Dog Bites | Atlanta, Georgia Dog Attack Injury Attorney
Myth: Every
dog gets one free bite. Truth:.
Georgia's dog bite statute, O.C.G.A. §51-2-7, entitles dog bite victims to
compensation if:
A dog was off of its leash in violation of a city leash law
An owner has mismanaged a dog that has previously demonstrated violent
tendencies
A dog owner knew of his pets dangerous tendencies but failed to
take adequate precautions to prevent injuries
In the
first instance, there is no "free bite"; a dog owner is strictly
liable for violating the leash law, regardless of his prior knowledge of his
pet's violent tendencies.
My
Atlanta Dog Attack
Injury Law Firm has extensive experience handling claims for
all types of dog bite injuries. As an experienced Atlanta Dog Attack Injury Lawyer
I will promptly and thoroughly investigate your case to assess damages and
determine fault. Once hired, I will communicate with the insurance company on
your behalf. I will give them only the
information they need to evaluate your claim and protect your privacy. If the insurance company refuses to recognize
the true value of your case, I will not hesitate to file suit and present your
case before a jury so that you can be awarded the compensation you deserve.
More than 4.7 million people
in the United States are bitten by dogs on an annual basis and approximately
one out of every six bites is serious enough to require medical attention.
Owners of dogs, regardless of the breed of dog, can be held responsible when
bites or attacks occur. If you have suffered injuries after being bitten or
attacked by a dog or another animal, it is important to know your legal rights.
Dog attacks are often covered by the animal owner’s homeowner’s insurance
policy.
Why
Should you hire an Atlanta
Dog Bite Injury
Attorney?
The
insurance company for the person whose animal caused the injury will start an
investigation immediately. It is the insurance company's responsibility to try
to limit the compensation of the injured person to the lowest possible amount
in order to protect their profits. Insurance companies have established very
specific and elaborate policies on handling animal attack injury claims,
especially in the early stages. Insurance companies will take recorded
statements from the persons involved, have photographs taken, obtain reports
and try to establish the extent of the injuries suffered. The insurance company
is usually completes these tasks within the first week after the attack and
many of them within the first 24 to 48 hours.
Insurance
companies try to reach a quick settlement with an injured person.They often do this before the true extent of
your injuries are known.Their purpose
is to avoid responsibility for future medical expenses, lost wages and other
damages that are likely to develop. This is a situation that an experienced Atlanta Dog Bite Attorney can help you avoid.When a person is injured, it very often takes
months to completely assess the person's injuries. At that point, the person
may need surgery, physical therapy or other extensive treatment. The injuries
may even leave the person permanently disabled. Therefore, the true value of a
claim can only be assessed after most of the medical treatment has been
completed. The State of Georgia provides in most, but not all, cases a two-year
period of time in which to file a lawsuit on a claim. Accordingly, there is no
need to rush to a settlement with an insurance company.
Other
areas where an experienced Atlanta
Dog Attack Injury can help you.
There
are other significant issues that develop for persons injured by dog attacks.
For instance, if your health insurance company pays for your medical bills they
will very often seek reimbursement from your settlement with the other person's
insurance company. There are several legal limitations on these rights to
reimbursement.An experienced Atlanta Dog Bite Injury Lawyer can use the various laws in
Georgia to maximize the amount of recovery that you, the injured individual,
gets to keep.
Since
insurance companies have vast experience in evaluating dog bite injuries, they
often will pay the lowest compensation possible. It is important to have an attorney on your
side with considerable experience dealing with these insurance companies. It is
always best to have an attorney who will not settle your case for anything less
than its full value.If the insurance
companies are not being reasonable in their valuation of your case, you need an
attorney who will fight for you, who will file a lawsuit, take your case to
trail and prove why you deserve to be compensated.My law firm will do that for you.