Have you been injured in an animal attack? We’ll get you the compensation you deserve.
Owners of dogs and other animals, regardless of the breed, can be held responsible when bites or attacks occur. Dog bites are the most common type of animal attacks. If you live in Atlanta or elsewhere in Georgia, and have suffered injuries after being bitten or attacked by a dog or another animal, it is important to know your legal rights.
Your right to recover for a dog bite in Georgia will be dependent upon either the dog’s history and/or the leash laws applicable in the county or city where the dog attack occurred. Information related to the dog’s history very often must be gathered in order for a person injured by a dog bite to have any chance to recover damages. In addition, variations in the leash laws for dogs can have a significant impact on your recovery.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an animal attack and you would like the advice of an attorney, please contact us for a free consultation. We will sit down with you and advise you of your options. We have achieved significant results on behalf of our prior clients in handling animal attack cases.
Here are some testimonials from satisfied clients we have represented in the past.
Statistics show that approximately five million people are bitten or attacked by an animal each year in the United States, and out of this number, about 800,000 require medical treatment. About 15 to 20 of these actually die from their injuries. Children are often the victims.
From 2005 to 2012, pit bulls were responsible for 151 deaths, and accounted for 60% of the total deaths from dog attacks in the United States.
Some of the scenarios in which a dog owner can usually be held liable are: if they have kept the dog tied to a tree with a chain that extended beyond their own property, such as onto a sidewalk or into a neighbor’s yard; if they have allowed the animal to walk around unleashed; if they have left a door on a cage open where the dog can escape; or allowed a child to play with the dog unsupervised.
If you or a loved one is attacked by a dog or other animal, here is what you should do:
- Get the name, address, and telephone number of the person who owns the dog
- Get the name, address, and telephone number of anyone who witnessed the attack
- Take pictures of the scene where you were attacked and also photograph your wounds. The more evidence you have, the stronger your case will be.
- Get immediate medical attention. Keep all of your medical documentation together in an organized fashion. This includes doctor visits, hospital admission paperwork, medical bills, x-rays, etc. You will need to bring all of this documentation with you to the initial consultation with your attorney.
- Check with the neighbors of the pet owner to see if anyone is aware of whether the animal has a history of aggressiveness or has been known to attack others.
- If the attack is severe, a call to 911 may be in order. An incident report will provide more evidence of the attack if your case should go to trial.