If you have sustained injuries as a result of a dog bite, then you may have a claim for compensation. In some dog bite injury claims, the other party or their insurer may claim certain defenses to deny liability or reduce the amount of the claim. For legal advice and representation in a dog bite injury claim, you should contact a Las Vegas Personal Injury Attorney.
What are some common defenses to a dog bite injury claim?
Some defenses that may be raised in a dog bite claim include the following:
- Lack of knowledge of the dog’s vicious behavior
Some dog owners may claim that the dog has never bitten or attacked someone previously. Because of this lack of knowledge of the dog’s dangerous behavior, they may assert that they are not liable.
- Not their dog
A dog owner may also claim that the bite came from someone else’s dog. If you have documented the accident and have evidence to rebut this claim, then it will be crucial to present this as part of your case.
- You provoked the dog
The dog owner may claim that you did something to antagonize or provoke the dog bite. If your behavior did something to contribute to the dog bite, then it may result in your claim being reduced or denied.
- The statute of limitations has passed
A dog bite injury claim must be made within a certain time frame called the statute of limitations. If you wait too long to file your claim, then it will be denied.
- Your injuries were caused by something else
In order to be compensated for injuries sustained in a dog bite, you must be able to show that your injuries were caused by the dog bite and not something else. The dog owner may claim that your injuries were pre-existing or a result of some other cause.
In almost all dog bite injury claims, the dog owner will assert some type of defense to limit what they have to pay. To protect yourself against these defenses, you should seek out legal representation from a Dog Bite Injury Attorney in Henderson, Las Vegas NV.
What should you do if you are bitten by a dog?
If you are injured from a dog bite, there are some things you can do to improve your chances of having a successful claim. This includes the following:
- Document the accident–take pictures, identify any witnesses, and identify the dog owner
- Contact animal control–request that animal control report to the scene to identify the dog and see if it is properly licensed and vaccinated
- Seek out medical treatment–immediately seek out medical treatment for your injuries and comply with all treatment recommendations
- Contact a Henderson, Las Vegas Personal Injury Attorney
How can an attorney help?
Dog bite injury claims can be complicated. Insurance companies will typically make things difficult and try to limit any settlement. A Henderson, Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyer will help you know what to expect and what type of settlement is fair under the circumstances.
A Henderson LV Dog Bite Injury Attorney will represent you in the process and act as your advocate. We will help you gather all of the information and evidence needed for a successful claim.
When selecting an attorney for your dog bite injury case, it is important that you find a lawyer that has experience and understands the law. At Albright Stoddard Warnick & Albright, our legal team has successfully helped many with their dog bite injury claims. We know what it takes to receive a fair settlement that provides sufficient compensation. Call us to schedule a consultation.