Atlanta Dog Bite Lawyer
You Can Get Justice With Dog Bite Lawyers in Atlanta
The Singleton Law Firm is 100% devoted to fighting for you, and we have specialized attorneys in every area, including dog bite injuries. We know every detail needed to be precise in the process of pursuing your rights. It’s been 30 years since we first started fighting for personal injury victims, so you’ll get a skilled and experienced attorney on your side. You can use the economic and non-economic damages calculated by an Atlanta dog bite lawyer to negotiate a settlement.Â
Here are just a few outstanding cases we have won
MARTA BUS Claim
$18.7 million
Bus v. Auto - Recovery of
$4.1 million
MARTA BUS Claim
$4.1 million
Serious Dog Bite Injuries
Dog bites are typical injuries for both adults and children. Dog bites can lead to severe injuries, psychological trauma, or even death. Therefore, it is necessary always to be careful when dealing with dogs, even those considered pets.
It might be the last thing you think about after being bitten by a scarring dog, but contacting a lawyer is something you should do soon after so you can pursue your rightful compensation.Â
What to Do After Being Bitten by a Dog?
Try to identify the dog
If the dog is suspected of having rabies, you must seek medical care immediately. The name and address of the dog owner are crucial pieces of information. The dog owner’s homeowners insurance should cover any compensation you receive. It is possible for your attorney to hire investigators to return to the scene if you have been attacked by a stray or loose dog, and you are unable to identify its owner.
Do not argue with the owner of the dog
It won’t do any good, especially when they don’t want to believe what happened. Many owners believe in the goodness of their pets, and that’s why it’s hard for them to accept that their dog would bite without provocation.
Don’t sign anything and don’t make statements that can be recorded
The dog owner, property owner, or their insurance company might try to get you to sign documents or record your statements on tape. Please note that their primary goal is to get you to make statements that will help in their cause to avoid possible liability for your dog bite injuries. If this happens, you should consider having an Alpharetta dog attack attorneys present to assist you.
Make a report to the police
Call 911 and report the incident to the police so they can investigate further. They will then provide a statement and official report that may help establish the dog bite incident further in the process. In addition, you could notify Fulton County Animal Services about the attack.Â
Seek medical care
The dog that bit you may have rabies. In that case, you will need the appropriate vaccines to counter the effects of rabies. Dog bites often involve puncture wounds from fangs. These can also be easily infected. Moreover, you may have scrapes and abrasions from protecting yourself during the attack. An infected wound can result in a worse scar and even serious complications and consequences. That’s why seeking medical care after a dog bite injury is necessary.
Consult a lawyer
A reliable lawyer will help you get compensation for your financial losses or the emotional or psychological effects of the dog bite injuries. Even if the insurance company offers to give you payment, it helps to have a lawyer review the proposed settlement. An Atlanta dog bite law firm you can trust can help you obtain a fair outcome.
The Law for Dog Bite Cases
According to statistics, Georgia is among the 10 states with the most dog bite claims. Different laws on dog bite injuries are provided in other states. Dog owners are liable even if it’s the first time that their dogs bit somebody.
Sometimes, you can be injured not only by a dog bite but also by an attack that causes injuries from the dog’s claws or for you to fall. These cases can also be filed for claims.
Life can change in the blink of an eye. If you were a dog or other animal bite victim and now need an Atlanta animal attack attorney, don’t hesitate to contact us immediately. The consultation is always free, and we at Singleton Law Firm are here to help.
What are the Deadlines for Filing a Dog Bite Injury Claim in Atlanta?
Generally, you have two years from the date of your injuries to file a claim for dog bites, according to Georgia Code § 9-3-33. When you file on behalf of your child or a deceased loved one, the clock starts to run whether you are the victim or not.
Courts have the right to deny your claim if you fail to file it by this date, so you cannot receive compensation. If you hire a dog bite attorney, you can ensure that your claim gets filed on time and that it is comprehensive enough to avoid getting kicked back to you, which might mean you miss your window to file.
Latest Dog Bites Statistics
There are approximately 7.7 million dog bites each year in the USA.
Half of the people injured by dogs are children, mainly aged 5 to 9.
64% of the fatal injuries are from Pitbulls.
Physical injuries can include puncture wounds, infection, scarring, disease, and abrasions.
800,000 of dog bites result in medical care.
Georgia is one of the 10 states with the highest number of filed dog bite injury claims.
Insurers have paid out $1,136 million in 2022 for dog bites or other dog injury claims.
Most people do not adequately warn of or take steps to protect people from dogs with vicious tendencies.
