Should I Hire A Lawyer Following A Dog Bite Attack?

Dogs may have been dubbed as “man’s best friend,” but whether human or animal, friends can turn on each other. Approximately 1,000 people per day in the United States are injured badly enough by a dog to require medical attention. Many of those injuries result from dogs that are owned by the victim or who live in the same household as the pet. This doesn’t account for all of the injuries, though. There are still a great number of cases where a person is attacked by a dog that is owned by another person, whether they be a stranger or a friend. If you are involved in such a situation in which another person’s dog bites you, should you hire a lawyer?

The Answer

More than likely, yes. Under Arizona law, the owner of a dog is liable for damages suffered by the person bitten. There is an exception to this law which applies if a dog has been reasonably provoked. If you were literally poking a dog repeatedly in the face and it responds by biting you, odds are that you probably won’t have much of a case. The definition of what constitutes provocation is rarely so clear-cut as that extreme example, though, which is reason enough to consult with a lawyer.

Why Should I Hire A Dog Bite Lawyer?

In addition to helping you show that you were not provoking an animal, an experienced dog bite attorney can help you obtain money for your medical bills. Even if your injuries resulting from a dog bite seem minor, any bite that punctures the skin carries with it an invisible danger that you need to be aware of. Nearly one-fifth of all dog bites lead to a bacterial infection. The oft-repeated myth about a dog’s mouth being cleaner than a human’s doesn’t account for the type of bacteria that live in dog’s mouths, many of which humans are not normally exposed to. Proper medical treatment can reduce the odds of infection, but should complications arise, having an attorney working on your case can help you secure the finances necessary to cover your medical expenses.

Is An Attorney Really Necessary Following A Dog Bite?

Only you can determine how necessary it is to hire a lawyer, but before you make that decision, you need to think about everything that surrounds this kind of situation. If you’re bitten and it’s severe enough that you miss work, you need to consider your lost wages. If you have a child and they were the bite victim, then you need to consider their pain and suffering. You also have to consider infection risks, whether the dog was properly vaccinated, and all the bills that are associated with receiving the appropriate medical treatment. This can be a tremendous amount to juggle, but having a lawyer with experience in cases like this can help take some of the burdens off of you.

Don’t Take Dog Bites Lightly: Call A Lawyer

If you were attacked by a dog in Arizona, contact ELG Law. We only charge our fee if we win your case and we only handle personal injury lawsuits. If you’re still wondering if you should hire a lawyer for your dog bite, call us for a free consultation at (623) 877-3600. You won’t talk with a secretary or call specialist; your consultation will be with a lawyer. Let us answer your questions and help you weigh your options. Dog bites can be traumatic, finding the right lawyer shouldn’t be. Call ELG Law today!