Recognized Suwanee Dog Bite Lawyers
Helping The Injured Protect Their Rights
Most dogs truly live up to their loving description as being man’s best friend, but when you or your child is attacked by a stranger’s dog, it’s a terrifying event that is also exceptionally dangerous. Even a smaller dog can exert immense pressure per inch with its incredibly strong jaws and can cause serious damage in the process.
Injured by a dog bite in the Suwanee area? It’s time to seek the professional legal counsel of an experienced Suwanee lawyer from Spaulding Injury Law.
Voted Among the Best Personal Injury Firms in Gwinnett County 6 Years in a Row
Why Choose Us?
- Voted Among the Best Personal Injury Firms in Gwinnett County 6 Years in a Row by Gwinnett Magazine.
- Founder and lead trial attorney, Theodore Spaulding, and the entire team at Spaulding Injury law provide the utmost in customer service to and relentless effort for each of their clients which is why Mr. Spaulding and his team are considered among the best lawyers in Gwinnett County.
- As one of the top law firms in the area, we provide honest and aggressive legal representation and work to get you the maximum amount of compensation.
- Our award-winning law firm does not charge you for our legal services unless you are awarded compensation.
- A Lawrenceville GA personal injury attorney from our team reviews your case during a free consultation and then provides you with sound legal advice
How Can a Dog Bite Lawyer Help?
Having a focused dog bite lawyer in Suwanee on board is the surest means of obtaining a favorable resolution that honors your rights and supplies you with your rightful compensation. The attorney’s role includes ably taking on all the following primary tasks:
- Gathering all the available evidence
- Collating the evidence into a strong claim that supports your best interests
- Communicating with the pet owner’s insurance provider – dog attacks are often covered by homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies – on your behalf
- Providing you with the guidance they need to avoid common missteps and stay the course toward an advantageous outcome
- Skillfully negotiating with the insurance provider for a settlement that covers your losses in their entirety
- Not flinching if the time to file a lawsuit arises – in the face of the other side’s refusal to negotiate fairly
It’s important to recognize that the insurance company is on the side of the insurance company and will do what it can to minimize all settlements, including those stemming from dog bites. This is why leaving the communication with the insurance company to professional legal counsel is always a wise approach.
Dog Bites Are Not as Uncommon as Many People Think
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reports on exactly how prevalent dog attacks are in this country. Consider the following telling statistics:
- More than 4.5 million people each year are bitten by dogs.
- Of these victims, about 800,000 require medical attention.
- At least half of all those bitten by dogs are children – who are at far greater risk of being seriously injured.
Trusting dogs not to bite is a shortsighted approach. However, as safe as you might be, you can still suffer serious injuries when a dog attacks out of nowhere.
Dog Bite Injuries
Dog bites can leave you vulnerable to very serious infections and more. The Mayo Clinic shares that when a dog bite wound has any of the following symptoms, it’s likely infected and requires medical attention:
- Swelling at the site of the bite
- Redness and heat at the sign of the bite
- A bite that oozes liquid or pus
- Lingering or intense pain at the site of the bite
Dog bites are dangerous for a range of reasons that include all the following:
- Dogs have sharp, jagged teeth that can tear through skin, leading to injuries that require professional wound cleaning and monitoring for possible infections.
- When a hand is bitten, the delicate and complicated mechanics of this appendage can be permanently damaged, and such injuries tend to require extensive care.
- When the dog bite is on or near the face, it can lead to permanently disfiguring scars.
- Further, if the victim’s eye is affected, permanent blindness can result.
These are far from the only risks of dog bite injuries, and you should first get medical attention for your wounds. Then, speak with our dog bite attorneys in the Suwanee area about your legal options.
Suwanee Dog Bite Laws
Each state has its own dog bite laws. Some states still follow the one-bite rule, which basically gives dog owners a “free” bite before they are liable for injuries. Most states have now adopted strict liability laws for dog owners, eliminating the one-bite rule entirely. Georgia has unique laws that fall somewhere in the middle.
While Georgia does not have a one-bite law on the books, it has adopted a modified approach. If a dog has already demonstrated its aggressive side, the pet’s owner is held accountable for any future bites in Georgia. Further, a first bite – in which the owner was not aware of the dog’s aggressive tendencies and had no means of reasonably gaining this awareness, liability is not assigned unless one of the following applies:
- The dog bite was a consequence of the owner’s carelessness, such as failing to keep the dog on a leash.
