Legal Help After a Dog Attack Injury
If you’ve been injured by a dog, you need a caring, supportive legal team by your side. And as the dog attack lawyer Memphis TN relies on for their worst injury cases, our award-winning team is here to help.
Dog bites and animal attack injuries are, unfortunately, very common in the Memphis area. You hear about it all the time in the news: the latest dog-related injury or even death of an innocent child or adult.
At our Memphis personal injury firm, we fight for victims of dog attacks so you can focus on what matters most: getting better. We offer award-winning client care and top-notch legal help. As a result, we’re honored our clients trust us and refer us to their families and friends.
The Trauma of Dog Attacks
Dog attacks can cause visible physical trauma and deep emotional trauma. As we’ve seen in our own cases, victims may feel haunted by the experience.
On top of those horrific emotional and physical injuries, the medical bills and therapy costs often skyrocket. Right when you should be focused on healing, you may face catastrophic expenses you don’t deserve.
Physical Injuries
The immediate physical harm from dog attacks can last months or even a lifetime. Broken bones and massive scarring can leave permanent damage. Tragically, dog attacks can also be fatal.
As a dog attack lawyer Memphis TN has turned to many times before, I’ve seen victims suffer severe disabilities as a result of their attacks. No matter what harm you’ve experienced, we can talk through your options and give you an idea of what you might expect moving forward.
Emotional Trauma
Dog attacks can also cause unseen long-term emotional harm, including:
- post-traumatic stress
- nightmares
- depression
- loss of income
- loss of intimacy, and
- the loss of ability to do the things you loved.
And for young children attacked by a dog, the emotional toll can last well into adulthood. Victims often need significant therapy to help them recover.
Community Harm
Dog attacks hurt even more people than the victim and their loved ones. They affect entire communities.
Dangerous dogs leave children terrified of their own neighborhood. They terrorize pedestrians and lower the property value.
When a dog attack happens in Memphis, all of us suffer.
Who Should Be Held Responsible for a Dog Attack?
In my experience as a dog attack lawyer, these horrible attacks can often be prevented.
Owners may neglect their dogs or refuse to train them. Often they don’t respond to neighbors’ complaints or even warnings from law enforcement.
As a result, their dogs might be more aggressive than normal.
When these totally preventable dog attacks happen, who pays? Should the victim be responsible for their ongoing medical bills, missed work, and post-traumatic care, even if it forces them into bankruptcy?
Or should it be the responsibility of the owner and their insurance company? After all, they’re the ones who created the unsafe environment to begin with.
Our experienced dog attack attorneys can help you figure out who’s liable. We investigate your case and fight for you every step of the way.
What Our Dog Attack Firm Does for You
Our award-winning team takes dog bites and attacks very seriously. As a dog attack lawyer Memphis TN has turned to for decades, we’ve helped victims across Memphis and the Mid-South get the compensation they need and deserve to:
- Cover medical bills after a severe dog bite or attack
- Provide for their family while they recovery from injuries
- Pay for medical reconstructive work if necessary
To make that possible, we thoroughly investigate your claim. We negotiate on your behalf with the insurance companies and communicate with you every step of the way. And we don’t get a penny unless and until we win your case.
As a result, we’ve built a stellar reputation among the people of Memphis, including a 5-star rating on Avvo, an A rating from the Better Business Bureau, and multiple Martindale-Hubbell awards for client satisfaction.
We would love to help you, too. To get started with a free conversation, contact us online today or give us a call at 901-327-2100.
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Frequently Asked Questions | Dog Attack Cases
If you’ve suffered injuries from a dog attack, our Memphis dog attack lawyers can help. We’re always available to answer any of your questions, free of charge.
But to get you started, here are some frequently asked questions and answers about dog attacks and the work we do:
What is a dog attack lawyer, and what do they do?
A dog attack lawyer is a personal injury lawyer who specializes in cases involving dog bites and attacks. We help victims pursue compensation for their injuries and represent your interests in legal proceedings.
That means we negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf to reach a settlement. If we can’t reach an appropriate settlement, we also represent clients in court as needed.
What types of cases do dog attack lawyers handle?
