Dog bite accidents are incredibly tragic. Many of us love dogs more than anything in the world, so being attacked by one can be painful, both emotionally and physically. The fact that many dog bite attacks involve dogs that the victim already knew makes these incidents that much more tragic. If you find yourself in this tragic situation, you need to hire a dog bite lawyer to help you navigate the trials ahead of you. Here are four scenarios where you should hire a dog bite lawyer:
1. When You Need to Cover the Financial Consequences
It’s tough to handle the aftermath of a dog bite attack or accident. You may know the dog or the dog may be one you’re completely unfamiliar with. Either way, you must focus on yourself in the aftermath of the attack. After all, you’ll likely have physical, mental, and financial injuries to deal with (especially if the dog bite attack you were involved in was severe).
Understanding how to gain the restitution you deserve from the dog’s owner is the first step toward healing, and ensuring that you can move on with your life post-attack. For this reason, you’ll want to consider hiring a dog bite lawyer in your area to deal with the legal aftermath of the attack. They can guide you through all the legal steps ahead of you, and ensure that you receive a fair, substantial settlement for your injuries. Many people experience severe injuries after a dog attack, so the medical bills you’ll likely be smacked with can be overwhelming. With the right lawyer on your side, you can assure that these bills are paid by the dog’s owner, in addition to the settlement amount you receive for your physical and mental suffering.
2. When You Need to Understand Your Legal Rights
Thankfully, dog bites are often a one-in-a-million type event. Although dog bites are much more common than a literal “one-in-a-million” event for those who own dogs, those who do not own dogs are much less likely to be involved in a dog attack. Either way, you must understand your rights as a victim post-attack.
Once again, this is an area where an experienced dog bite lawyer can help guide you through the murky process that lies ahead. Without legal help, you can miss out on crucial payments and settlement fees from the dog’s owner. Additionally, if you’re worried about the dog’s well-being, or its future (after all, many dogs that attack people are put down), you may need to look at additional legal options and considerations. In some cases, the dog’s owner may try to sue you for the dog attack, if they think that you were the cause of the dog’s aggression. In these cases, having a competent, experienced lawyer to defend you becomes that much more essential. The legal process is often incredibly complex and overwhelming, so having someone who can handle it for you is highly recommended.
3. When You Want to Preserve Personal Relationships
The vast majority of dog attacks involve people who know each other. Additionally, the dog has likely known the victim before the attack occurred. Due to these conditions, many people feel a sense of guilt over suing someone for a dog attack injury. After all, they want to preserve that friendship, and they likely want to see the dog protected from euthanasia as well. A lawyer can help you navigate the aftermath of a dog attack on this level as well. They can point the dog’s owner toward their renter or homeowner’s insurance to cover the damages, for example. Depending on what state you live in, a dog bite lawyer can help you understand if you’re able to protect the involved dog from legal consequences as well. Since this process is so messy, it’s important to approach it in an even-minded manner.
4. When You Need Help Dealing with Insurance Companies
Dealing with insurance agents can be a massive pain. Thankfully, lawyers are incredibly skilled at dealing with insurance agents and can take this burden away from you. In fact, many lawyers suggest that you allow them to deal with all insurance-related calls and deals in the aftermath of a dog attack. Doing so allows them to pinpoint issues, deal with settlement arguments, and prevent insurance agents from taking advantage of you, after all. After you’ve been the victim of a dog attack, you’ll need plenty of time to rest and heal, so why not let a professional dog bite lawyer handle all the legal details for you?
