The amount of compensation you could receive for a dog bite claim will depend on the scope and severity of the damages you suffered in the dog attack. If you can prove the dog owner is liable for the incident, you can hold them accountable for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. It is also possible to recover compensation for any projected future damages you face, such as diminished earning capacity if you were permanently disabled.
Baton Rouge Dog Bite Lawyer
Dog Bite Accident Attorney In Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Dog Bites
Information & What To Do
Dogs might be man’s best friend, but many are also liabilities. Some dogs might attack humans or livestock out of aggression, fear, protection, or self-preservation. When a dog’s owner could have prevented an attack but failed to do so, the victim should contact a Baton Rouge dog bite lawyer because a dog bite can cause serious to fatal penetration injuries, lacerations, bruising, infections, disease, and organ damage.
If you suffered injuries or a loved one died from avoidable pet aggression in Baton Rouge, don’t hesitate to contact Murphy Law Firm. Our dog bite accident lawyer can help you file a claim against the pet owner and secure compensation for medical bills, physical pain, emotional distress, and more. Contact our personal injury claim lawyer today to discuss your case!
Benefits of Working With a Baton Rouge Dog Bite Lawyer
While you might assume that fault for your recent dog attack is readily apparent, and you may think you can handle pursuing recovery on your own, it would be a mistake for several reasons. You could encounter various complex legal challenges that you will not know how to resolve without an attorney’s help. You could also miss procedural deadlines, make other mistakes that jeopardize your case or settle for much less than you deserve.
Additionally, attempting to handle a complex civil case while also managing the effects of your injuries would be incredibly challenging. Instead of making an already challenging situation even more difficult for yourself, have an experienced Baton Rouge dog bite lawyer manage your case so you can focus on your recovery with peace of mind.
The Murphy Law Firm approaches every personal injury suit we accept with the goal of helping our client maximize their recovery as fully as state law allows. We know that no two cases are exactly alike and that every injured victim has unique needs and concerns. We can listen to your story, address any legal questions you have, and help you understand the various legal services we can provide that may assist with your recovery.
You have a relatively short time in which to file a personal injury claim in response to a dog attack in Baton Rouge. Securing legal counsel as quickly as possible will help ensure you can readily collect essential evidence and accurately prove the full extent of your claimable losses. As soon as you secure our firm’s representation, we can immediately begin working on your case.
Dog Bites in Louisiana
Each state abides by different dog bite laws, some more sensitive to victims’ plights than others. In Louisiana, the laws aren’t the friendliest to victims, but they don’t make it impossible to recover either. Dog owners are not automatically liable for bites and attacks their dogs cause, as is the case in many other states. Instead, the victim must prove that the dog owner could have prevented the bite. The bite victim will only be eligible for compensation if all of the following are true:
- The dog owner knew or reasonably should have known the dog’s behavior would cause harm.
- The owner could have prevented the damage by taking reasonable care.
- The owner did not take reasonable care in preventing the damage.
- The injured party did not provoke or taunt the dog.
Only with these four elements will the law make the dog owner “answerable for the damage.” Showing these proofs might take a thorough investigation into the incident, including the location of the accident, the dog’s history, the actions of the owner, and statements from eyewitnesses about what happened. If these four elements are present, the dog owner will be strictly liable for damages, including personal injury and property damage the dog caused.
The Supreme Court of Louisiana in Pepper v. Triplet held, that dog bite victims must prove the dog posed an “unreasonable risk of harm,” as well as proving the defendant owned the dog, the dog caused the harm, and the plaintiff suffered damages as a result. However, a plaintiff might also be able to win a case based on other grounds for liability, including scienter and negligence per se.
As you can see, the legal process for recovering compensation for a dog bite injury isn’t exactly a walk in the park in Louisiana. Retaining a skilled dog attack lawyer, however, can take the burden of legal action off your shoulders.
Your attorney can not only help you establish liability for the dog attack you experienced, but they can also potentially help you disprove any allegations that you share fault for the incident. It’s relatively common for dog owners facing civil suits to claim that the alleged victims provoked the attack somehow.
Louisiana does follow a pure comparative fault rule that applies to any personal injury suit in which the plaintiff is found partially liable for the damages cited in the claim. However, if the facts of a case show that the victim of a dog attack was attacked when they intruded on private property or if they provoked the attack, it could lead to a diminished recovery or even prevent them from filing suit entirely.
Get Help with Your Louisiana Dog Bite Claim
Whether the dog’s owner is a friend, relative, neighbor, or total stranger, don’t be afraid to seek the compensation you deserve. Murphy Law Firm’s dog bite accident lawyer can guide you through the process and fight for your rights. An experienced attorney’s help will ensure the owner, insurance companies, and the courts hear your voice loud and clear. You’ll also avoid any mistakes that can delay or disrupt the claims process, such as missing Louisiana’s strict one-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims.
