Johns Creek
Dog Bite Lawyer

John Foy & Associates offers some of the most experienced and respected dog bite lawyers in Georgia. With a track record of more than 20 years, we practice law for just one reason: to help those who were harmed.

Our Johns Creek personal injury lawyers have seen firsthand the damage that a dog attack can do, and we know how to win insurance money to cover your hospital bills, long-term costs and more.

How does the Law Handle Dog Bites in Johns Creek?

The law is very straightforward:

• A dog attack is treated just like any other injury or accident. As the victim, you have the right to recover money to pay for your damages.  
• The dog’s owner is liable. Georgia law gives the owner a duty to control their animal. If the dog was able to bite you for any reason, it wasn’t being controlled.  
• Victims have rights. In an ideal world, dog owners would support your claim, and their insurance company would pay you the money you need. We don’t live in that ideal world. But you have the right to file a claim with the insurer even if the dog owner disputes what happened—and a lawyer can help force the insurer to take your claim seriously.  

While the law is clear, individual dog bite cases can quickly become complex. You need documentation to prove the extent of your injuries and you need to know how to prove your case to win money. Always talk to an experienced dog bite lawyer to help you with your claim.

What Information do I Need to File a Dog Bite Claim?

The most important information you’ll need is the name and contact info of the dog’s owner. Unfortunately, this isn’t always easy to get. However, after the attack, there are steps you can take to find the owner (if you don’t already know who it is).  

For example:

• Ask neighbors. A simple description of the dog will often be enough to ring a bell with someone who lives nearby. They may even know who owns it.  
• Walk through the neighborhood. Dogs rarely stray far from home. You may see the animal in someone’s yard or even out for a walk.  
• Use identifying details. If the owner was present and left the scene, give police their description. Get a license plate if possible, if they left by car. Witnesses and neighbors may also know the owner by description.  

Of course, it helps to get a photo of the dog, but this isn’t always possible in the frightening aftermath of an attack.  

Remember: you don’t have to do any of this on your own. Your lawyer already has professional investigators who know how to find dogs and their owners. Trust your lawyer to track down the animal while you recover.  

Who Should I Call If a Dog Bites Me in Johns Creek?

Dog bites in the City of Johns Creek should always be reported to the Johns Creek Police reports. This isn’t required by law, but it creates a record of what happened and proves that the incident was serious from the start.

Who do You Report a Dog Attack?

If police respond the scene, they will also talk to witnesses and create a police report that can serve as a valuable document later.  

You may also want to call Fulton County Animal Services. They not only handle stray dogs, they also oversee licensing of animals—which means they may know the dog in question and who owns it.  

What Damages Can the Victim Recover in a Dog Bite Case?

It depends on how severe your injuries are. The more severe the attack, the more the claim can potentially pay out. But you always have a right to two basic kinds of monetary awards (or “damages”):

1. Special damages, which pay for your medical bills and any other costs, like missed work time. In other words, you should walk away from your claim with no more debts related to the bite.  
2. General damages. This refers to personal suffering and losses. For example, if you went through severe pain, or if you lost some mobility in the hand that was bit.

More severe attacks tend to have very high amounts for general damages because of the impact the attack had on your life. But even a simple dog bite will pay out the money you need.  

The Dog Owner Says I Provoked the Dog. What Should I Do?

Try not to let it rattle you. This is the most common response we see from owners. Owners usually believe their dogs are “good” or “gentle” and that any bite must have been provoked by someone else. The truth is that even well-trained dogs are powerful animals whose ancestry goes back to wolves. They can snap at someone without warning.  

Under the law, even if you did provoke the dog attack in Georgia, you may still have a right to recover money, because the dog should still have been controlled. But the amount you receive may be less because you share in the responsibility.  

More often, the allegation that you “provoked” the attack turns out to be bogus, and we can prove that as we assemble evidence.  

All dog owners will defend their animal and try to divert blame—and their insurance companies are quick to back the up. Never face them alone.  You need a dog attack lawyer.  

Talk to a Johns Creek Dog Bite Lawyer for Free

Every dog bite has the potential to do serious damage—and leave you or your loved one with permanent effects. Talk to someone who will listen to you, take your side, and help you get the outcome you need. Let John Foy & Associates give you a FREE consultation.

Call us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to your right and get your FREE consultation today.