Dog Bite Injuries
Get
a free case evaluation<<<<<<<
If you’ve been the victim of a dog bite,
the right personal injury lawyer can make certain that you recover
the maximum benefits you deserve under the law. Our lawyers have
prepared instructions that you can follow if you are attacked
by a dog in Rhode Island or SE Massachusetts. These do’s
and don’ts for victims of dog bites should help you protect
your rights to compensation and give you the very best opportunity
for recovery.
There are about 60 million dogs in the United States, most of
which are lovable pets. Unfortunately dogs sometimes bite and
according to the Center for Disease Control the number of dog
bites requiring medical attention has been steadily rising. Dogs
bite nearly 5 million Americans every year and approximately
800,000 of these bites require medical care. A large majority
of the victims are children, who are often bitten on the face.
In Rhode Island and Massachusetts, filing a Dog Bite
claim consists of finding who is responsible for the dog and
finding available
insurance coverage that is often provided by a homeowner’s
insurance policy. Generally speaking, if a dog bites a person,
and the dog owner has homeowners insurance, there may be insurance
coverage for the victim’s injuries. This insurance coverage
should include damages for medical bills as well as pain and
suffering caused to the victim. Therefore, a victim of a dog
attack should immediately consult a personal injury lawyer in
order to preserve a right to compensation.
What to do if a Dog Bites you
Our dog bite lawyers have prepared the following suggestions
on what to do if a dog bites you:
Get Medical Attention:
A dog bite is a very traumatic thing. Any injury, even
a minor one, causes the body to go into shock. The defense
mechanism
of the human body to shock is to dull the body’s response
to pain or injury. Make sure you're okay and that you have not
been infected with any disease. Do not be afraid to tell the
doctor about every area of your body in which you are experiencing
pain.
Identify the Animal:
Find out the name and address of the owner of the dog and also
the dog's license information. Make sure a report on the incident
has been filed with animal control or other public agency.
Get Names and Contact Information from Witnesses:
Take the name, address and telephone number of any potential
witness and save this information someplace where it will not
be lost. If you have obtained witness information, do not contact
or speak to the witnesses again or try to get any written statements
from them. Let your attorney contact any possible witness.
Take Photographs:
Take Photographs of the location where the incident occurred.
Take photographs of the condition of your clothing and the area
on your body where you have been bitten. Take as many photographs
as you would like of what you think may be important. Your attorney
can decide later which pictures are most useful.
What NOT to do if a Dog Bites you
DO NOT discuss or make any statements about your case with any
employees or insurance representatives of the property owner,
without first speaking with your own lawyer.
DO NOT accept any forms of payment or sign any releases without
speaking to your lawyer. Doing so could waive your right to recovery.
DO NOT apologize for the incident (for example, "I may
have provoked the dog," or "it probably was my fault.")
Any statement you make can be used against you by insurance companies
and their attorneys to defeat your claim for compensation. Don't
sign any document admitting fault.
If a dog has bitten you, you should consider contacting
an attorney who specializes in dog bite cases. The attorneys
of d'Oliveira & Associates,
P.C., would like to meet with you and discuss the investigation
of your injury. Our law firm has represented and assisted numerous
dog bite victims in bringing lawsuits against dog owners and
insurance companies alike. We never charge our clients any fees
or expenses, unless we win your case.
To fill out a confidential form, CLICK HERE.
|
