Managing Partner
If you’ve been bitten by someone else’s dog, you might wonder about your options for seeking compensation. Did you know you might be able to pursue this money by filing a claim against the dog owner’s homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policy? Here’s how.
Understanding Dog Bite Claims
Georgia’s dog bite laws allow injured attack victims to hold dog owners liable for injuries caused by a “vicious” dog. A dog may become “vicious” if the owner:
- Carelessly handles the dog, such as by not keeping the dog on a lease in public,
- Fails to maintain the dog’s enclosure, or
- Knows their dog has exhibited aggressive behaviors, like lunging, growling, or aggressive barking.
An owner may also bear liability for a dog bite if their dog had previously attacked or bitten other people or animals, which can show the dog’s vicious or aggressive tendencies.
Furthermore, dog owners may bear liability for severe injuries inflicted by their dogs. Severe injuries include those that require hospitalization/surgery, result in broken bones, cause infections or contagious diseases, or create a significant risk of death.
What Compensation Might You Recover in a Dog Bite Claim?
In a dog bite claim, you may have the right to recover compensation for financial and personal losses, including:
- Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation, including hospitalization, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and mental health care
- Long-term home care for severe disabilities
- Lost wages/income from missed work
- Ongoing or future losses of earning capacity due to permanent disability from your job or other forms of work
- Physical pain and anguish
- Emotional trauma or distress, including PTSD, caused by the attack
- Lost quality of life caused by physical disabilities or visible scarring/disfigurement
How Homeowners’ Insurance Applies in Dog Bite Cases
Many dog bite victims feel uncomfortable about filing an injury claim against a family member, friend, or neighbor, as they worry that doing so could harm their relationship with the dog’s owner. However, most dog bite claims go through homeowners’ or renters’ insurance. These policies typically cover the liability the homeowner incurs because of injuries caused by the homeowner’s property, including their pet animals. As a result, an injured dog bite victim can seek the money they need without affecting the pet owner’s financial well-being, beyond a nominal rate increase.
How an Attorney Can Help You Deal with the Homeowners’ Insurance Company
While the dog owner’s insurance policy should cover your injuries, getting the company to pay you fairly could prove more challenging than it should be. After all, insurance companies are for-profit businesses, and they have every incentive to question your claim, downplay your injuries, and dispute their policyholder’s liability. You deserve to focus your time and effort on your physical and mental recovery, not on a complex legal battle. That’s why you need the help of an experienced attorney.
While you work on getting better, your lawyer can pursue fair compensation by:
- Thoroughly investigating the attack to recover evidence to prove the dog owner’s liability
- Documenting your injuries and disabilities and calculating your ongoing and future expenses
- Filing your claims with the insurance company and communicating with adjusters
- Vigorously negotiating with the insurance company to secure the compensation you deserve
- Taking your case to court if the insurer won’t agree to a fair settlement
Contact Joshua E. Palmer Law Firm Today for Experienced Guidance and Support
Are you dealing with the painful aftermath of a dog attack? Then get the legal help you need to seek financial compensation for what you’ve suffered. Contact Joshua E. Palmer Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a dog bite attorney in Macon. We’re ready to take on the insurance company and demand they pay you fairly–and we won’t charge you a fee unless we put money back in your pocket.
