Dog Bite Lawyer in Kinston

Being attacked and bitten by a dog can be a terrifying and traumatic experience. While owners are responsible for keeping their dogs in check, they do not always do so. Injuries, whether mild or severe, can be painful and leave permanent scarring and tissue damage on the victim.

If someone’s dog harmed you or a loved one, you deserve someone who will fight for your best interests. The Kinston personal injury lawyers at Whitley Law Firm have been standing up for North Carolina families since 1974, with over 120 years of combined experience.

If you have been the victim of a dog attack, we’re here to help. A dog bite lawyer in Kinston can help you understand what your case is worth and what steps to take next.

What Compensation Can You Recover in a Kinston Dog Bite Case?

Our attorneys can help you pursue a personal injury claim or lawsuit to recover your losses after an attack. A Kinston dog bite lawyer will work to identify every category of damages that applies to your situation. Here is what those recoverable losses can include.

Medical Treatment Costs

The bills from a dog bite can add up fast. Your case may include costs for:

• Medical treatments
• Surgery, including plastic or reconstructive surgery
• Pain management

These are some of the most immediate expenses a personal injury lawyer will work to recover on your behalf.

Ongoing and Future Medical Bills

Many dog bite victims need more than one round of treatment. Scar revision surgery, continued physical therapy, and long-term care can stretch on for months or even years. Your claim can account for those future medical treatment costs, not just the bills you have right now.

Lost Wages and Future Earning Capacity

If you missed paychecks while recovering, you can recover those lost wages. If your injuries affect your ability to return to the same job, you may also be entitled to compensation for future lost income. Your personal injury claims should reflect the full financial impact of what happened to you.

Pain and Suffering

A dog attack is not just physically painful. The experience itself can leave lasting emotional trauma. Anxiety, fear, nightmares, and ongoing discomfort are real losses, even when they do not show up on a medical bill.

Pain and suffering damages are designed to account for exactly that.

Scarring and Emotional Trauma

Scarring is life-changing for many people. When a dog bite impacts your outward appearance, it can have lasting psychological impacts. Changes in appearance can affect confidence and daily life in ways that go far beyond the physical.

Other non-economic damages may include:

• Chronic pain
• Depression and anxiety
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Loss of enjoyment of life

In the most tragic cases, a fatal dog attack may give rise to a wrongful death claim on behalf of the victim’s family.

The Insurance Company Isn’t Fighting for Your Interests

The insurance company representing the dog’s owner is not on your side. Their job is to pay out as little as possible, not to make sure you are fairly compensated. They may downplay your injuries or offer a settlement that falls far short of what you actually need.

That is why having a Kinston dog bite lawyer in your corner matters. We cannot tell you the exact value of your case until we speak with you and investigate the details. What we can tell you is that we take every personal injury claim seriously and conduct a thorough review of every case we handle.

When is a Dog Owner Liable for a Dog Bite?

North Carolina is a mixed statutory state, meaning there are several factors a Kinston dog bite attorney must consider regarding liability.

Statutory liability holds a dog owner or keeper strictly liable in a dog bite case if the dog:

• Injured a person or another domestic animal in the past
• Was owned or trained for dog fighting
• Approached a person who was not on the owner’s property in a vicious manner

Even if these conditions do not apply to the case, the owners could still be held liable. Your attorney would need proof that the dog was dangerous. Perhaps the animal had been labeled dangerous by authorities in the past. An attorney could use this as evidence of the owner’s negligence.

These laws do not apply if the dog bite victim was trespassing on the owner’s property or if the victim was abusing, harassing, tormenting, or otherwise provoking the dog. Furthermore, the statute does not apply if the victim was attempting to commit a crime (such as breaking and entering) at the time of the attack.

Proving Negligence if Statutory Liability Does Not Apply

If there does not seem to be a statutory liability case, the victim of a dog bite may be able to prove that the owner was negligent.

