When dog owners do not keep their animals contained or on a leash, bites and attacks can easily occur. For this reason, many municipalities have strict leash laws, which help protect the dog, the owner, and potential victims. Dog bites often lead to serious injuries that warrant insurance claims and lawsuits.
If you suffered injuries in a Roswell dog bite incident, an attorney from Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group can help you pursue your legal options. Depending on the dog bite or attack circumstances, the law may allow you to hold the dog’s owner liable and recover compensation through an insurance claim or civil suit.
Contact Roswell Dog Bite Lawyer today to learn more.
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Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group Fights for Compensation for Injured Clients
The dog bite attorneys from Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group know how to navigate these cases and recover compensation for clients hurt because of a dog owner’s negligence. We believe you deserve compensation when someone else’s careless actions cause harm.
If your dog bite injuries were preventable, the dog’s handler or owner should pay. We file homeowner’s insurance claims or lawsuits to hold dog owners responsible for their animal’s actions. You can count on our attorneys to protect your rights, support your financial recovery, and fight for justice on your behalf. We want you to get the compensation you need to pay for your medical care, lost income, and other expenses.
Our team provides free case reviews for injured victims and their families in Roswell and North Fulton County. In addition, because our firm works on contingency, we never charge clients upfront costs or out of pocket fees so you have nothing to lose by contacting us.
Dogs and Dog Owners Have Plenty of Options for Activities in Roswell
Many responsible dog owners enjoy hiking, running, and other activities with their pets in Roswell. Atlanta weather supports outdoor activity for most of the year, and the city has many parks where on-leash pets and their owners can enjoy time together.
Off-leash dog parks also offer outdoor enjoyment for some pets and their owners. These parks provide a space for owners where local leash laws do not apply, and dogs can run and play with other pets in a fenced and secured area.
Some popular dog parks in and near North Fulton County include:
- Leita Thompson Memorial Park Dog Park (Roswell)
- Newtown Dog Park (Johns Creek)
- Morgan Falls Overlook Park (Sandy Springs)
- WolfBrook Dog Club (Alpharetta)
- Brook Run Dog Park (Dunwoody)
- Woofstock Park (Woodstock)
- Sweat Mountain Dog Park (Marietta)
Of course, the risk of bites and attacks increases when numerous animals play together even if they play in a designated off-leash park. We recommend using caution when you visit these parks and contacting an attorney’s team to learn about your legal rights if you get hurt at one.
Dog Bite Injuries Can Be Serious and Expensive to Treat
Many people believe the myth that dog bite injuries usually lead to minor wounds but at Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group, we know firsthand how serious they can be. In fact, even seemingly minor dog bite injuries may require medical treatment and follow-up care because of the high risk of infection.
Depending on the breed of dog, the severity of the bite, and other factors, injuries could include:
- Puncture wounds
- Deep lacerations
- Ripped or torn soft tissue
- Broken bones
- Loss of muscle, tendons, or ligaments
- Severe bruising
- Facial injuries
Lasting injuries often occur in serious dog bite incidents, especially when they involve large breeds and/or small children.
Injuries could include:
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Amputations (especially of fingers, toes, hands, feet, or ears)
- Nerve damage
- Tissue loss
Beyond the Physical Injuries
Dog bite victims may also experience significant mental and emotional health issues, including:
- Anxiety
- Fear of dogs
- Depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Treating physical injuries, working through mental health concerns, and living with the lasting effects of a dog bite or attack all cost money. In addition, these injuries and recoveries can affect many other aspects of the victim’s life.
Identifying Your Recoverable Damages in a Roswell Dog Bite Case
Our attorneys know how to identify and document the damages that victims suffer because of a dog bite. We gather evidence to show their expenses and losses and determine the potential settlement range of their case. Then we demand compensation from the dog owner's insurer or sue the owner to seek a financial recovery for our client.
Some common recoverable damages in dog bite cases include:
- Medical bills, including projected future medical costs
- Rehabilitation and therapy expenses
- Mental health care costs
- Lost income from all sources
- Reduced earning capacity for long-term injuries
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Other non-economic losses
At Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group, our team has the knowledge and experience to manage wrongful death cases and seek compensation for families whose loved ones died from their dog bite injuries. Cases like these may include high-value losses, significant intangible damages, and even punitive damages awarded by a jury for particularly bad behavior.
How Can I Hold a Dog’s Owner Liable for My Roswell Dog Bite Injuries?
The dog bite attorneys at Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group understand the applicable city and state laws. We can fight for compensation for you based on the facts of your dog attack and injuries.
We often approach cases like these in one of two ways:
Strict Liability
Under Georgia law, a dog owner bears strict liability for their pet’s behavior if they know the dog has a history of vicious or aggressive behavior. The owner must keep a pet with this history contained and under control.