- The dog attack was completely unprovoked.
Georgia tightens the law up further by including all the following caveats that should alert dog owners to their pets’ underlying aggression.
- If the dog barks excessively
- If the dog would clearly attack if it wasn’t contained by the owner
- If the dog frequently snaps, snarls, or growls
- If the dog attempts to lunge at strange animals or people
Just because the animal never actually bit someone before does not let the owner off the hook when it comes to liability for dog bite injuries in the State of Georgia.
Your Losses as a Dog Bite Victim
The losses associated with dog bites are often immense, and if the victim is a child, the risk of permanent injuries or even death is far greater.
Medical Bills
The medical bills from treating a serious dog bite injury add up quickly. For example, a hand injury can require multiple intricate surgeries, and total motility may never be regained. Further, if disfigurement is involved, a series of plastic surgeries are likely.
Additionally, dog bites can lead to serious complications and secondary health issues. Consider the medical expenses that are commonly associated with dog bites:
- Emergency care
- Emergency transportation
- Surgeries and aftercare
- Hospital stays
- Extensive medical treatments, procedures, and tests
- Care from doctors, specialists, and therapists
- Pain management
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Rehabilitation
Some dog bites result in catastrophic injuries, such as amputations or major facial disfigurement. In such cases, you or your child might need medical treatment well into the future, and we must account for your future medical expenses, as well.
Lost Income
The recovery period after a vicious dog bite can be lengthy, which can keep you out of work and result in considerable losses of income. You can seek compensation for any lost earnings in the past or that you expect in the future due to your dog bite injuries.
Pain and Suffering
Dog bites are physically painful and so can be the related treatments. Along with this physical pain, however, is the immense emotional suffering that dog bite victims are often required to endure. Many claimants experience damaging emotional effects like the following that can be exceptionally difficult to overcome:
- Flashbacks of the attack
- An ongoing and outsized fear of dogs
- A heightened response to sudden movement or sounds
- Increased anxiety
- Depression
- Sleep disturbances
- Difficulty concentrating
In order to achieve a full financial recovery, your physical and emotional pain and suffering must be carefully addressed. Our attorneys never underestimate the importance of non-economic losses like pain and suffering for our clients.
Working closely with a Seasoned Suwanee Dog Bite Lawyer
Dog bite claims are challenging, and in Georgia, you must be able to demonstrate that the dog owner knew about or reasonably should have known about the animal’s potential to be vicious, or that the pet owner failed to handle the animal appropriately.
Dog owners take on considerable responsibility, but it can be very difficult to build an effective claim when you can’t prove what the pet owner already knew about the animal or what they might have done wrong. You need the right legal help.
Proving the Owner Had Prior Knowledge
Proving that a dog’s owner understood that their pet might pose a threat to others can be difficult. An investigation might involve speaking with the owner’s neighbors, delivery people who are familiar with the owner’s home, and other pet owners who frequent the same walking routes or dog parks that the defendant does. They might have witnessed the dog snapping, growling, or engaging in other behavior that shows a propensity for viciousness.
Additional Evidence
Effective dog bite claims tend to include a range of clear evidence that is persuasively presented. In addition to information related to the pet’s true nature, some of the following forms of evidence might help in your case:
- The testimony of bystanders or passersby who saw the attack
- Your related medical records
- The doctor’s account of your injuries and how well they are expected to heal
- Any pictures, video, or security camera footage that captured the incident or anything else of relevance
Our attorneys have experience building strong dog bite claims to obtain the compensation you deserve.
Experienced Suwanee Dog Bite Lawyers Can Help
Dog bites can result in serious injuries, and the savvy Suwanee dog bite attorneys at Spaulding Injury Law appreciate the challenges that dog bite victims face. Our well-respected legal team has ample experience successfully handling complex dog bite claims, and we welcome the claims of new clients. Learn more by contacting us online or calling us today.
Visit Our Dog Bite Injury Office in Suwanee
We help victims inside the Gwinnett County Area and our firm is conveniently located near Suwanee. We have an office in Lawrenceville at 223 Scenic Hwy S #202 Lawrenceville, GA