Atlanta
Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog bite injuries can be painful and may take months to recover from fully. If you’ve been attacked or bitten by another person’s dog, you might be wondering how you can get the money you need to cover your medical bills and deal with the other challenges that have been forced upon you.

You don’t have to suffer without fair compensation. At John Foy & Associates, we have 350 years of combined experience handling cases like yours. Our Atlanta personal injury lawyers can take on your case and fight for the damages you deserve. With an Atlanta dog bite injury lawyer’s help, you’ll be able to get the compensation you need to move forward. 

Damages an Atlanta Dog Bite Lawyer Can Pursue for You

Dog bite incidents can leave you with painful injuries, costly medical bills, missed workdays, and many other losses. Fortunately, a dog bite accident attorney can work closely with you to identify the damages you’re eligible to receive and fight for the compensation you deserve. 

Depending on your unique case, you could receive any of the following forms of compensation from a winning claim:

• Medical expenses
• Rehabilitation and therapy
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Property damages 
• Lost income
• Pain and suffering
• Mental distress

Often, young children are most damaged by the physical scarring and the psychological aftermath of being attacked by an uncontrollable animal. An Atlanta dog bite lawyer can help you calculate your economic and non-economic damages and use this information in settlement negotiations. 

Do I Need a Lawyer for a Dog Bite?

After a dog bite incident, some dog owners may try to stop you from getting the damages you’re owed by claiming that the incident was your fault. If that’s the case for you, you’ll need an attorney to help you prove that the dog owner was at fault.

Hiring a skilled Atlanta dog bite lawyer will dramatically improve your chances of getting the compensation you need to pay your medical bills, replace income losses, and deal with other challenges you’re facing due to the incident. Schedule a free consultation with a skilled lawyer today to learn more about how our firm can help you seek justice. 

How an Atlanta Dog Bite Attorney Can Help You

As mentioned above, hiring a Georgia dog bite lawyer will give you the support you need to win your claim and get the damages you need to move past this unfortunate incident. Here’s what an experienced attorney from our firm can do to file a successful claim or lawsuit on your behalf:

• Provide a free, no-obligation consultation
• Investigate the dog bite incident
• Gather medical records, incident reports, witness statements, video footage, and other pieces of evidence to file a strong claim
• Negotiate a fair dog bite settlement with the dog owner’s insurance policy
• Take legal action, if necessary
• Guide you through the legal process and update you on your claim’s progress
• Meet important deadlines and comply with state requirements

As you can see, there’s a lot that a dog attack injury attorney can do to help you recover. Whether you’re dealing with serious pain, expensive medical bills, or lost wages, you’ll want to turn to a lawyer for help. No matter how bad your injury is, you can count on our team of Atlanta dog bite accident lawyers to get the results you deserve.

Injuries That a Dog Attack Attorney Can Seek Compensation For

Our dog bite lawyers in Atlanta have handled many different types of dog attack incidents. We’ve worked with dog bite victims who’ve suffered a variety of injuries. We’re familiar with the injuries that these types of incidents can cause and how to pursue compensation for them. 

You can count on our team to fight for the damages you’re owed if you’ve suffered any of the following injuries in a dog attack:

• Puncture wounds
• Lacerations 
• Bruising and contusions
• Capnocytophaga
• Torn muscles or tendons
• Fractured or broken bones
• Nerve injuries
• Scarring or disfigurement
• Facial injuries
• Eye injuries
• Crush injuries
• Internal injuries
• Loss of limbs or digits (in severe cases)
• Secondary complications like sepsis or chronic pain

If you or a loved one has sustained one of these injuries in a dog attack, reach out to our experienced team of personal injury attorneys. We’ll investigate the incident and gather the evidence we need to file a strong claim. No matter how severe your injuries are, we’ll work hard to get the compensation you need to cover medical bills and any other losses you’ve incurred.

Can You Sue for a Dog Bite in Georgia?

In some cases, you will have the option to sue the owner of the dog for damages after an attack. However, certain conditions must be met in order for you to pursue a lawsuit. For you to be eligible to file a lawsuit, the law states that the dog owner must have been aware of the dog’s propensity to attack or be aggressive. 

Our Atlanta dog bite attorneys will hire investigators to find out if animal control has been called previously for this particular dog. If we find that the animal has a history of aggression, we can help you take legal action against the owner. 

Reach out to our firm today to learn more about your case and find out if filing a lawsuit against the dog owner is the right choice for you. We’ll help you explore all your legal options and answer any questions you have about pursuing compensation.

Proving the Dog Had Aggressive Tendencies

To further strengthen your case, a dog bite injury lawyer from Atlanta will need to prove that the dog had aggressive or even vicious tendencies. A dog can be shown to have presented an unreasonable risk when there is a history of:

• Bites
• Threatening behavior
• Attacks on other animals, other people, or the dog owner’s family

Sometimes, public information, such as local animal control records, can prove that an owner knew, or should have known, that their dog was dangerous or vicious. A dedicated personal injury lawyer can investigate the dog’s past and determine whether the owner should have known that it was a threat to others. 