Regardless of the circumstances of the attack, you can hold the dog’s owner legally liable for your injuries when you show:
- They owned the dog.
- They knew of the dog’s aggressive behavior.
- The dog attacked you unprovoked.
- The attack caused your injuries.
This may sound simple, but it often proves more difficult than it seems. Sometimes, showing that an owner was aware of their dog’s previous behavior can be almost impossible unless the dog caused a serious attack in the past.
Negligence Laws
We can often more easily show that the owner acted negligently by allowing the attack to occur. We can pursue this strategy because Roswell has strict leash laws. When owners fail to control their pets by using a leash or keeping them confined to their yard, they violate the law.
Proving negligence requires us to show:
- The dog’s owner had a duty to keep the animal contained or on a leash.
- They failed to do so.
- This failure caused or allowed the bite to occur.
- You suffered physical, emotional, and financial effects from the bite.
Under Georgia law, injured victims can build a case to hold a negligent party financially responsible for their expenses and losses. This law applies to dog bite cases when the owner violates local ordinances by letting their dog roam free or allowing them off-leash in an area where the law requires a leash. Our lawyers know how to uncover evidence, document what happened, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
You Have a Limited Time to Act
We often settle dog bite cases without going to trial. The liable party’s homeowner’s insurance policy or other coverage may pay a negotiated settlement. However, if we need to sue, we have only a limited time to act. We encourage you to contact us as soon as your injuries allow so we can discuss your next steps and evaluate the strength of your case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Roswell Dog Bite Cases
Our team can answer questions for all our clients, including potential clients. During your free consultation, we can provide answers to your questions based on the specific details of your case. Until then, explore these general answers to some of the most common questions we get from dog bite victims.
How Much Will It Cost to Hire a Roswell Dog Bite Lawyer?
Hiring a personal injury attorney should not cost you anything upfront. Our attorneys work based on contingency fees. In other words, we do not charge any fees until the case settles or you receive compensation ordered by a judge or jury. Instead, we take a percentage of the total payout in your case. We can gladly explain how this works in greater detail during your free case review.
What Is My Dog Bite Injury Claim Worth?
Our team cannot assess how much your insurance claim or lawsuit might be worth without first investigating your case and documenting your damages. Each case has different facts, circumstances, injuries, and expenses. Once we better understand each of these, we can determine a fair settlement value for your claim. We calculate your damages after our investigation but before we demand compensation from the insurance company.
What Type of Evidence Do I Need to Support My Claim?
The evidence in a dog bite case depends on several factors, including where the attack occurred and what happened.
Potential evidence may include:
- Reports from law enforcement and/or animal control
- Witness statements
- Photographs or video footage
- Relevant medical records
- Expert testimony
- Documentation of damages
Our attorneys know where to find this evidence and how to present it to support dog bite claims. We can manage this process for you when we handle your case.
What Should I Do if the Dog Owner Does Not Want Me to Report the Bite?
We strongly encourage victims to report all dog bites, even if the bite seems relatively minor. A dog bite can easily lead to an infection, and you may need medical care even for a small puncture wound. Without a report of the injury, it can prove challenging to link a particular dog to the bite. In addition, a report creates proof of a history of aggressive behavior if they go on to attack another victim.
Do I Need an Attorney to Help Me Recover Fair Compensation?
A dog bite attorney helps victims navigate the insurance claims process and seek the compensation they deserve. The team at Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group can fight for you while you focus on healing and getting back to activities you enjoy.
Having a lawyer on your side helps you protect your legal rights and understand the potential value of your case. Insurance companies may also more readily offer a fair settlement when you have an attorney. They know an attorney will likely file a lawsuit if needed.
Why Shouldn’t I Just Settle With the Insurer?
Dog bite injuries often cost more to treat and manage than victims realize. When you are in the midst of recovery, it can be difficult to identify the true value of the expenses and losses you suffered. Your attorney can work to get a fair and just payout based on your recoverable damages.
If you accept the insurer's offer before speaking with a lawyer's team, you will likely settle for much less than you deserve leaving you to pay bills and cover lost income on your own.
What if My Loved One Died From Their Injuries?
Georgia law may allow you to recover wrongful death damages if your loved one passed away after a dog bite injury. These damages could include funeral and burial costs, loss of income, loss of services, and more. Intangible damages suffered by surviving spouses, children, and parents may also be available. Our team can explain your family’s options and next steps during a free consultation.
Talk With a Roswell Dog Bite Attorney’s Team Today
You can speak with Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group today at no cost. We provide complimentary consultations so that victims fully understand their options and rights after dog bites and other injuries.
If you or a loved one suffered harm from an off-leash or free-running dog, we can stand by you. To get started, contact us at our Roswell office at (404) 609-1724 today.
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