Embraced And Celebrated By Gwinnett’s Local Community
Were you injured in Lawrenceville, GA, or its surroundings? Our lawyers can help you recover from your losses. We have decades of combined experience handling local personal injury cases.
Having a local personal injury lawyer with experience with and knowledge of the actual value of your case is vital to ensuring you receive the most compensation possible for your injuries.
Our award-winning personal injury lawyers know the best way to go up against insurance companies because we used to work with them and use that experience to help you win.
Voted Among the Best Personal Injury Firms in Gwinnett County 6 Years in a Row by Gwinnett Magazine
Dog bites can lead to serious physical injuries and lasting emotional scars. Did you know that every year in the U.S., over 4 million people get bitten by dogs, and about 800,000 of these need medical help?
If a dog bit you or someone you care about in Dacula, Georgia, you can ask for money to help cover the costs. The team at Spaulding Injury Law is here to help guide you in getting what you deserve.
Georgia’s Rules on Dog Bites and Who’s Responsible
In Georgia, there’s no “one-bite rule” like in some places. Our state law (O.C.G.A § 51-2-7) says if a dog owner knows their dog might bite and doesn’t do enough to prevent it, they’re responsible. This is true whether the bite happened in a park or at someone’s home.
Example: Let’s say there’s a dog in Dacula that has acted mean before. Neighbors have said the dog scared them, and the owner even told friends the dog can be grumpy.
But the owner doesn’t do enough to keep the dog safe. There’s no fence, leash, or anything holding the dog back, and it often runs around the yard freely.
Then, a delivery person comes to drop off a package. The dog, not being held back, rushes over and bites the delivery person really badly.
Because of Georgia’s dog bite law, the owner could get in trouble. Here’s why.
The Owner Knew About the Dog’s Behavior
This concept means that the dog’s owner was aware the dog might act aggressively or had done so in the past.
Imagine you know a friend who frequently steals cookies from a jar. If one day a cookie is missing, your first suspicion might be that friend.
In legal terms, if a dog owner is aware that their dog has a history of biting or aggressive behavior, they can’t claim surprise or ignorance if the dog bites someone. This awareness places a higher responsibility on the owner to prevent any potential harm.
The Owner Didn’t Do Enough to Keep People Safe From the Dog
Here, the idea is that even if the owner was aware of the dog’s aggressive tendencies, they didn’t take adequate measures to prevent the dog from causing harm.
Pet owners have an obligation to ensure their animals don’t pose a risk to others. If they neglect this duty, for instance, by not having an appropriate fence or not using a leash, and someone is injured, the owner can be held liable.
It Doesn’t Matter if This Happened at the Owner’s Home; The Delivery Person Was Allowed to Be There
This concept revolves around the idea that certain individuals, like mail carriers or delivery personnel, have valid reasons to be on someone else’s property.
In the context of the law, even if a dog bite or injury occurs on private property, if the individual had a legitimate reason to be there, the property owner can still be held accountable for the incident.
If these things happen, the delivery person has a good chance of getting money from the dog owner because of Georgia’s rules.
Defenses People Might Use If Their Dog Bites Someone
Dogs and their behaviors can sometimes lead to disputes between owners and those who may have been harmed. Let’s dive deeper into three common arguments owners might use if someone is bitten by their dog:
Trespassing
This is when an individual enters someone else’s property without permission. Dog owners can argue that they aren’t responsible for a bite because the injured person shouldn’t have been on their property in the first place. Imagine someone entering your backyard without telling you; if your dog, trying to protect its home, bites the person, you might feel it’s not your fault since the person wasn’t invited.
Provocation
This claim revolves around the idea that the dog was triggered into acting aggressively. If someone teases, hurts, or annoys a dog and gets bitten as a result, the owner might argue it was the person’s own actions that caused the bite.
Think about a situation where a dog is sleeping, and someone startles it on purpose; if the dog reacts defensively, the owner may feel they shouldn’t be blamed.
Assumption of Risk
This is a bit like knowingly taking a chance and then facing consequences. If someone is aware that a dog has a history of being aggressive but still chooses to interact with or approach it, the dog’s owner could argue that the person knew what they were getting into. It’s similar to seeing a “Beware of Dog” sign and still choosing to pet the dog. If something goes wrong, the owner might believe it was a foreseeable outcome.
Spaulding Injury Law knows these defenses well. We’re professionals in Dacula’s dog bite rules and have helped people with similar cases.
What to Do If a Dog Bites You in Dacula
If a dog bites you in Dacula, do these things to build a strong case:
- Get Medical Help: Even if the bite looks small, see a doctor. It’s also proof you were hurt.
- Report It: Tell the local animal control or police in Dacula about the bite.
- Gather Proof: Take photos of where it happened, your injuries, and maybe the dog. Write down what you remember and how it’s affecting you.
- Talk to a Lawyer: A legal team in Dacula, like Spaulding Injury Law, can help make your case stronger.
How Long Do You Have to Make a Claim in Georgia?
In Georgia, you have two years from the bite date to make a claim. If you wait too long, you might not be able to get any money. Talk to a lawyer as soon as you can.
Why You Might Lose the Right to Claim
If you miss the two-year statute of limitations, you can’t make a claim. If you try to claim after two years, your case will probably get thrown out, and you might have to pay for everything yourself.
If you don’t claim in time, the owner might not face any consequences. This is why it’s important to contact Spaulding Injury Law immediately and start your case.
Why Choose Spaulding Injury Law for Your Dog Bite in Dacula?
Dog bites are challenging, both physically and emotionally. Spaulding Injury Law is here to help the people of Dacula.
Our team knows how to deal with insurance companies, and we fight to get you what you deserve.
If a dog in Dacula has hurt you or someone in your family, talk to Spaulding Injury Law. We’ll give you advice, explain what to do next, and show you how we can help you get justice.
Visit Our Car Accident Office in Dacula County, GA
We help victims inside the Gwinnett County Area and our firm is conveniently located near Dacula County. We have an office in Lawrenceville at 223 Scenic Hwy S #202 Lawrenceville, GA