Jefferson Dog Bite Attorney

Dogs have become part of many people’s families over the years, with more and more attention and care given to our pets. That also means that there are plenty of dogs operating as members of society, and when they have not been properly socialized or trained, they can present a real risk to bystanders. While most dogs won’t bite or cause harm to anyone, the sheer number of dogs in America means that millions of injuries from dog bites will be sustained each year.

If you’ve found yourself the victim of a dog attack, it may be time to find a Jefferson dog bite attorney to look over your case.

When Should I Call A Jefferson Dog Bite Attorney?

As with most personal injury cases (which is what a dog bite case is legally classified to be), the sooner you get in touch with an attorney, the better. A big part of an attorney’s job during a personal injury case is gathering evidence. This is called the “discovery” phase, and it may consist of gathering documentation from medical institutions, collecting witness statements, viewing and maintaining video or audio footage, and more.

For a dog bite case, many of these elements of discovery work best when they happen soon after the incident. Witnesses will likely remember things in more detail and there is less time for video footage to be erased. Physical evidence at the site of the incident is more likely to be preserved.

On top of that, there is a statute of limitations on these kinds of incidents. In most cases, if you haven’t filed a lawsuit within two years of the incident, then you’ll likely be ineligible to do so in the state of Georgia.

You may have heard of a “One Bite” rule for dogs that imposes strict penalties for any damages done from a dog bite. This is not the case for Georgia. Instead, a large part of the legal case involves demonstrating liability on the part of the dog’s owner. In order to support a case for damages under Georgia’s dog bite statute, O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7, it is necessary to show two things:

1. that the dog was vicious or dangerous; AND
2. that the owner had knowledge of the dog’s vicious or dangerous propensity.

Making a case for liability is not a simple question of “yes” or “no.” It requires investigation and the crafting of a full picture of the dog and the dog’s owner’s history. A Jefferson dog bite attorney will look into details that can help make the case. These include the following:

• The dog’s past behavior- Does the dog have a history of aggressive behavior? Has the dog been involved in a biting incident in the past? If so, this may help demonstrate that the owner had a reasonable expectation that their dog could act aggressively and should have taken more precautions.
• The owner’s preventative actions– Was the dog off-leash in an area where it was prohibited? Did the dog escape through a poorly-maintained fence? Was the dog inadequately supervised? These questions help demonstrate that the owner did not take reasonable precautions to prevent injuries.

At the same time, the defense team will be trying to demonstrate that the dog’s owner is not responsible for the accident. Part of your legal strategy will involve preparing for questions involving your own responsibility in the incident:

• Treatment of the dog- Did the dog bite victim provoke the dog? Was the victim acting in a way that was aggressive or threatening to the animal? If so, the defense will likely try to argue that the bite was not the owner’s responsibility.
• Location and circumstances– Was the dog bite victim somewhere they did not have a legal right to be? Was the victim trespassing? If so, the defense will try to use these details to demonstrate that the owner did not have a reasonable expectation to prevent the attack.

Taken together, these arguments will paint a picture of what happened and who is responsible.

Jefferson Dog Bite Attorney Near You

As you can see, the circumstances surrounding a dog bite can be complicated and filled with debate over the details. It’s important to have an experienced, dedicated dog bite attorney on your side who can gather the evidence you need to make your case.

Contact us right away to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.