Durham Dog Bite Lawyer
Dog bites often leave victims with long-term emotional trauma. Between cosmetic surgeries and the risk of bacterial and viral infections, victims are also saddled with costly medical treatment. Sadly, children under ten are especially vulnerable to dog bites—and often suffer severe injuries. If a dog bit you or your child, we understand the difficult situation you and your family are in and want to help.
With over 80 years of combined legal experience, our Durham dog bite lawyers will treat your situation with sensitivity and kindness. Our highest priority is ensuring your needs are met to achieve the best possible recovery. In addition, we fight for your compensation with the compassion and determination we would use to protect our own families. This approach makes us different. It’s the Whitley Advantage.
Let Our Dog Bite Attorneys in Durham Help Your Family
In addition to pain and extensive medical bills, a dog bite victim may suffer from the financial insecurity of unpaid time off during recovery. The process of recovering compensation for these losses can be challenging, and the last thing you need at this stressful time is a complex legal battle.
While injury attorneys are here to take care of everything needed for your case, our top priority is supporting you and your family. So, let us help you get the care you need, guide you during the legal process, and take on the insurance companies for you.
Here’s a little more about how we build a robust case:
We Establish Negligence and Liability in Your Case
Dog owners, handlers, or anyone connected with the dog that bit you could be held responsible for your injuries if they were negligent. Negligence means they did (or failed to do) something that resulted in your harm.
The negligent party’s liability is determined according to several factors, including whether the animal was being well-cared for, the dog’s status (dangerous or not), local and state laws, the owner or handler’s action at the time of the incident, and the insurance coverage available.
We will investigate the accident to determine who is responsible for your injuries and the insurance coverage available to compensate you.
We Gather the Evidence Required to Prove Your Claims
To build a robust case, we must obtain and organize evidence that proves your eligibility for compensation. For almost five decades, we have been helping injured people in Durham and the surrounding counties to recover life-improving financial awards. This means we know a thing or two about gathering evidence and how to use it effectively.
For example, we may use photographs or video, medical records, veterinary records, police incident reports, CCTV footage, or eyewitness statements to bolster our case. Additionally, we have strong relationships with local medical and financial professionals who could provide vital expert testimony.
We Assess the Impact of Your Current and Anticipated Costs
We take great care when assessing how the bite injury has impacted you and your family, your ability to work, and your future. You may be eligible to recover damages relating to the following:
- Medical bills, treatment, and rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning capacity
- Your emotional distress after the accident
- The cost of your ongoing care
- Compensation for loss of quality of life, such as suffering caused by permanent disabilities, scarring, or disfigurement
We Manage All Communications and Negotiations with Insurers on Your Behalf
When you sustain a dog bite injury, the at-fault party’s insurer will do everything possible to reduce their liability for your losses. Unfortunately, sometimes, accident victims do not recognize the full extent or cost of their injuries until they have already accepted less than they deserve.
This is why seeking information from an attorney experienced in state and local injury law is extremely important to your case. They can take specific measures to obtain a fair and honest settlement or court verdict.
The Consequences of a Dog Bite Injury Can Be Devastating
For many in North Carolina, dogs provide a sense of protection and companionship. However, for those attacked by man’s best friend, the physical and emotional effects can be profound.
Dog bite victims sustain a few common injuries and emotional effects:
- Anxiety, anger, or depression
- Broken bones
- Crush injuries
- Cuts and abrasions
- Emotional trauma
- Facial fractures
- Fractured bones
- Infections
- Lacerations
- Nerve damage
- Permanent scarring
- PTSD
- Puncture wounds
- Sleep disorders
- Social isolation
- Sprain injuries
Dog Owners Must Protect Others From Potential Harm
While attacks can be unprovoked, dogs typically bite as a reaction to stressful situations, feeling threatened, needing to protect themselves or their owners, or as a result of past abuse. Owners need to be mindful of their pet’s triggers and the dangers they may pose to others. They should also do their due diligence to provide a safe environment for the dog to prevent aggressive behavior that can arise from abuse or neglect.
What To Do If a Dog Bites You in Durham, N.C.
If a dog bites you, seek immediate medical treatment, ensure you or your loved one is up-to-date on shots and vaccinations, and document your injuries. This helps your case by linking your injuries to the incident. You should also report the incident to the police or local animal control.
In addition:
- Make a note of the owner’s contact information, including their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, along with the name and breed of their dog.
- Collect the contact details of any nearby witnesses.
- Obtain proof of the dog’s rabies vaccination or their veterinarian’s contact information.
- Take pictures of the injury after the incident and as you are recovering.
- Keep evidence, such as any items of clothing you were wearing at the time of the dog attack.
- Create a written account of what happened before, during, and immediately after the incident.
Seeking medical attention is the top priority here, so do not worry if you cannot collect evidence at the accident scene. We can help you document your injuries and gather evidence to build your case.
Contact Whitley Law Firm for A Free Consultation
After you or someone you love is bitten by a dog, you would benefit from a lawyer who is more than just your legal advocate. We want to take care of you and your family by being your support and your voice through every stage of the legal process.
We genuinely care about the outcome of your case and would be honored if you would allow us to fight on your behalf. Our longstanding roots and reputation in the community show that we know the people we serve. We will use our knowledge of who you are as a person to tailor our services to your needs.
To learn more about claiming compensation for a dog bite injury, contact our team online, or call (919) 785-5000 and benefit from a free consultation today.
