A dog attack is often an unexpected and painful experience that can result in permanent consequences. Dog bites can inflict devastating injuries and long-term psychological trauma.
If someone else’s dog causes your injuries, you might be able to file a lawsuit against the dog owner to recover compensation for your losses.
Contact Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers today if you or a loved one suffered injuries in a dog attack. A dog bite lawyer at our firm can review the facts of your case and determine whether you qualify to file a lawsuit.
What Kind of Lawyer Handles Dog Bites?
What kind of lawyer handles dog bites? A dog bite claim is a type of personal injury claim.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can evaluate the facts of your case, explain your legal options, and help you pursue compensation by negotiating with insurance companies or by filing a personal injury claim.
In a personal injury claim, recovering your losses usually hinges on proving the opposing party was negligent. However, dog bite cases are somewhat unique.
Pennsylvania holds dog owners strictly liable for medical expenses caused by their dogs. That means you do not have to prove the owner was negligent to recover those losses.
However, you do need to prove negligence and demonstrate serious injuries to recover damages for other losses like emotional distress or lost wages.
In a dog bite case, this means showing that the dog owner neglected to properly control their dog, despite knowing their dog had “unmistakably vicious” tendencies.
You can show an owner knew about their dog’s aggressive behavior with things like:
- Testimony from eyewitnesses,
- Statements from victims of prior dog bites by the same animal, or
- Video footage.
Proving an owner’s knowledge of their dog’s aggressive behavior is typically harder than showing that an owner failed to control their dog. You can often show that an owner failed to control their pet by offering proof that the dog was not on a leash.
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Dog Bite Statistics in Pennsylvania
Many people underestimate the number of dog attacks that occur in the United States each year.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 4.5 million people suffer dog bites every year, and more than 800,000 of those victims seek medical attention for dog-bite-related injuries.
The American Veterinary Medical Association reported in 2021 that the average cost for a dog bite insurance claim was $49,025.
Overall, dog-related injuries cost homeowners’ insurers an estimated $882 million in 2021. In Pennsylvania, approximately 777 dog-bite claims were filed in 2021.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Dog Bite Case?
The Pennsylvania dog bite statute says that a dog’s owner is liable for the costs of medical treatment needed by a dog bite victim.
However, as explained above, that does not mean you can automatically recover for your other losses. So, do you need a lawyer for a dog bite case?
An attorney can help enhance the value of your lawsuit by proving the dog owner was negligent.
The dog bite lawyers at Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers will negotiate with the dog owner’s insurance company on your behalf and fight to secure a settlement that fairly compensates you.
Contact a Philadelphia Dog Bite Attorney at Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers
Hiring a qualified attorney to represent you is the best way to maximize your dog bite settlement.
The team at Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers has over 75 years of combined experience fighting for the rights of our clients. We will meet with you one-on-one to discuss the facts of your case and your desired outcome.
Our team will prepare a strategy that meets your needs and goals and negotiate with the opposing party for a favorable settlement offer.
Contact us today so we can put our experience and resources to work for you.
