Each year, thousands of Americans are bitten by animals- usually dogs. Often, someone bitten by a dog has a legal right to recover damages from the animal’s owner or other liable party. In addition to the animal’s owner, other parties who could be held responsible include:
- Property owners
- Landlords
- Animal keepers
- Parents of a minor
If a dog bites you, you should first seek medical attention. An untreated animal bite can cause serious injury, infection, and even death if the animal was sick. After your medical evaluation, you might want to consider consulting a Colorado Springs personal injury attorney who has experience handling these kinds of cases. A lawyer will be able to assess your situation and determine what damages you may be eligible to recover.
You should be able to give your attorney the name and phone number of the dog’s owner, along with details about the incident. If you are unable to, a witness or neighbor may know this information. If there are any witnesses to your dog bite, you should secure their names and contact information as well.
Why You Need a Dog Bite Lawyer in Colorado Springs
If you or a loved one has suffered from a dog bite, hiring a lawyer to handle your case can play an essential role in ensuring you receive fair compensation for your injuries. Here’s how a lawyer can help you:
Understanding Dog Bite Laws
Every state’s dog bite laws can be quite complex and filled with legal jargon. An experienced lawyer will have extensive knowledge of how these laws work in Colorado, ensuring that you fully understand your rights, helping to build a strong case on your behalf.
Calculating Your Damages
Dog bites can result in significant financial burdens, from mounting medical bills to lost wages due to recovery time. On top of that, there can be accompanying non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. A dog bite lawyer will know all potential areas of compensation applicable in your case and accurately assess your monetary and non-monetary losses. You can only get what you deserve if you know what it is.
Negotiating with Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are notorious for trying to minimize payouts. An experienced dog bite attorney in Colorado Springs knows how these companies operate and how to fight back to ensure you get what you deserve.
Hiring a dog bite lawyer means having someone in your corner to navigate complex laws and will ultimately increase the likelihood that you will achieve fair compensation for what you’ve endured.
How Much Can I Get Compensated for a Colorado Springs Dog Bite Claim?
Understanding what types of damages you can potentially recover from your claim is helpful if you find yourself in this situation. Generally, you may be entitled to the following types:
Economic Damages
Economic damages refer to costs that have a definitive market value and can be quantified into monetary terms, including medical expenses, loss of earnings, property damage, and other out of pocket expenses that directly relate to financial losses incurred from the accident and your injuries.
Non-Economic Damages
Often more difficult to quantify, these take into account the intangible injuries and losses you’ve suffered, making it more difficult to put into monetary terms. This usually includes pain and suffering, emotional distress, decreased quality of life, and loss of consortium.
Punitive Damages
While it’s rare, punitive damages may be awarded in dog bite cases if there is evidence of fraud, malice, or willful and wanton conduct by the defendant. These are not designed to compensate you for a loss but intended to punish the offender and discourage similar acts in future.
“In all civil actions in which damages are assessed by a jury for a wrong done to the person or to personal or real property, and the injury complained of is attended by circumstances of fraud, malice, or willful and wanton conduct, the jury, in addition to the actual damages sustained by such party, may award him reasonable exemplary damages.”
All cases are different and will be evaluated individually regarding compensation. Always speak with a personal injury lawyer for help.
Liability for a Colorado Springs Dog Bite
First, it must be determined who the owner of the dog is. Strict liability is imposed on dog owners in some states. The theory of strict liability dictates that, even if the owner of an animal did nothing wrong with regards to shielding others from attack, he or she is liable for a dog bite. According to this theory, if the dog bites someone, the owner would still be legally responsible even if they had no cause to believe his or her animal was dangerous.
However, in other states, a dog owner can be held liable for injuries inflicted by their animal if they knew, or had reason to know, that their animal had a proclivity to be dangerous. Showing that an owner had such knowledge can be difficult.
Dog Bite Statistics
There are 70 million dogs in the United States. That’s the equivalent of one dog for every 4.5 people, which presents many opportunities for someone to be bitten sometime during their life. Some additional dog bite statistics include:
- 5 million people are bitten by dogs every year- 20% of those require medical attention
- Adults with two dogs in the house are 5x more likely to be bitten
- 27,000 people undergo reconstructive surgery every year as a result of dog bites
- There were 31 dog bite related deaths in 2013
- 359,223 children were bitten between 2010 and 2012
- In 2013, dog bite claims constituted one-third of all homeowners’ liability insurance claims
Contact The Green Law Firm To Schedule a Free Consultation
When it comes to navigating the complexities of dog bite claims and fighting for fair compensation, relying on expert support is essential. At The Green Law Firm, we understand how difficult the road to recovery can be and are here to help you every step of the way. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a dog bite injury lawyer.
