Dog Bites

Comprehensive Dog Bite Legal Services in North Georgia

Expert Legal Support for Dog Bite Victims in Cartersville, Woodstock & Chattanooga

Each year, millions of people are bitten by dogs in the United States, and many end up in the emergency room for stitches or other types of treatment.

Georgia sees its fair share of dog bites as well, with stories making the local news.

If you’ve been mauled or bitten, our dog bite lawyer at Pritchard Injury Firm can help.

As your attorney, Zach Pritchard can help pull together a case for compensation and negotiate a favorable settlement that you gets you the compensation you need to make a full recovery.

Call us at (470) 577-8152 to get started.

Immediate Steps to Take After a Dog Bite Incident

There are steps you must do after getting bit by a do to protect yourself, they include:

Protect your health immediately. Some dog bites might seem initially minor, whereas others could bleed uncontrollably.
After a bite, try to stop the bleeding by applying pressure with a clean towel or, if none is available, any clean piece of cloth.
You should also call an ambulance if necessary, to transport you to the hospital. This is especially important if you are losing lots of blood.
If the wound seems superficial, you can clean it yourself with warm water and soap. Remember to clean the wound thoroughly and then apply a sterile bandage.
You should also remain on alert for infection, which is common with dog bites.
If your wound begins leaking pus or becomes painful to the touch, then you probably have an infection. See a doctor or go to the hospital as soon as possible.
If you decide to pursue legal action, you will also need to collect evidence for your case. If you are seriously injured, ask someone else to find helpful evidence while you focus on getting to the hospital.

Your dog bite attorney will find the following information useful:

The name of the dog owner, if known
The time, date, and location of the dog attack
A description of the dog
A summary of how the attack happened

This information will help you make a claim for compensation.

Gather this information at the scene of the attack if you are feeling well enough – or ask a friend or family member who was with you during the attack to stay at the scene and get this information.

If no one was with you, focus on your health; you can try to obtain this information later.

Who Do You Report the Dog Bite To?

According to Georgia’s Department of Public Health, only 17% of dog bites are ever reported in the U.S. The number should be much higher. Only by notifying authorities can the public protect itself from dangerous dogs.

Dog bites should be reported to Bartow County Animal Control. They are open Monday through Friday, but you should check their website for hours, as they may be subject to change.

You should also file a bite report with Animal Control.

If you called 911 after the attack, authorities should go ahead and contact Animal Control for you.

After you file your bite report, Animal Control will reach out to the owner and advise them about the quarantine protocol. Quarantine is necessary to determine if the animal has rabies and, if so, whether it needs to be put to sleep.

Animal Control can also set traps if you cannot immediately locate the animal.

If the dog is at large, locating it is also helpful to your case and is another reason to get the authorities involved after a dog attack

Animal Control might be able to identify the owner after they capture the dog, as well.

Understanding Liability in Dog Bite Cases in Georgia

Typically, dog owners are responsible for any damage their animals cause. Under Georgia law, the dog owner is responsible for your attack if they knew their dog had a propensity to be vicious.

This “propensity to be vicious” applies when the owner knew the dog lunged at, nipped, bit, or attacked someone else before the dog attacked you. A prior attack should put the owner on notice that the animal is dangerous.

If you are then bitten under these circumstances, the owner is liable for your injuries according to Georgia dog laws.

There are other ways an owner can be liable. Georgia has a dog bite statute found at 51-2-7, which states owners can be liable when they allow a dog to run free in violation of a governmental ordinance.

If a dog bites someone while off its leash, the owner can be held responsible under this statute.

There are situations where someone other than the owner can be responsible for your attack, as well. For example, someone might be negligent while looking after a dog for an owner.

Whoever is in charge of the dog at the time of your attack can be responsible if that dog ends up biting and injuring you

Get the Legal Help You Need After a Dog Bite: Contact Us

Choosing an attorney is one of the most difficult – and important – tasks you will face after a dog bite. You might type the words “dog bite attorney near me” into Google and be overwhelmed by results.

To streamline the process of getting compensation, you need a trusted legal advisor.

Contact Pritchard Injury Firm today. Our Georgia dog bite lawyer can meet with you for a free consultation. Avoid delay. Call (470) 577-8152 now.

Our team also helps victims of catastrophic injuries, both dog-bite related and not, in Bartow County, Cobb County, and Cherokee County and throughout the great state of Georgia. Don’t hesitate to call.

Compensation

Dog bite victims can receive a considerable amount of compensation for their injuries.

Our Georgia dog bite lawyer can review your case and estimate how much you can expect to receive.

In our experience, clients have qualified for compensation for the following:

Medical care to treat the dog bite and any complications that develop, such as infection
Rehabilitation or plastic surgery, for particularly serious dog bites
Lost wages or income if you could not work while you recovered from your dog bite
Property damage if anything you owned was damaged in the dog attack
Pain and suffering for the physical pain that accompanies your bite wound
Emotional distress for negative emotions such as fear, shock, trauma, anxiety, or depression

The amount you receive will ultimately depend on the circumstances surrounding the dog attack.

For instance, someone with permanent injuries, like facial paralysis, could receive considerably more than someone who suffered a minor wound that healed within a matter of months.

Meet with our Georgia dog bite attorney at Pritchard Injury Firm to estimate the amount of compensation you can receive.

Note: There are several limitations on the amount of compensation you can receive. One important limitation is the size of the homeowners’ or renters’ insurance the dog owner has. If the policy is very small, policy maximums might be the ceiling on the amount of compensation you can realistically expect to receive. Of course, you can sue the dog owner personally, but they may not have any money or assets to pay out a judgment, especially if they rent their property.

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