Dog Bite Lawyer

Almost 35% of American households own a dog. Unfortunately, dog bites are a common occurrence. Nearly 5 million people are bitten by a dog each year. According to the Center for Disease Control, an American has a one in 50 percent chance of being bitten by a dog. One out of every six bites requires medical attention and 17 people a year are killed by a dog attack. Most of the victims of a dog attack are children under the age of 12, and 50% of dog bite fatalities are children under age 10. Because children are smaller than adults, dogs can do extensive damage to hands, arms, legs and faces.

Dog Bites from a vicious dog can cause significant and permanent injuries, including scarring and disfigurement, in addition to the fear and anxiety that occurs during the attack and afterward. If a child is attacked by a dog when he or she is young, he or she can develop a lifelong fear of dogs. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Greensboro Dog Bite, call one of our Dog Bite attorneys today.

Is There Going To Be An Insurance Policy to Cover My Dog Bite Damages?

Unlike car accidents, where the at-fault party is required to at least carry a minimum limits insurance policy in North Carolina, owners of dogs are not required to carry liability insurance. The first step in a Dog Bite case is to identify the owner of the dog and to determine if the owner carries any type of liability insurance policy which covers the Dog Bite. Examples of liability insurance policies which cover dog bites include homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, and commercial general liability insurance (if the bite happens on business premises). Our Greensboro Dog Bite attorneys have experience with these types of cases and finding all the insurance policies that will cover your injuries.

Are Local Laws Important to Dog Bite Cases?

Nearly every county in North Carolina has ordinances regarding owning dangerous or vicious dogs. Many of these ordinances prohibit the dog from running at large off of the owner’s property and require that the dog be firmly controlled by a competent adult by way of a leash and muzzle. Violations of these ordinances can often serve as the basis of a negligence claim against the owner of the dangerous dog.

What Steps Should I Take If I’ve Been Bitten By A Dog?

If you are injured in a Greensboro Dog Bite, keep in close contact with the county animal control office in the days following the bite. The animal control officers will investigate the dog’s rabies vaccine status and will create a report of the bite, quarantine the animal, and possibly euthanize the animal depending on the specific history of the dog.

In the event that the dog was not properly vaccinated, you will have to undergo the rabies vaccine as soon as possible to prevent contracting the disease. Your claim for damages against the dog’s owner will include any and all medical bills incurred due to your treatment, lost wages from time missed at work, and the physical pain and mental anguish you experience as a result of the attack. Contact one of our Greensboro Dog Bite attorneys today to discuss your claim.

If you or someone you care about has been attacked by a dog, you may have a legal right to seek compensation for your injuries.

You should take the following steps if bitten by a dog:

Seek immediate medical help and follow up as directed by your physician. Dog bites can be very dirty wounds and can lead to infections. This is a serious injury and can result in permanent scarring, significant infections or death.

Report the injury to local law enforcement.

Dog bite laws vary in different cities, counties and states. Generally, a victim can be compensated if a person’s negligence caused the attack, if a person violated a leash law, or if a person kept a dog that had a history of injuring people. However, if the dog attack was provoked, the victim likely will not be compensated for an injury. If there has been a significant injury, it is important to find out if the owner has homeowner’s or renter’s insurance and then to notify the relevant insurance carrier in a timely fashion.  If a claim is going to be asserted against an insurance company, it is important to find out what insurance company is involved and what the policy covers. It is also important to get statements from witnesses if anyone saw the attack and it may be necessary to talk to neighbors about the dog’s temperament. This type of investigation is something we do every day.

Call us at (336) 379-0539 or contact us to schedule a free, in-depth consultation with our experienced lawyers.

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