What to Do Immediately After Being Bitten by a Dog

If a dog has bitten you or someone you know, you should always prioritize health over filing a claim. If you’ve suffered injuries that require immediate medical attention, call 911 and wait for an ambulance to arrive. If your injuries don’t require immediate care, take the following steps:

• Speak to the owner and take down their name and insurance information
• Take photos of the dog and your injuries
• Talk to any witnesses and get their names
• Call 911 and have the police make an official report
• File a dog bite report

The important thing you can do after a dog bite, aside from getting medical treatment, is to find out the name and address of the dog owner. Any compensation you receive should come from the dog owner’s homeowners insurance. If a stray or loose dog has attacked you and you can’t identify the owner, we can hire investigators to return to the scene and try to find the owner.

What to Do If the Dog’s Owner Wants to Talk to You About Your Injuries

If the dog owner is at the scene of the attack, keep the conversation as short and cordial as possible. Ask if they are the dog owner and get their homeowner’s insurance information. Do not start a fight, and do not discuss your injuries with them. 

Like other personal injury cases, it’s common for the other party to want to handle things personally and avoid calling the police or insurance companies. These are often the cases that develop into something more serious. Regardless of what the owner says, you should involve the police and ask them for their insurance information. 

If the dog owner refuses to provide you with their insurance information, the police who respond to the scene of the incident can facilitate the exchange of information. Once you’ve left the scene of the dog bite, make sure to contact a skilled Atlanta dog bite attorney who can help you with your personal injury claim or lawsuit. 

What if Your Friend’s or Neighbor’s Dog Bit You?

If a friend’s or neighbor’s dog bites you, the owner is still liable for the bite. No matter how socially awkward the situation may be, it is essential to follow the proper protocol. Remember, when you file an insurance claim with their homeowner’s insurance provider, the money you receive won’t come out of their pocket.

Our dog bite lawyers in Atlanta have handled cases like these before and can advise you on what to do if your friend’s or neighbor’s dog bit you. We can handle every aspect of your case and fight for the insurance settlement you need to treat your injuries and put this incident behind you.

What If You’re Not Sure Who Owns the Dog That Attacked You?

In some dog bite cases, the number-one problem is determining the owner’s identity. It can be very challenging to identify the owner of a stray or loose dog, especially if you have been bitten while at a public place or apartment complex. 

Fortunately, a dog bite lawyer in Atlanta will do further investigation to determine who the legal dog owner was. Our legal team can talk to the neighbors to see if anyone knows the particular dog and then call animal control to see if there have been any previous reports. We’ll work tirelessly to identify the dog’s owner and get the damages you’re owed.

Statute of Limitations for Dog Bite Claims in Atlanta

If you’ve been hurt in a dog bite incident, it’s important for you to understand that the state of Georgia has a statute of limitations that may apply to your case. According to the statute, you have two years from the date of the dog bite or attack to file a civil suit against the dog’s owner. 

If you fail to take legal action within the two-year timeframe, you could be permanently blocked from pursuing the damages you need to get back on your feet. Fortunately, with the help of a dedicated dog bite attorney from Atlanta, you’ll have the help you need to meet this important deadline. 

As long as you reach out to our law firm soon, we’ll have the time we need to conduct a thorough investigation, identify the liable party, and file a strong lawsuit on your behalf. Schedule a free consultation with our firm today to learn more about the statute of limitations and how we can help you comply with important filing deadlines and other requirements. 

How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Attorney for Dog Bites?

After a dog bite incident, you might be wondering how much it costs to hire a lawyer. With all the medical bills and other financial setbacks you’re facing, you might be hesitant to pay for an expensive attorney. The good news is that our highly experienced legal team won’t charge you a dime in upfront fees. 

That’s because we work on a contingency fee basis. Instead of charging you out-of-pocket at the beginning of your case, we’ll take a percentage of the settlement our court-awarded payment you receive at the end of your case. This way, you won’t have to endure any more financial struggles to get the legal help you deserve.

Reach out to our Atlanta dog bite accident law firm today to learn more about our contingency fee policy and how we can make effective representation accessible to you and your family. 

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Dog Bite Accident Attorney

Recovering from a dog bite injury can be a long and painful process. Fortunately, the team at John Foy & Associates can help you file a claim for fair compensation. No matter how serious your injuries and losses are, our team can get the financial recovery you need to get your life and health back on track.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a dedicated Atlanta dog bite accident lawyer. Our firm has recovered over $1 billion in damages for accident victims like yourself, so we’re confident we have what it takes to get a high-value settlement or court verdict. We look forward to hearing from you soon.