Louisville Dog Bite Injury Attorney
Most people do not think of dogs as being dangerous, but these incidents can cause serious injuries. If you or someone you care about has been harmed due to a dog bite, you should seek assistance from Hendy | Johnson | Vaughn | Emery today. Our Louisville dog bite injury attorneys have vast experience handling these cases and we will work to secure any compensation you are entitled to.
Why choose Hendy Johnson Vaughn Emery for your case?
Finding an attorney to handle your dog bite injury case correctly daunting, but the Louisville personal injury lawyer team at Hendy | Johnson | Vaughn | Emery has vast experience in this area of law.
- We focus only on personal injury law, which has allowed us to become recognized as authorities in this field and to gain specialized experience to help us win your case.
- Our attorneys are directly and personally involved with each case so that you can count on the quality and skilled legal handling of your case from start to finish.
- We take Louisville dog bite injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means there are no upfront costs for clients. You only pay legal fees after we secure the compensation you are entitled to.
Do you need an attorney for this?
Dog bite cases are rarely straightforward, especially when aggressive insurance carriers get involved. Your Louisville dog bite injury attorney will investigate every aspect of your case. They will speak to any eyewitnesses to the event and gather your medical records. It is vital that your total losses are properly calculated so your attorney can vigorously negotiate with all parties to secure the compensation you are entitled to. If necessary, your attorney will take the case to trial.
Dog bites can lead to serious injuries
When we look at statistics provided by Canine Journal, we can see that there are approximately 4.5 million dollar bite cases each year in the United States. To be clear, not all of these bites require medical attention. However, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates, approximately 800,000 dog bite victims receive medical care at hospitals annually.
Dogs have extremely powerful jaws, and they can inflict extreme damage on a person’s body. It is not uncommon for our Louisville dog bite accident attorneys to help clients who have sustained the following:
- Severe lacerations and puncture wounds
- Damage to veins or arteries
- Damage to tendons, muscles, and ligaments
- Nerve damage
- Broken bones
- Crush injuries
- Degloving or other losses of skin tissues
- Facial injuries
- Amputation of fingers
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Illnesses, diseases and infections
- Psychological trauma
- Wrongful death
The extreme nature of some dog bite injuries makes it crucial for a victim or victim’s family to hire a lawyer for these cases. Unfortunately, you cannot trust an insurance company to offer fair financial compensation for a dog attack – especially one that will permanently impact the victim, as these cases are more valuable. The best way to ensure just results for a severe injury is by hiring an attorney to represent you.
Kentucky’s Dog Bite Law
There are two main types of dog bite injury laws: strict liability and a one-bite rule. Strict liability laws hold pet owners automatically responsible for injuries inflicted by their dogs, regardless of whether the owner was negligent or unaware of the dog’s vicious propensities.
One-bite states, on the other hand, give dogs one “free” bite; they only allow injured victims to file claims if the dog had bitten someone previously, or if the pet owner had another reason to know that the dog had a propensity for viciousness. Kentucky is a strict liability dog bite state. This is a more favorable law for those who are injured by dogs.
Under this law, a dog owner will be held liable for all damage inflicted against a person or property, as well as livestock and domestic animals, by his or her dog. As an injured victim, you do not have to prove that the pet owner was negligent or did something wrong to qualify for financial compensation in Kentucky. You can file a claim with the pet owner’s homeowners insurance policy and qualify for benefits without proving negligence.
Defenses to Dog Bite Claims
A pet owner in Kentucky has the right to defend himself or herself from a dog bite injury claim. However, only a few defenses can be used against Kentucky’s strict liability law. One is that the victim was trespassing on private property at the time of the attack. Property owners do not owe any duties of care to trespassers, meaning they are not legally obligated to keep them safe. Thus, a property owner typically will not be held responsible for dog bite injuries against a trespasser – unless the trespasser is a child under the age of 18.
Another defense is that the person who was attacked by the dog instigated the incident. If the individual was harming or pestering the dog, the pet owner might not be held liable for related injuries if the dog attacks to protect itself. Finally, if the dog was working in an official capacity for law enforcement at the time of the incident, the victim will not be able to sue the owner of the animal for any bite injuries sustained.
What to Do After Being Bitten by a Dog in Louisville
If you get bitten by a dog in Kentucky, get to a safe location away from the dog. If you can, exchange information with the pet owner and take photographs of the dog and the location of the attack before leaving the scene. Get medical attention for your injuries without delay. Dog bite injuries deserve professional medical care, as they come with a high risk of infection.
Write down as much as you can remember about the incident while the details are still fresh in your mind. Gather documents and information to support your injury claim, such as copies of your medical records. Then, contact the dog owner’s property or homeowners insurance company to file a claim. Homeowners insurance generally covers dog bite injuries, as pets are classified as property in Kentucky. For assistance with the claims process, contact an attorney in Louisville.
We will help secure the compensation you need
If you or someone you care about has been bitten and injured by a dog, you should speak to an attorney today. At Hendy | Johnson | Vaughn | Emery, we are ready to get to work on your case immediately. Our goal is to secure all compensation you are entitled to, which can include:
- Coverage of your medical bills related to the bite
- Compensation for lost income if you cannot work
- Mental anguish damages
- Loss of enjoyment of life damages
When you need a Louisville dog bite injury attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or by calling us at (859) 578-4444.