Dog attack lawyers handle all sorts of cases involving injuries from dog bites or attacks. These cases can range from minor injuries to severe and life-altering incidents. They commonly occur outside someone’s home or on public property, like a park.
A dog attack can happen to anyone. So we’ve represented families, children, pedestrians, and all sorts of other clients.
Can I sue for a dog attack, and under what circumstances?
Yes, you can sue for a dog attack if you’ve been bitten or injured by someone else’s dog.
For a successful claim, you need to prove the owner’s negligence or the dog’s aggressive behavior caused the attack and that the attack led to injuries.
If you have questions about whether you have a case, we offer a free consultation to discuss your claim and let you know your options.
What damages can be sought in a dog attack case?
Dog attacks can cause enormous harm and have long-lasting consequences on your quality of life. So compensation in dog attack cases may cover a variety of damages, including:
- medical expenses
- lost wages
- pain and suffering
- emotional distress, and
- in some cases, punitive damages if the owner’s negligence was egregious.
Our attorneys can help you understand in advance what kind of damages you may be entitled to, and why.
Is the dog owner always liable in a dog attack case?
Not always. Liability depends on certain details like the owner’s knowledge of the dog’s aggressive tendencies, the location of the attack, and local leash laws.
A few examples of when the dog owner might not be liable:
- In the case of a home invasion or trespassing
- If the person injured was in the act of violently abusing the dog
- Attacks related to law enforcement using their canine units
However, even these examples can be complicated. If you have any questions about the liability in your case, we can sit down and discuss your options at no charge.
How do I prove negligence in a dog attack case?
To establish negligence, you typically need to show the dog owner failed to take reasonable precautions to prevent the attack, like keeping the dog on a leash or behind a fence.
You may also be able to show other bad behavior on the owner’s part. Perhaps they’ve abused the dog or refused to address behavioral issues even after having problems in the past.
As part of our preliminary work, our team investigates your case and the owner/dog involved. We often find evidence to back up your claim even further.
Can a dog attack lawyer help if the victim is a child? Is the process any different?
Yes, dog attack lawyers can represent child victims, and our Memphis dog attack lawyers have successfully represented children for decades.
In these cases, the legal process may involve considerations specific to minors. For example, the rules are a little different about trespassing for children if a homeowner has something tempting in their yard (say, a bouncy castle or pool slide).
In addition, we behave differently with our child clients in order to help them feel at ease. We know in these situations there might be a lot of trauma involved, and we help families navigate the process. We treat our young clients with respect and create a safe environment for them.
Can a dog attack case be settled out of court?
Yes, many dog attack cases are resolved through settlements with the dog owner’s insurance company. These settlements can save time and emotional stress for the victim.
We always work toward a settlement on your behalf. We communicate throughout the process and give you our best guidance, and you always get to decide if you approve the settlement amount. However, if we can’t reach an acceptable settlement, you may want to pursue your case in court.
How long do I have to file a dog attack lawsuit?
The statute of limitations for dog attack lawsuits varies by state. It typically ranges from 1-3 years from the date of the attack.
Our home state of Tennessee has a fairly short statute of limitations – just one year from the date of the attack to file your claim. But this can differ in surrounding states like Arkansas and Mississippi.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack, you should speak with our attorneys as soon as possible so we can get your claim filed in time. It’s incredibly sad and frustrating to see people miss out on compensation because they wait a few days too long by accident.
Do I need an attorney for a dog attack case?
While you’re not legally required to have an attorney, your success depends on your dog attack lawyer. These cases involve complex legal and liability issues. They usually involve negotiating with massive insurance companies. And so you’ll have a much better chance of success with a great lawyer representing you.
Our attorneys guide you through the process, gather evidence, and advocate for your rights. And we don’t make a penny unless and until we win your case.
How much does a dog attack lawyer cost?
We take your case on a contingency basis. That means we don’t get paid anything unless we win your case.
As a result, you have the ability to pursue a legal claim without it breaking the bank. We take on all the costs of investigating, negotiating, and battling in court. That’s our investment, because we believe in you and your case. Then if we win, we recover a fraction of the benefits we get on your behalf.
If you have any questions about the payment process or any other part of dog attack law, we’re here to help. Contact us today for a free appointment.
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