They may be our best friends, but dogs are still animals and they can bite. If you, your child, or someone else you care for has suffered a dog bite injury, contact an experienced Macon dog bite injury lawyer for a free legal consultation. In fact, dogs bite about 4.5 million Americans every year, half of them children, between ages 5 and 9. One out of every five of those bites causes an injury that requires medical attention, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Children are also more likely than adults to be injured by a dog bite.
Injuries from canine attacks can be minor – scratches, cuts, lacerations, abrasions and bruises; however, more severe injuries, such as puncture wounds, nerve damage, tissue loss, neck and spinal cord injuries, infections and brain injury, can also occur. Many attacks can leave the victim disfigured, with bone fractures and/or breakages. These life altering injuries can devastate the lives of both the victims and their families forever.
Dog bites and canine attacks can also be fatal. Many injuries can require costly medical treatments and/or reconstructive surgeries. The physical disfigurement, intense pain and severe emotional distress can take a huge financial and psychological toll on the victim.
In Georgia the law represents the state’s relevant dog bite strict liability law. While the law imposes strict liability for injury to a person, the dog (or other animal) must first be considered “vicious” or “dangerous,” which can be as simple as showing the animal was required to be leashed per city ordinance. Second, the animal must be at large by the careless management of the owner. Finally, the person injured must not have provoked the animal into attacking him or her.
Statute of Limitations
You have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit under Georgia’s dog bite statute. If the two year period passes you cannot file a lawsuit and will lose your ability to recover compensation for your injuries. Therefore, it is important to contact a Macon, GA premises liability attorney shortly after the attack takes place. Before the statute of limitations runs out your Macon dog bite lawyer will negotiate with the defendant or their insurance company to reach a settlement. If your Macon personal injury attorney cannot reach a settlement, you will need to file a lawsuit before the 2 year period runs out.
Georgia is a negligence state when it comes to dog bites and other animal related injuries. This means that in order to prove liability, an injured person must prove that an animal’s owner knew that the animal was vicious or dangerous and acted without reasonable care to restrain the animal or protect other people from injury. The Georgia statute specifies that a leash ordinance may be used to prove that a dog had vicious propensities.
If you’ve suffered a dog bite injury, a lot may be happening at the same time. Below is a list of steps you need to take to deal with a dog bite as quickly and safely as possible.
- Seek medical attention immediately
- Get the name and contact information of the dog owner
- Report your injury to the police and request a copy of the report
- Take photographs of your injuries, of the dog and the location where the injury occurred
- Do not accept any settlement or admit fault with the owner’s insurance company
- Save any clothing damaged by the dog
- Contact an experienced attorney at Roden Law
At Roden Law, not only do our Macon, GA dog bite injury attorneys help you recover for the damages that you have already incurred as a result of the attack you suffered, but we also help you accurately predict what future care you will need as you continue to recover, and ensure that you are adequately compensated for those future expenses as well.
When you have been injured by a dog bite or animal attack, our team of attorneys at Roden Law is here to help. Prosecuting your case aggressively, we will uncover the history of the animal that attacked you, and work hard to show that the owner was indeed negligent. If the animal’s owner, or his/her insurance company refuses to pay, we will take your case to trial. Contact our Macon dog bite attorneys today at 1-844-RESULTS for your free initial consultation.