A vicious dog attack can leave you permanently scarred, physically and psychologically. You might never look at dogs the same way again or feel afraid to walk through a specific part of your neighborhood because of dogs living there. Child victims are especially prone to lasting mental and emotional damage after a traumatic canine bite.
Don’t let negligent pet owners get away with preventable dog attacks. Contact us at Murphy Law Firm to schedule a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in dog bite cases.
Legal Recourse for a Fatal Dog Attack
Unfortunately, some dog attacks result in fatal harm to victims. If you have lost a loved one from a fatal dog attack in the Baton Rouge area, it could form the foundation of a wrongful death claim against the dog’s owner. This type of personal injury claim is filed by the family of the deceased and seeks compensation for the damages incurred by the estate of the deceased and the surviving family.
The state enforces strict rules for wrongful death cases pertaining to eligibility to file these claims, the damages available, and the time limit for filing them. These cases are inherently emotionally stressful for the family, so it is crucial for them to have legal counsel they can trust so they can approach the situation with peace of mind.
Other Premises & Liability Cases
Information & What To Do
Property owners in the state of Louisiana are responsible for keeping their property reasonably safe for other people. When accidents occur due to the negligence of the owner, injury victims and their families may be entitled to pursue premises liability claims. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you determine who is negligent and who should be held liable for your injuries.
At Murphy Law Firm, LLC, in Baton Rouge, our premises liability lawyers have more than 150 years of combined experience representing people injured in slip-and-fall and other premises liability accidents. We work hard to recover the maximum compensation that our clients need for medical treatment, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other expenses. Make sure you are not taken advantage of by the insurance company. Read our Injury Accident Guide and learn more about what to do after an accident that leaves you or someone you love injured.
“Insurance companies have teams of lawyers working to lower the amount of compensation they have to pay accident victims. Our personal injury attorneys can stand up for your rights to full compensation. Don’t be a victim twice. Put our experience on your side.”
-Attorney Peyton Murphy
Our firm has handled a wide range of claims involving premises liability, including:
- Slip or Trip-and-Fall Accidents
- Property Accidents
- Unsafe Conditions
- Improper or Negligent Maintenance
- Inadequate Security
- Dog Bites
Premises liability law covers many types of accidents and injuries. If you are unsure whether you have grounds for a claim, it’s vital to consult a trustworthy attorney to get the answers you need. Time is a critical concern in any civil claim for damages. It is important to take action as soon as possible after a personal injury incident. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our premises liability lawyers, and learn what types of compensation you may be entitled to receive.
FAQs
How Are Pain and Suffering Calculated in a Baton Rouge Dog Bite Claim?
Pain and suffering can be calculated in various ways in a Baton Rouge dog bite claim. State law does not require a plaintiff to use a specific formula to calculate pain and suffering compensation in a personal injury case, and this form of recovery is not limited under state law. Your Baton Rouge dog bite lawyer can help you determine a fair amount based on the severity of the physical harm you suffered, your recovery time, and the psychological effects of the attack.
Will I Win More Compensation if I Hire a Baton Rouge Dog Bite Lawyer?
Hiring a Baton Rouge dog bite lawyer is one of the most effective ways to enhance your case award. While you may understand your immediately noticeable economic damages, accurate calculation of projected future damages and determining fair pain and suffering compensation to seek with your claim would be challenging without an experienced lawyer’s help. Your Baton Rouge dog bite lawyer will know how to maximize your recovery.
How Long Do I Have to File a Dog Bite Claim in Baton Rouge?
The amount of time you have to file a dog bite claim in Baton Rouge is determined by the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in the state. For the majority of personal injury cases filed in the state, the statute of limitations is one year from the date an injury occurs. If the plaintiff fails to submit their complaint to the court within this timeframe, they will completely lose the right to file their personal injury suit against the defendant.
Can I Settle a Dog Bite Claim Outside of Court?
Yes, it is possible to settle a dog bite claim outside of court as long as both you and the defendant are willing to negotiate a mutually acceptable settlement. Many personal injury cases filed in the state end in private settlement negotiations, but this is only possible if a defendant accepts liability and is willing to compromise with the plaintiff. If settlement fails or is not an option for resolving the case, the case will need to go to court.
Ultimately, dog bite incidents can be incredibly damaging and traumatic for the victim, and anyone who experiences such an incident is likely to have many difficult legal questions they cannot answer on their own. When you choose the Murphy Law Firm to represent your case, you can approach this difficult case with greater confidence. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Baton Rouge dog bite lawyer to learn how we can help you.
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