding in 1993, we’ve helped clients in Riverdale and Clayton County secure compensation for their injuries.

What Animal Control Should a Riverdale Resident Contact After a Dog Bite?

Contacting animal control is one of the first things you need to do. The best place to call, as soon as it is practical to do so, is the Clayton County Animal Control. Filing this report serves as your initial bit of evidence for your claim. This and a number of other facts will be important to building your dog attack claim. Just as importantly, this first step will help to make sure the dangerous dog doesn’t attack anybody else.

Information To Be Collected Following the Dog Bite

In the aftermath of a dog attack, it’s important to gather the evidence needed to build your claim. You may need medical care first, but responding law enforcement officers will have some of this information in their reports. Here are the most important information for you to obtain:

Get the names and contact information of not just the dog’s owner, but also those who witnessed the attack.
The breed of the dog that bit you.
The time, date, and location of the incident
The circumstances leading up to the dog bite
Photos or videos of the incident and injuries
Statements from bystanders, the victim, and the dog owner

Accurately gathering this information can reduce the likelihood of an insurance company questioning your timeline or treatment. The more precise your documentation, the better equipped your attorney will be to handle communications with insurance companies and strengthen your claim. We’ll guide you in documenting everything correctly to ensure the best possible outcome.

What Dog Bite Laws Apply to Riverdale Residents?

In Georgia, dog bite incidents are governed by both statewide laws and local city ordinances, which are important to understand. Key Georgia dog bite laws relevant to Clayton County and Riverdale include:

GA Code 16-3-21: You have the right to use force to defend yourself or others if a dog attacks you, whether on your property or in a public place.
GA Code 51-2-7: A dog owner can be held liable for injuries caused by their dog if certain conditions are met.
GA Code 04-8-21: Dog owners may be liable if they are aware of their dog’s dangerous tendencies.

Riverdale also has specific ordinances that apply to dog bite incidents within the city. These include:

Sec. 14-8 (2A–2B): Prohibited Treatment, which covers situations such as:
- (A) A substantial puncture of a person’s skin by a dog’s teeth.
- (B) An aggressive dog attack that reasonably causes someone to fear serious injury.

We strongly recommend familiarizing yourself with these laws and ordinances to better understand your rights and responsibilities in the event of a dog bite.

What Compensation Can a Riverdale Resident Receive After a Dog Bite?

Compensation for your dog bite incident may include medical expenses, long-term medical effects, pain and suffering, and lost wages. At The Millar Law Firm, your attorney will work to secure a settlement that fully reflects your damages.

When filing your case, it’s important to understand the common types of compensation that may apply to your dog bite in Riverdale:

Medical Expenses: Costs incurred for treating your injury.
Lost Wages: Income you would have earned if not for the injury, typically related to your job.
Pain and Suffering: Physical and emotional distress resulting from the injury.
Punitive Damages: Compensation a court may order the dog’s owner to pay due to reckless or harmful behavior, intended to punish and prevent future incidents.

Understanding these different forms of compensation is crucial. With over thirty one years of experience in cases like yours, our law firm is ready to help you pursue the compensation you deserve.

They took care of us

Jay W.

How Long Will It Take To Get Compensated After a Dog Bite?

Depending upon the severity of your injuries and the strength of your evidence, the length of time between the attack and the settlement will vary from case to case. Understand, however, that these things involve some of the following:

The prognosis for your recovery – sometimes this takes months to understand the full extent of time it will take for you to heal.

Sometimes lengthy negotiations with the insurance company involved.

Whether or not you must take your case to trial and, if you do, the length of time that trial takes.

Factors such as these can take from months to years so having an experienced legal team in your corner can almost always speed things up. Our attorneys have the goal of collecting all the bits of evidence necessary to getting you every dime you deserve for your damages. Even better for you and your case, our firm has earned a reputation of not settling for less than you deserve. That means that the defendants and their insurance company already knows that we are formidable adversaries.

Because we know and thoroughly understand how stressful the time until the matter is settled can be, we work to keep you updated regularly and informed thoroughly. Furthermore, when we do obtain a settlement agreement, we work to get your money within 30 days.