If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog bite or attack in or around Riverdale, Georgia, we urge you to seek legal guidance from an experienced local attorney. The Millar Law Firm, located in nearby Jonesboro, GA, specializes in handling dog bite injury cases and has a proven track record of success.

The Millar Law Firm is a boutique law firm focused entirely on personal injury law. We treat each client like family because you are more than just a number to us. We understand that you’re going through a tough time. With three decades of experience handling dog attack injuries, we are committed to providing the best possible service.

Consultations with the Millar Law Firm are free. We handle dog and animal attack cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that our lawyers do not charge you for a consultation or up-front but will be paid based on a percentage of the amount we recover for you. We want you to focus on recovery, not the financial stresses caused by your attack.

Dog attacks can happen anywhere - a dog park, the grocery store parking lot, or even when walking in your neighborhood. In the moments during and after an attack, it’s difficult to know what to do next. The Millar Law Firm always recommends you seek medical attention first, notify the police, then contact a Riverdale personal injury law firm with experience handling dog attacks. Our legal team has over three decades of experience getting full and fair settlements for people like you who have been injured by a dog,

First steps after an attack

When you or a loved one are injured in a dog attack, the Millar Law Firm recommends you follow these steps to ensure your health, safety, and ability to pursue compensation:

Seek Immediate Medical Attention: To protect your physical and emotional well-being, a medical professional should evaluate a dog bite or attack injuries.
File a Police Report: Reporting the incident creates an official record and can be vital to your case.
Take Photos of Your Injuries. Injuries heal over time, so having photographs of your injuries shortly after the attack can be necessary evidence.
Save All Documentation: Keep a copy of all medical records, doctor visits, prescriptions, and police reports. These documents are crucial for building your legal case.
Write It Down: Memories fade over time. Writing out a simple timeline of the attack and recording the names of any witnesses will help keep things organized as you work with your lawyer.
Speak with a Lawyer: The Millar Law Firm regularly represents people like you who have been injured in a dog attack and can help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

The Challenges of Dog Attack Lawsuits

When a dog bites you, you may find it challenging to work with the dog’s owner. Many owners are defensive about their pets and may refuse to cooperate. Additionally, the law does not require dog owners to carry insurance information with them, making obtaining necessary details about the owner and the animal difficult.

Property insurance companies can also be a roadblock to receiving compensation for expenses when recovering from a dog attack. The Millar Law Firm knows how to get the maximum compensation from insurance companies for our clients who were injured in a dog attack.

Documenting Your Attack

In the aftermath of a dog attack, gathering the evidence needed to build your claim is important. Having the following information available will help build your case:

The date, time, and location of the incident.
The name of the owner and the name of the dog. A physical description or photograph is helpful if the owner is not cooperative.
The name of responding law enforcement and medical personnel.
Names and contact information of any witnesses to the attack.
The circumstances leading up to the dog attack.
Photos or videos of the incident and injuries

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. The Millar Law Firm will guide you in documenting everything correctly to ensure the best possible outcome.

The Importance of Reporting Your Attack

When you’re severely injured or feel that you’re in immediate danger, call 911. The police will create an official report of the incident, which serves as valuable evidence for your personal injury claim.

It is also crucial to contact your local animal control agency. Calling animal control can feel bad, but not reporting a dangerous animal can result in other victims of the same dog. Animal control will investigate the incident, ensure that the dog is up-to-date on vaccinations, and determine if the dog poses an ongoing threat to public safety. They will also know if the dog that attacked you has a history of aggressive or vicious behavior. The dog’s behavioral history can be critically important in processing your claim.

Georgia Dog Bite Law

In Georgia, dog bite incidents are governed by both statewide laws and local city ordinances. These are the Georgia dog bite laws relevant to Riverdale and Clayton County, GA.

O.C.G.A. § 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.
O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7: A dog owner can be held liable for injuries caused by their dog if certain conditions are met.
O.C.G.A. § 4-8-21: Dog owners may be liable if they know their dog's dangerous tendencies.

Riverdale also has specific ordinances that apply to dog bite incidents within the city. Riverdale Code of Ordinances Chapter 14, Article II covers investigation, classification, confinement, registration, microchip implant, and confiscation of dangerous dogs.

What Am I Entitled To, Moneywise?

When filing your case, it's important to understand the common types of compensation that may apply to your dog bite injury case in Riverdale. At The Millar Law Firm, your attorney will work to secure a settlement that fully reflects your damages.

Medical Expenses: We recover past, current, and future bills for treating your injury.
Lost Wages: You may be entitled to lost wages due to missing work because of your dog attack injury.
Punitive Damages: A court may order the dog's owner to compensate you for reckless or harmful behavior. This type of compensation is 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.

A Local Advantage

When you choose the Millar Law Firm to represent you for your dog bite injury, you get a legal team who live and work in the Riverdale area. You deserve attorneys who understand the local community and are experts in the dog bite laws specific to Georgia. Our firm has handled numerous cases across Georgia, particularly in Clayton County and the greater Atlanta metropolitan region.

Since 1993, the Millar Law Firm has been helping residents of Clayton County get compensation for their injuries. While we are not a large firm, we’ve made a huge difference in the lives of our clients by ensuring they get fair settlements from insurance companies. The Millar Law firm is a proud member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum (MMDAF). Membership in this organization is limited to trial lawyers who have won million- and multi-million-dollar client settlements.

We also live and work in the Atlanta area and are active community members. We volunteer at local schools and animal shelters and participate in fundraisers for cancer research. Our 2024 Coat Drive collected enough coats and winter accessories to keep over 100 people warm. Our lead attorney, Bruce Millar, is an avid cyclist and regularly presents on bicycle safety to local cycling clubs.

The Millar Law Firm works to give our clients the same customer service we would provide to our own families. We work on clear and concise communications. Your calls and questions matter to us. We work to reduce telephone hold times, call you back quickly, and supply you with frequent case updates. We know there are lots of law firms to choose from. We aim to make you happy when you choose us to represent you.

The Millar Law Firm handles dog attack injury cases on a contingency basis, meaning you have no up-front costs. This eases your financial stress, allowing you to focus on healing and not on paying legal fees.