The Georgia Modified Comparative Negligence Rule for Dog Bite Lawsuits
Situations where you possibly entered your neighbor’s yard despite the warning signs, or if you put your hand through the fence to pet the dog, could mean the owner has a legal defense to your dog bite lawsuit. You may share a portion of the blame if you unnecessarily put yourself in a dangerous position. Your lawyer can help you prepare to counter those arguments.
If the victim of the dog bite shares part of the blame for the accident, along with the owner of the dog in question, they may still be eligible for compensation. The ability to recover compensation when both parties share a level of fault is covered under Georgia’s modified comparative negligence law.Â
As long as you are less than 50% responsible for the accident, you can recover compensation. However, the amount you can recover will be directly reduced by the percentage of fault that you hold. For example, if you are determined to have been 30% at fault for the attack, you will only be eligible to recover 70% of your total damages.
If you shared no fault in the matter, your lawyer will help you collect the necessary evidence to prove the negligence of the dog’s owner in your pursuit of maximum compensation.
Atlanta Dog Laws FAQs
Is there a prohibition of bulldogs in Atlanta?
There is no official prohibition of bulldogs in the city of Atlanta, and no laws have passed to restrict them.Â
How long can I wait before filing my claim?
In the state of Georgia, you have two years to pursue your legal rights after a dog bite injury.Â
What if the dog owner wasn’t careless?
You are still eligible to file a claim even if the dog owner was not negligent. If the neighbors know the particular dog, your legal team can ask them for any previous reports and then contact Animal Control.
What medical expenses can I recover with the dog bite claim?
You can receive compensation for any medical expenses, including medical assistance, emergency help, ongoing therapy, medication, surgeries, and more.
How should you respond if the dog's owner asks about your injuries?
Keep your conversation with the dog owner short and cordial if he or she is on the scene when the attack occurs. Get their homeowner’s insurance information and ask if they own the dog. Don’t engage in a fight with them, and don’t talk about your injuries.
Other than calling the police or contacting insurance companies, the other party often wants to handle things personally in personal injury cases. The most serious cases tend to develop in these situations. Immediately seek medical attention and inform the police and Animal Control of the incident.
Can I sue for a dog bite in Georgia?
In Georgia, the one-bite rule is modified. When a dog bites someone, the dog owner is liable if they knew the dog was vicious. Georgia law also allows a dog to be considered vicious, and the owner can be held liable if the owner was careless (such as not keeping the dog on a leash) or if the attack was unprovoked.
Can I get compensation for being bitten by a dog?
When a dog bites me, can I claim compensation? If a dog bites you and causes physical harm, regardless of how minor the injury is, you can make a dog bite compensation claim. No matter if the dog is at home or out in public, the owner is responsible for controlling it and keeping others safe.
How much is a fine for a dog bite in Georgia?
If a dog owner knows or should have known their dog bites people and causes injuries, they must pay damages to victims. If a dog attacks someone for the first time, the owner can be fined up to $5,000 and sentenced to one year in prison.
How is dog bite settlement calculated?
In these types of cases, a per diem system is used to calculate the award, where the jury determines a monetary amount based on the victim’s daily physical pain and emotional hardship. After multiplying that daily amount by the number of days of pain and suffering, the total is calculated.
Do doctors have to report dog bites in Georgia?
Dog bites are not required to be reported to the police department by doctors, but the physician must report the bite to the state health department or animal control agency after treating the victim.
How do you write a demand letter for a dog bite?
In your demand letter, you should include the following:
- What happened during the dog attack: A statement of facts.
- Liability: Why the dog owner is responsible for your injuries.
- How your injuries affected you: What kinds of injuries did you sustain.
- Damages: An itemized list of all your damages.
What are the dog laws in Georgia?
No dog may leave the property without a leash not exceeding 6 feet and under the immediate physical control of a person capable of preventing it from engaging any other person or animal when necessary, or if the dog is in a locked cage or crate.
What can you do if your neighbor's dog attacks your dog?
Animal control and the police should be contacted as soon as your pet is safe after being attacked by another dog. There are several reasons why you should contact the authorities. The first thing you need to do is create a record of what happened. In the event that you wish to bring a claim against the dog owner, this record may be useful.
What determines the ownership of a dog in Georgia?
Animal law views your pet as personal property, even though you consider him or her to be a member of the family if not even your best friend. Legal ownership proof may be needed in this case. An adoption record from the local shelter or a registration record from the AKC can serve as proof of ownership.
Our Practice Areas
Car accident attorney
Atlanta automobile accidents attorney with over 30 years of experience. Contact us and we will find the best way out for you!
Personal Injury attorney
Atlanta personal injury attorney who fights aggressively to obtain 100% of the compensation available under the law. Get a free quote.
Truck accident attorney
Did you get involved in a truck accident in Georgia? Contact our Atlanta trucking accident attorney – we can help you with your case.
