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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 Dog Bite 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.
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Millions of families all over the world own dogs. These animals can make lovely pets, and many are docile. Dogs came from the wild and were domesticated, but still have a wild streak. They can attack and cause serious injuries. It is the owner’s responsibility to train and control their dog. Owners cannot let their dogs roam freely and should always have them on a leash when not on their property. When dog owners fail their responsibilities, they must be held accountable. Speak to a Snellville dog bite lawyer today at Spaulding Injury Law.
Dog Owner Responsibility in Georgia
Snellville dog owners have several legal responsibilities for their dogs. Providing care for the animals is an owner’s decision. Training may seem like a personal decision, but the law requires owners to control their dogs. This could require training the dog to listen to commands and use a leash. The law can designate dogs as vicious or dangerous if they become violent or attack. Owners can be found liable if they knew or should have known the dog had a propensity to be vicious and did not take steps to protect others.
Previously, the laws only addressed vicious dogs, but with new updates, it now covers any animal a person owns who attacks another person. Even so, dogs are the most likely to bite and cause injuries. The updated laws also impose a duty of care to people who keep animals. This means they do not own it, but they are caring for it. Careless management of a dog is another essential factor in the law. This could mean failing to leash the pet.
You do not have to be bitten by a dog to suffer an injury. If the dog causes you harm in other ways, that could be sufficient for you to file a dog bite claim in Snellville. This can happen when a dog knocks a person over, resulting in a broken bone or traumatic brain injury.
Provocation is another essential element of dog bite claims. A person should not provoke the dog, leading to injury. Provocation can be a defense for dog owners. Georgia dog bite laws are very nuanced, and you can quickly lose your ability to recover compensation. Speak to a Snellville dog bite lawyer to help with the legal process.
Vicious or Dangerous Designations
When a dog has a dangerous or vicious designation, the law can apply differently than if it did not. The Responsible Dog Ownership Law considers a dog who has previously bitten someone a dangerous dog. Other elements of this law include a dog who causes a significant puncture of the skin or the dog has aggressively attacked, leading to a belief that they are a threat. Dogs that kill other pets outside of their home can also be dangerous.
A dog who growls or barks is not aggressive or dangerous. If they nip or snap, that could be a sign to owners that they could be vicious. Additionally, any severe injury requires hospitalization, impairs function, requires sutures, or puts the person at risk of death. When a dog has a dangerous or vicious designation, that can impact your injury claim. When our Snellville dog bite attorney takes your case, we will find documentation or information about the dog’s status. This can help us prove the dog caused your injuries and its owner should pay your losses.
Steps to Gather Information for Your Dog Bite Claim
Information about the dog and its owner after an attack is crucial. It will be challenging to file a claim without this information. However, this could be difficult if the dog is loose. You will need, at minimum, the name and contact info of the owner. Sometimes, owners will run away with their dogs to avoid liability. Instead, here are some things you can do to get this vital information:
- Talk to neighbors
- Take pictures
- Talk to witnesses
- Call a dog bite attorney in Snellville
Reporting Your Dog Bite in Snellville
After a dog bites or attacks you, the first thing you should do to report is call 911. This is especially important if the dog could have rabies or your injuries are severe. Animal control and the police will take appropriate actions to report the accident. Animal control may take possession of the dog, depending on the circumstances. We often see dog bite victims fail to report because they fear the dog will be put down.
The dog will not be put down immediately. Most dogs are not put down for a first bite. It will be sequestered for ten days after the bite. They can be quarantined at a vet office, animal hospital, or boarding facility. You can decide whether to take legal action against the dog owner during this time. Failing to report can mean waiving your rights to compensation for your injuries. You may realize that the injury treatment is more expensive than initially thought. During this quarantine time, speak to Spaulding Injury Law. Our Snellville dog bite attorney can explain your options.
Monetary Damages for Your Injuries
When a dog bites, you could be facing substantial financial losses. The dog cannot pay for these losses, but their owner is financially responsible. You can pursue damages from the owner and their insurance policies. You will have medical bills when you suffer injuries, even minor ones. This will be the most significant portion of your lawsuit. While the bite seems insignificant, you can still get a disease. You can also recover damages for:
- Lost wages
- Property damages
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Scarring or disfigurement
The damages you qualify for will depend on your losses and injuries. You could suffer ongoing trauma or impairment. A dog bite lawyer in Snellville will review your case details to find all the compensation for which you could qualify.
Schedule a Consultation With a Snellville Dog Bite Attorney
You have legal options if you suffer an injury from a dog bite or attack. Discuss your incident with our Snellville dog bite attorney. Spaulding Injury Law offers free, no-obligation consultations. You could be able to recover compensation for your losses.
Visit Our Dog Bite Office in Snellville, GA
We help victims inside the Gwinnett County Area and our firm is conveniently located near Snellville. We have an office in Lawrenceville at 223 Scenic Hwy S #202 Lawrenceville, GA