Dog Bite and Animal Attack Attorneys

• The most important thing, after any type of personal injury, is to get the medical attention you need, either by emergency medical personnel or at a hospital, urgent care facility, or doctor’s office. Don’t try to downplay your injuries. Ignoring them may lead to significant complications and can compromise your legal claims.
• Once you receive necessary medical attention, immediately hire an experienced lawyer. Your attorney will move quickly to safeguard all evidence, from eyewitness testimony to any physical evidence at the site of the attack. That can be critical, as witnesses can disappear, die, or start to lose memories of the incident, and physical evidence can get lost.
• If you can, get contact information from the animal’s owner, as well as any potential witnesses. Take pictures of everything related to the attack, from your injuries to the location of the attack. Your cellphone camera is sufficient.

The laws governing dog bites and animal attacks can vary from state to state. Some states have strict liability laws, meaning the owner of the dog is automatically responsible for injuries caused by their pet, regardless of whether or not they were negligent. In other states, victims must prove that the owner acted negligently or failed to control their dog to recover damages.

If you can establish liability, you may be entitled to compensation for a broad range of losses, including:

• Wages or income lost because you could not work
• Medical bills not covered by insurance
• Physical pain or suffering stemming from the attack
• Loss of enjoyment of life—the ability to engage in activities that brought joy or meaning to your life before the accident
• Loss of physical companionship or consortium

The requirements for recovering damages in a dog bite or animal attack case can vary depending on the state where the incident occurred. Some states enforce strict liability laws, meaning the dog owner is held responsible for injuries caused by their pet, even if the owner didn’t act negligently. Other states, however, require proof of negligence in order to recover damages.

If you are in a state where negligence must be proven, you typically need to establish the following:

• That the owner knew his or her dog had attempted to bite someone before you;

or

• That the owner was negligent—this requires that you show that
  • The person being sued owned or controlled the dog;
  • The person being sued did not take reasonable steps to prevent the dog from harming someone;
  • The failure to do so caused an attack; and
  • You suffered injuries as a result.

For more than 40 years, Bailey & Galyen has successfully represented personal injury victims in courts across the United States. We have extensive experience navigating the diverse laws governing dog bites and animal attacks in different states, and we understand how life-altering these injuries can be. Our team is skilled in building compelling cases, knowing the evidence that resonates with both judges and juries, and tailoring our approach to meet the unique legal landscape of your state.

We leverage a network of expert witnesses and professionals to strengthen your case, from medical experts who can detail the extent of your injuries to specialists who can testify about animal behavior or safety standards. This comprehensive strategy allows us to fight for the financial recovery you deserve, taking into account the physical, emotional, and financial toll you’ve endured. When you work with Bailey & Galyen, you gain a dedicated advocate committed to guiding you through the legal process every step of the way, no matter where you are in the country.