The owner of a dog that is not considered dangerous or aggressive and attacks another person may be liable for negligence if they have breached their duty to the safety of others. This means that the dog owner did not take the safety precautions that a responsible owner or handler would have in a similar situation. This can sometimes be more difficult to prove in court.

In a negligence per se case, a dog owner may be liable for damages inflicted on a victim if they broke other animal control laws in Lenoir County, such as allowing an animal to run at large.

Given the complexity of the laws regarding dog bites in North Carolina, it may be in a victim’s best interest to have a dog bite attorney in Kinston help them through the process.

Evidence We May Use to Support Your Case Against a Negligent Dog Owner

During our investigation, we will gather evidence to support your case, including:

• Incident reports
• Physical evidence, such as torn clothing
• Eyewitness statements
• Photo and video evidence
• Medical records

Unfortunately, many valuable pieces of evidence are time-sensitive. If there is surveillance footage, it may be recorded over in as little as one month. The sooner you contact an attorney from our firm, the sooner we can start collecting important evidence.

Kinston Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me (800) 785-5000

What to Do After a Dog Bite in Kinston

The steps you take right after an attack can make a real difference in your personal injury claim. 

Here is what to do:

• Seek medical treatment immediately. Even if the wound looks minor, dog bites carry a serious risk of infection. Get evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible and follow all treatment instructions.
• Identify the dog and its owner. Get the owner’s name, contact information, and proof of the dog’s vaccination history if you can.
• Report the bite. File a report with Kinston animal control or local law enforcement. This creates an official record of the incident.
• Document everything. Take photos of your injuries, the location where the attack happened, and anything else that seems relevant. Keep records of every medical visit and expense.
• Avoid speaking to the insurance company alone. The dog owner’s insurer may contact you quickly. Be cautious. Anything you say can be used to reduce or deny your claim.
• Contact a Kinston dog bite lawyer. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the better protected your rights will be.

It is easy to feel shaken after an attack. Taking these steps, even imperfectly, puts you in a much stronger position.

How Long Do You Have to File a Dog Bite Claim in North Carolina?

Time matters in a dog bite case. North Carolina law gives most injury victims three years from the date of the attack to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline is called the statute of limitations.

Three years may sound like plenty of time, but it goes faster than you think. Evidence can disappear. Witnesses’ memories fade. Medical records need to be gathered and organized. The earlier you start working with a dog bite lawyer, the more time your legal team has to build the strongest possible case.

If you miss the filing deadline, you may lose your right to pursue compensation entirely, regardless of how strong your case might have been. Do not let the clock run out before you take action.

What to Expect From the Legal Process

If you have never been through a personal injury claim before, the legal process can feel intimidating.

Here is a straightforward look at how it typically works:

Initial Consultation

You speak with a dog bite lawyer in Kinston about what happened. This conversation is confidential and comes with no obligation. The goal is simply to understand your situation.

Investigation

Your attorney gathers evidence, such as medical records, incident reports, witness statements, photos, and any history of the dog’s behavior. This is the foundation of your case.

Filing a Claim

In many cases, a claim is first filed with the dog owner’s insurance company. Your lawyer handles all communication with the insurer, so you do not have to.

Negotiation

The insurance company will likely make an offer. Your attorney will evaluate whether it fairly reflects your losses and negotiate on your behalf if it does not.

Litigation

If a fair settlement cannot be reached, your lawyer may recommend filing a lawsuit. Most cases settle before reaching trial, but having an attorney prepared to go to court strengthens your position at every stage.

How a Kinston Dog Bite Attorney From Whitley Law Firm Can Help

A dog bite can cause serious physical and emotional injuries. The pain and suffering that results from a dog attack should not be underestimated when the scarring and possible tissue or ligament damage may lead to long-term pain and disability.

At the Whitley Law Firm, we work tirelessly to get you every dollar of compensation that you deserve for your dog bite case. We treat our clients with care and compassion. You can call us today for a free initial consultation.

If you have been the victim of a dog attack, contact a Kinston dog bite lawyer who will help you reach a life-improving settlement or verdict.