Evans
Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog bites in Evans can be incredibly serious. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), almost 4.5 million dog bites happen every year in the United States with one in five of those becoming infected. Many people are hospitalized or have to undergo surgeries after a dog bite. If you were bitten by a dog, you should not have to pay for the damages. A dog bite and animal attack lawyer in Evans can help you seek compensation.

If you or a loved one was the victim of a dog bite or animal attack, our lawyers at John Foy & Associates can help. We have been helping injury victims win the recovery they deserve for more than 20 years, and it’s risk-free to work with us because we don’t charge a fee unless we win you money. To get a FREE consultation, call us at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online today.

What to Do If a Dog Bites You in Evans

You can begin gathering information and building your claim very soon after the dog bite happens. Here are some of the best ways you can do that.

Take Pictures

Use your phone to take pictures of your injuries, the entire accident scene, and the dog that bit you (if it’s still at the scene and it’s safe enough to do so). Any pictures you can take will help preserve the scene and demonstrate what happened.

Report the Dog Bite

You’ll want to report the bite to local authorities by calling 911 or contacting Columbia County Animal Services. Authorities might have information on the dog’s owner or be able to help you track them down if they aren’t at the scene.

Reporting the bite is also good for your injury claim because it creates a record of what happened to support your case.

Get Information on the Dog

If the dog’s owner was there when the bite happened, ask if the dog is up-to-date on its shots, especially the rabies vaccine. Also, get the owner’s name, address, phone number, and email address.

If the dog’s owner is not around when the bite happens but anyone else was around when the dog bit you, ask if they know anything about the dog. Neighbors might be familiar with the dog and know who it belongs to. Animal Services can also check for a microchip to see if the dog is registered under any name.

Get Witnesses’ Names

Besides asking any witnesses about details on the dog, ask for their names and contact information. Your Evans dog bite and animal attack lawyer will want to reach out to any witnesses for statements to help support your claim.

Get Medical Attention

Don’t wait to see a doctor. If your injuries are very serious or life-threatening, get emergency treatment before you do anything else. Otherwise, see a doctor as soon as you can after getting information at the scene.

Seeing a doctor will:

• Create a record of your injuries
• Give you an idea of how serious your injuries are (and what future treatment you may need)
• Support your injury claim by showing the insurance company you sought treatment right away

Insurance companies will often look for ways to deny claims or reduce how much they have to pay. If you wait too long to seek medical treatment, the insurance company may try to use that against you. So, make sure you see a doctor as soon as possible after the bite happens.

Keep Track of Damages

When you file an injury claim with the dog owner’s insurance company, you’ll need to include proof of your damages like medical costs, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. Save all copies of medical bills, medication receipts, and more.

Damages You Can Recover from a Dog Bite Claim in Evans

When someone is at fault for an injury accident in Georgia, they are typically responsible for all of the damages. When it comes to dog bites, the dog’s owner is almost always at fault. Damages you can include in your claim for compensation include:

• Medical costs like doctor bills, hospital stays, prescription medications, tests, surgeries, physical therapy, mental health treatment, and future treatment
• Lost wages and loss of earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from working as you could before
• Pain and suffering damages like loss of enjoyment of life, fear, embarrassment, and disfigurement

A dog bite claim is usually filed with the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance company. A dog bite lawyer can help you do this and make sure you are pursuing the fullest compensation possible. To schedule a FREE consultation to discuss the details of how we can help you today, call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.

The Georgia Statute of Limitations Is Two Years

In Evans and the rest of Georgia, there is a statute of limitations for personal injury cases like dog bite claims. In most situations, you have two years from the date of the dog bite to file a claim for damages. However, there are sometimes exceptions that leave you with less time.

To make sure you keep up with all deadlines, it’s best to speak with a dog bite and animal attack lawyer as soon as you possibly can. They can help you get started on your case right away, get information about the dog and its owner, gather strong evidence to support your claim, and ensure your rights are protected throughout the process.

Talk to a Dog Bite and Animal Attack Lawyer in Evans for Free Today

You should not have to pay for the negligence of a dog owner in Evans. At John Foy & Associates, we are dedicated to helping you get the full compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost wages, and more. We never charge a fee unless we win you money, so there’s no risk in working with us.

We’d love to sit down with you during a FREE consultation and case evaluation. We’ll discuss the details of what happened and create a plan of action for your case.

To get started with your FREE consultation, call us at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online now.