Why You Should Hire a Lawyer Following a Dog Bite Attack

If you have ever suffered a dog attack, you know how traumatizing it can be. Did you know that a dog attack lawyer could help you? While the idea of filing a lawsuit may seem intimidating, it is necessary to do it for many reasons. A very small percentage of these cases require a trial. You may not ever have to appear in court, and your attorney may be able to help you obtain the compensation you need, even with a lawsuit.

Reasons to Hire a Lawyer Following a Dog Attack

A lawyer can help you recover from many of the financial consequences following a dog attack with very little emotional and financial stress.

Devastating Financial Consequences

If you choose not to hire an attorney, you can suffer severe financial consequences following a dog attack. Financial stability is the exception rather than the rule for many households. More than half of Americans have no savings at all and would be unable to pay $400 for emergency expenses without having to charge it on a credit card. Even if you have health insurance, medical expenses following a dog bite attack can still cost you thousands of dollars. Just imagine how much money you would be responsible for if you had to pay for all of these things on your own.

Lawyers Understand Legal Rights

Unless you are extremely unlucky, or your job is to train dogs to behave correctly, a dog bite is an event that typically only happens once in a lifetime. You may have never thought about dog bite laws in your state. You do have the right to represent yourself in such a case, but it would be more difficult without the assistance of a lawyer. A dog bite attorney understands all the laws in your state in regard to dog bites. These types of accidents are almost always the dog owner’s responsibility in many states, even if the dog is friendly and has never attacked anyone.

Preserve Relationship with Dog Owner

In many cases, the dog owner and the victim know each other. The victim is often a dog owner himself and has probably come in contact with the dog many times before it attacked him. However, the last thing you want to do is involve yourself in a legal battle with your neighbor, brother-in-law, or the parents of your daughter’s friend. Hiring a lawyer can prevent damage to your relationship with the dog owner instead of doing the opposite. It doesn’t mean you have to press criminal charges against the owner because you are hiring a lawyer. Besides, it is rare for criminal charges to come following a dog bite attack unless the owner encouraged the attack. 

Compensation You Deserve

Most importantly, a dog bite attorney can help you receive the compensation you deserve for all of the money you lost resulting from the incident. This can include both past and future medical expenses. If you have injuries that are severe enough that you have to miss work, you can seek damages for lost wages. In severe cases, you should be able to collect compensation for non-economic damages due to emotional distress and loss of enjoyment. However, this only applies to cases in which people have severe or permanent injuries. 

If you have been attacked by a dog, you need to speak with a dog bite lawyer who is experienced as soon as possible following the attack. Many lawyers offer free consultations. Make sure that you have all of the required information, including the police report, before you contact an attorney. You are going to need as much evidence as possible.