What Kind of Lawyer Do You Need for a Dog Bite Injury? While many personal injury lawyers say they can handle dog bites, by seeking the services of an attorney with years of experience and knowledge when it comes to dog attack statutes and injury law like the lawyers of Goodwin & Scieszka, you can fight for the compensation you deserve.
Full Answer
Answer Most personal injury lawyers should be able to handle a dog bite injury case, and you typically don't need to worry about finding an attorney who specializes in "dog bite defense" cases as opposed to one who handles work on the plaintiff's side.
By hiring a professional trained personal injury lawyer from the office of Hutzler law, you can get the legal services you need in order to pursue a case related to a dog attack and injuries to you or a loved one. If you happen to be a victim of a dog attack, give us a call today at (602) 730-4530 or go online to fill out our free consultation ...
A dog bite attorney practices in the area of law known as personal injury. Lawyers in this field represent plaintiffs who have been injured in various types of accidents, including dog bites and animal attacks. If you or your child is attacked by a dog, a skilled lawyer can prove invaluable in helping you recover the money you deserve.
Feb 17, 2012 · A “dog lawyer,” or more accurately, an animal lawyer or animal law attorney, is an attorney who specializes in matters of animal law. Circumstances in which you may need sound legal advice and representation from someone with extensive experience with dog-related cases are not limited to dog bite incidents.
In states that follow a " one bite rule ," you may be able to argue that you did not know (and could not have reasonably been expected to know) that your dog might end up biting someone.
You may be wondering how a personal injury attorney might be compensated if you decide to hire one to defend against a dog bite lawsuit. In many situations, your homeowners' insurance policy will kick in to cover the costs of defending a lawsuit over a dog bite, especially when it occurred on your property. So the insurance carrier should pay your ...
A “dog lawyer,” or more accurately, an animal lawyer or animal law attorney, is an attorney who specializes in matters of animal law. Circumstances in which you may need sound legal advice and representation from someone with extensive experience with dog-related cases are not limited to dog bite incidents. Veterinary malpractice cases, custody ...
If you feel an error was made by your veterinarian in treating your pet, an animal law attorney can help you determine if the case is actionable (malpractice) or a case of simple negligence (carelessness) that does not constitute malpractice.
As with medical care for people, sometimes things go terribly wrong. Veterinary malpractice is professional negligence, an error that should not be made based on a level of competence expected of a veterinarian as a result of specialized training and experience, which results in injury or death to your dog. If you feel an error was made by your ...
Veterinary malpractice cases, custody issues in divorces, and landlord-tenant disputes are just a few examples of when an animal law attorney can help with legal issues pertaining to your dog.
In 2000, nine law schools in the U.S. offered courses in animal law. According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), the number offering animal law courses has now increased to 100 of the 200 law schools approved by the American Bar Association. A decade ago, an attorney specializing in animal law might have raised eyebrows. But high profile legal cases in recent years involving dog fighting rings, tainted pet foods, and pet trusts amounting to millions of dollars, in addition to a greater presence of the animal welfare and animal rights movements in the legal arena, have added credibility and legitimacy to this fast emerging area of law.
A relatively new and diverse legal specialty, animal law is an umbrella term encompassing all types of non-human animals. Animal law includes animals used in research, sports or entertainment, livestock, animals in the wild and wild animals in captivity, as well as companion animals.
Part of the reason for the rapid increase in the number of animal lawyers is due to the rise in status of our companion animals and their importance in our lives. Today’s owners often spend thousands of dollars to provide their dogs or cats with the best health care, training, day care, and grooming. For those owners, attorney’s fees are viewed as just another necessary expense in caring for and protecting their pets.
As briefly mentioned above, people who own wild animals will automatically become liable for any resulting injuries caused by their animal. Possessors or keepers of wild animals can be held liable as well.
In the event that a person is bitten or attacked by an animal, they should consider taking some of the following steps, which can help them to preserve a claim for damages, including: Identifying the animal that caused the injury; Seeking medical attention when necessary;
Obtaining an insurance policy can be helpful in protecting against an owner’s liability for a dog bite or animal attack. For instance, some homeowner or renters insurance policies will cover damages for injuries caused by an animal. Other policies may not offer such coverage or it may depend on the type of animal that caused the harm. As such, it is important that an owner review the terms of a policy before choosing which insurance to purchase.
For instance, suppose a person keeps a wild tiger in their apartment in a jurisdi ction that recognizes strict liability laws and the tiger severely injures or attacks a neighbor. That person will immediately become responsible for damages regardless of whether the neighbor instigated the attack.
In general, an animal attack can be described as an attack by an animal that causes injuries and sometimes death to a human being. Laws related to animal attacks will define when an owner may be liable for resulting injuries. As such, the definition and legal consequences related to such actions will vary by state.
One primary difference between commercial owners and the average pet owner is that if properly proven, pet owners can usually be held responsible for the actions of their pet no matter what. On the other hand, some state statutes will require that the commercial owner is a privately owned establishment before certain types of lawsuits can be brought against them.
Animal keepers who are not the owners; People in possession of the animal who are not the owners (e.g., pet sitters); Employers whose businesses involve animals (e.g., pet shop owners, animal shelters, zoos, kennels. etc.), or allow animals on the property (e.g., cafes that permit dogs); Individuals who sell animals; Stable keepers; and.
Sometimes aggressive dogs can attack other dogs – or even people – causing serious injury and incurring expensive medical bills. Many pet owners call our law firm after their dog has been attacked or seriously injured by another dog.
We know most owners won't think twice about protecting their pet from an attacking dog. More often than not, they end up suffering bites or serious injury. Just know that you don't have to live with the cost of defending your beloved pet. The other dog's owner may be held responsible for your medical costs.
To find an experienced attorney, your best bet might be a personal referral from someone you know and trust. If that is not an option, contact your local animal shelter to see if they know of an attorney who handles animal law cases.
Since 1979, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has been the leader in the fight to win animals the legal protection they so desperately need—and deserve. Your generous support is vital to our continued success.
Barring that, you can contact your local bar association. Bar associations are the licensing entities for lawyers.
When someone kills or injures your animal, the law primarily (although not exclusively) sees this as an injury to “property.”. A lawyer who specializes in personal injuries or injury to property (called “torts” in the law) should be able to handle the case.
Animal law is a relatively new, and growing, specialty within the law, and an increasing number of lawyers specialize in cases involving animals. In most cases, however, while it may be advantageous, it is not necessary to find an attorney who specializes in animal law specifically.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund offers this list for your convenience but does not endorse any of these organizations, and recommends that you research any terms and conditions before submitting any information. This list should not be considered exhaustive.
However, due to the limited potential for recovery of damages in animal cases, it is possible to pay more for an attorney’s services than you are likely to recover if you win your case, barring an award for punitive or emotional distress damages.