Sulphur Dog Bite Lawyer

Sulphur Dog Bite Attorney

Dog attacks can have very serious consequences, leading to broken bones, puncture wounds, and potentially deadly infections. These attacks can be traumatizing and require significant medical treatment. A Sulphur dog bite lawyer can help you if you or someone you love was injured in a dog attack. You may be able to hold the owner liable for negligence and recover the damages you have suffered from your injuries.

Dog attacks are, unfortunately, common. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), 45% of households have at least one dog, and 4.5 million people are bitten each year.

The Cox Law Firm: Protecting Victims of Dog Bites in Sulphur

It is not easy to navigate a dog bite claim, especially when the dog belongs to a friend or family member. Claims are typically filed against an insurance company, not individuals, and that is how you recover the costs of your injuries. Working with a dog bite attorney can make it easier to navigate this process and get the financial recovery you need. At the Cox Law Firm, we can help you understand your options after a dog bite.

You don’t want to underestimate the severity and cost of your injuries. Our firm uses our decades of work in personal injury and 135 years of combined experience to support you and obtain the settlement that you are owed.

What Compensation Can I Recover in a Dog Bite Claim?

Holding dog owners or property owners liable for attacks by dogs can be complex. If you are able to hold them at fault, you can recover the entirety of your damages sustained in the accident. This may include damages such as economic damages, which are set financial losses like:

• Medical bills – Your injuries often require medical treatment, potentially even surgeries, immediately after an attack. You may also need follow-up treatment, long-term physical therapy, and other long-term medical care. More serious injuries could permanently affect your life. The value of these losses should be considered in your claim.
• Lost income – During the time you recover from your injuries, you likely cannot work. The income you lost is included in your claim, as well as any lost benefits.
• Lost earning capacity – If your injuries impact your ability to work permanently, the wages you should have earned are considered in your claim. This is the case if you are unable to work full time, must move to find other work, or are unable to keep gainful employment.
• Property damage – Personal property that was broken or destroyed could be included in a claim.

Your damages can also include noneconomic damages, which are subjective and intangible losses like:

• Pain and suffering
• Reduced quality of life
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Disfigurement and scarring
• Disability
• Mental anguish
• Loss of consortium

Assessing the value of these losses is easier with an experienced attorney. Many people underestimate the value of their damages, meaning they accept a settlement for a dog bite that is insufficient.

The compensation you can recover may be limited by other factors, such as the available insurance coverage or partial fault. If your damages exceed the homeowner’s insurance or other relevant insurance coverage, you may be unable to recover maximum compensation. Your compensation will also be reduced if the court determines you were partially to blame for the incident. An experienced dog bite attorney can help explain your options.

What Should You Do After a Dog Bite?

The most important thing to do after a dog bite is to get medical treatment. You should wash the wound and use antibiotics or antiseptics on the area. Medical treatment is important to get quickly because certain infections carried by dog bites can be deadly and may not have immediately noticeable symptoms. Medical professionals will know what to look for and how to treat these bites. If you have been bitten by a dog in Sulphur, seek help at:

West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital
701 Cypress Street
Sulphur, LA 70663

Getting medical treatment is primarily important to take care of your own well-being. It is also important because medical treatment is essential evidence in a claim you make.

FAQs

What Does a Level 2 Dog Bite Look Like?

A level 2 dog bite is one of the more minor types of dog bites categorized by the Dunbar dog bite scale. It is characterized by contact to the skin with the dog’s teeth but no vertical puncture wounds. There may be grazes, nicks, and bleeding from lateral movement of the teeth, but none deeper than one-tenth of an inch. This scale is used to determine the severity of a dog bite and goes up to a level 6 bite.

How Long Does It Take to Get Money from a Dog Bite?

The amount of time that it takes to get money from a dog bite claim relies on several factors unique to your case. There is no set timeline. Your claim may take longer to resolve if:

• Your injuries are more serious, and it takes longer for you to reach maximum medical improvement.
• The investigations take significant time to gather.
• Fault is contested, or you are being accused of being partially at fault.
• Whether the insurance company is willing to negotiate..

What Is the Maximum Compensation for a Dog Bite?

The maximum compensation for a dog bite will be the total cost of your compensatory damages. This varies depending on your injuries and other damages, and not all cases will result in securing maximum compensation. Your compensatory damages could include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income and benefits
• Lost earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage

According to the AVMA mentioned above, in 2023, insurance companies paid out $1.12 billion for dog bite liability claims. Working with an attorney can help you calculate the accurate value of these losses and may be able to recover maximum compensation.

Getting the Financial Support You Need

Dog bite claims can be complex, and laws of liability are often hard to navigate. Our firm can help you determine if the dog’s owner or a property owner is liable for your injuries. Contact the Cox Law Firm today.