New Bern Dog Bite Lawyer
To someone never bitten by a dog, it sounds like a painful but minor injury. But to someone who suffered such an attack, they know firsthand how traumatizing a bite can prove.
If you or a loved one suffered a severe dog bite, you have rights under the law. A New Bern dog bite lawyer from Whitley Law Firm can manage your case with the compassion and attention to detail it deserves. Our personal injury team intends to hold the dog’s owner liable for the cost of your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
To consult our team and start a free case review, call (919) 785-5000.
Our Lawyers Seek Compensation After a Dog Bite in New Bern
North Carolina law is clear when it comes to liability and compensation for dog bite injuries. If you were bitten by a dog, you can seek financial recovery from the animal’s owner. Plain and simple. You don’t have to show that the dog was aggressive or that the dog’s owner was negligent. You only have to show that a dog bit you, and you deserve compensation.
We Seek the Cost of Your Economic Damages
Financial recovery should account for your financial and non-financial losses. Economic damages may cover several types of losses, such as:
- Medical expenses, including immediate and long-term treatment for your physical and mental health needs
- Vet costs, if your dog or another animal was wounded in the attack
- Lost wages, if your injuries kept you from your job or kept you at home caring for a loved one who was attacked
- Loss of future earnings, if your injuries are severe and leave you unable to earn a living or if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job
- The cost of anything you spent out of pocket
Our Lawyers Aim to Recover Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages cover losses that have financial values and no supporting receipts or invoices. They include:
- The physical and mental pain and suffering that the dog bite caused
- Depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- A change in your ability to enjoy life and your hobbies
- Loss of relationships due to the damage done to your physical and mental state
How Much Compensation You Can Recover Depends on Your Situation
North Carolina has no preset amount that dog bite victims may recover from negligent owners. How much you recover usually depends on the dog’s history, the owner’s role in the incident, and the severity of your injuries. Our New Bern attorneys will discuss how these parameters may apply to your case during your free consultation. We hope to recover every dime you need to start rebuilding your life.
Protecting the Rights of Dog Bite Victims in New Bern
Our dog bite attorneys offer the Whitley Advantage to every client. That advantage isn’t just one thing. It’s care. It’s compassion. It’s listening––really listening––and protecting our clients like we would our own family.
We use our collective 80 years of combined legal experience to advance your case and secure financial justice. Our methods vary by case, but generally, our work includes:
- Collecting evidence of the attack by talking to witnesses, reviewing police and medical reports, and gathering videos and photos of the incident
- Building a case based on the information we find
- Accounting for all of your losses and filing a claim against the liable party’s insurance
- Negotiating with the insurance company for full and fair compensation
- Preparing your case for trial and representing you in court, if necessary
Our lawyers do everything in our power to recover compensation for your losses. We tailor our case strategy to meet your needs.
We Make Our Dog Bite Lawyers Financially Accessible to Injured Clients
Our New Bern dog bite lawyers invite you to start a free, no-obligation case evaluation before electing to work with an attorney. After listening to your story and providing answers to your questions, we will suggest legal options that we believe are in line with your needs.
If we’re a good fit, we will take your case on a contingency-fee basis. In this arrangement, you pay no attorney’s fees unless we successfully recover damages through a settlement or court award. You don’t pay a dime for us to start investigating your case, compiling evidence, and holding the negligent party accountable.
What Do Previous Clients Share About Whitley Law Firm?
There’s not enough room to share all of the positive feedback we’ve received over the years. Yet, we believe that the following sum up our commitment to client satisfaction and success:
- “I would just like to thank you for your hard work. It resulted in my favor. I look forward to continuing working with you. I appreciate your advice, honesty and integrity. You made me feel special. I will have no trouble recommending you to everyone. Thanks again and I look forward to the future with you.” —S.B.
- “Aleigha Langtange was truly great to work with! I’m so glad she is the face of the firm as an Intake Specialist, she made me actually decide to go with the firm. She is kind, understanding and a good listener. Thank you for everything.” —H.C.
We’re confident that at the conclusion of your dog bite injury claim, you’ll have similar positive sentiments about our injury team.
The Statute of Limitations to File a Dog Bite Injury Lawsuit
You have three years from the date of the dog bite to file a personal injury lawsuit. Your filing deadline generally begins from the date of your accident. There are exceptions to this time limit, which could give you more time to act. Yet, you need to be aware of the standard three-year filing period.
If you do not file promptly, you cannot pursue compensation in court. This could leave you with few options for seeking damages––even the insurer doesn’t have an obligation to negotiate past the filing deadline. To promote your peace of mind and a positive outcome, we encourage you to consider your legal options promptly.
Dog Bite Laws in New Bern, North Carolina
In 2022, North Carolina held a spot in the top 10 states for most dog bites. Consequently, multiple state and city dog bite laws may apply to your case. Taking advantage of our law firm’s free case consultation offer may help you recognize the laws that apply as you pursue compensation.
Our years of experience have given our lawyers unique insight into these laws:
How New Bern Classifies Dangerous Dogs
New Bern has local ordinances that apply to dog bite injury cases. For instance, the city classifies dogs into three categories:
- Vicious dogs. These are animals that, without provocation, will inflict severe injury on a human or animal.
- Dangerous dogs. These are dogs that may require a person to defend themselves from an attack. Yet, the injury the dog inflicts isn’t as severe as it could be. For instance, a bite from a vicious dog would call for a hospital visit; a bite from a dangerous dog would warrant a visit to urgent care.
- Potentially dangerous dogs. New Bern notes that these dogs may inflict injuries when off the owner’s property. They may also chase people or threaten to cause bodily injury.
Whether you were bitten by a vicious, dangerous, or potentially dangerous dog, you have a friend and ally in Whitley Law Firm. We can gather evidence showing that you didn’t provoke the dog, yet still suffered a serious injury.
When the Dog’s Owner May Not Be Liable
Despite the term “strict liability,” there are instances in which a dog’s owner might not be liable for any injuries the animal causes. These instances include:
- The dog was an on-duty police or military dog.
- The victim trespassed on the owner’s property.
- The dog was confined securely when the incident happened (for instance, a small child suffered a bite when putting their fingers into the dog’s crate.)
- The dog was protecting its owner from a threat.
If any of these factors in your case apply, don’t let that discourage you from seeking damages. We cannot overemphasize the importance of our investigation. Our investigation may find that the dog owner is responsible for your losses. Don’t assume anything; instead, consult our dog bite lawyers serving Craven County.
It Doesn’t Matter What Dog Breed Bit You
This isn’t really a law, but rather, the absence of one. New Bern does not explicitly ban any dog breed. So, whether you were bitten by a French bulldog or a wolf-dog hybrid, you have financial recovery options. We can evaluate the dog’s veterinary records, witness testimony, and other information to prove that you did not provoke the dog, yet you were still bitten.
What Injuries Allow Me to Seek Damages?
Whitley Law Firm advocates for people who have suffered severe, disfiguring injuries from dog bites. In our decades of service, we’ve recovered damages for people suffering from:
- Nerve damage
- Deep cuts and lacerations
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Crushed bones
- Spinal cord trauma
- Infections from the bite
- Torn ligaments
- Avulsions and tissue loss
We also advocate for families who have lost loved ones.
Begin Your Free Case Consultation With Our New Bern Lawyers Now
Our dog bite attorneys do not settle without fighting for every dime you deserve. Let Whitley Law Firm offer a shoulder to lean on during this challenging time. Call us today at (919) 785-5000, and let’s talk.
