Research made back in 2020 by CDC discovered that approximately 4.5 million dog bites incidents occur each year in the US. In other words, 1 out of every 70 people has experienced a dog bite at least once in their lifetime. But, why do dogs bite if they are the most loyal companion of human beings?
Some of the causes why the dog’s bites are: –
- Because they are in tension
- They might be afraid
- To defend their pups
- They feel surprised
- Because of a rough play
That said, a dog bite can lead to physical injury, pain and well as trauma. People who get bitten by street dogs also pose a life threat due to rabies. Some dog bite incidents have been so severe that the sufferer lost a limb.
As per one of the reports by Dogs Bite Organization, among the population who was bitten by a dog, only 1% of people get compensated.
That leaves 99% of affected people struggling to get approval on their applications.
So, if you, a family member, friend or any close relative recently got bitten by a dog then you should reach out to a dog bite lawyer. By leveraging their assistance you can improve the chance of getting a claim.
Do I Really Need A Dog Bite Lawyer?
Hiring a dog bite lawyer will help you to file coverage with your insurance company. An approved application will help you to get compensation on your medical expenses. Yet, whether you should hire a dog bite lawyer or not! – It depends from case to case. For example: if you have a minor event and there is no physical evidence, in such a case you probably don’t need to hire a dog bite lawyer. On other hand, if the dog attack was serious and the victim’s wound is visible, in such case, you should call a dog bite lawyer immediately.
Hiring a dog bite lawyer will help you in many ways, for a start, it will help you to manage the stressful situation. Moreover, dog bite lawyers are experts of answering questionnaires prepared by your insurance company. Furthermore, they can help you to defend your case.
How to Defend Yourself as the Owner of the Dog?
For dog owners, it is essential to make a checklist of points to keep in mind. It will help you to prevent unnecessary trouble. Here is what you must do if you the owner of a dog:
- Keep your dog on a leash
- Ensure tall fencing around your garden
- Hire a dog trainer
- Talk with your insurance provider about dog bite insurance
Declared a Dangerous Dog
In many cases, the sufferer and sometimes the pet control can submit an appeal saying that your dog must be declared dangerous. In such cases, you need to muzzle your dog while taking him/her in public. Additionally, you have to place signage or warning signs in your yard.
In the worst case, your dog can be seized by animal control. For such cases, you can hire a lawyer and get proper step-by-step guidance.
When it comes to dog bites, there is no specific period for how long it will take to settle the case entirely. There are multiple factors involved such as insurance company, the severity of injury etc. It can take months of treatment to fully recover from a severe dog bite. Only when the treatment is finished then the case settles down.
Dog bites can happen to anyone, you can be the victim or the owner of the dog – whatever is the case, you should never walk away without proper guidance. At Accident Lawyers Firm, hire the best dog bite lawyers for your accident. Take off the health and financial stress by talking to a professional personal injury attorney today!
