Unfortunately, dog bites are not an unusual occurrence in Nevada or across the U.S. While most dog bite injuries are not life-threatening or require hospitalization, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you should still be concerned. Schedule a free consultation with a Henderson dog bite lawyer today to consider your options and start pursuing options for your injury and expenses.
Some breeds are more apt to be perpetrators than others, and some dog owners are less conscientious than others. If you receive a dog bite in public or on a property where you are legally allowed to be, the owner is often considered strictly liable, meaning they are responsible for the incident.
How Much Is My Dog Bite Case Worth?
Just how much you request in compensation for a dog bite injury depends upon a variety of factors. These include any medical bills, necessary recovery time from work, and the trauma from the experience.
Nevada’s Dog Bite Statute of Limitations
The amount of time to file after suffering from a bite injury can vary from state to state. In Nevada, you have two years from the day of the actual incident. However, it is best to file as soon as possible following physical recovery. This gives your lawyer enough time to properly file claims and actions on your behalf, gather strong evidence, and fully protect your right.
Damages You Can Collect in a Dog Bite Case
Damages to file for attributed to a dog bite include:
- Medical bills, including doctor visits, x-rays, and surgery
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Wage loss, which includes all-time taken away from work for medical care related to the injury, and physical and mental recovery
How to Calculate Pain and Suffering
Emotional trauma is not always easy to equate into dollars. Dog bite victims often do suffer mentally from the experience. This can vary from individual to individual. A medical evaluation can be helpful not only to the patient emotionally but also in determining a possible value from the experience. Some individuals may need extensive counseling following a dog attack.
The therapy costs should also be included in the collection of medical bills. Pain and suffering considerations often go beyond that, with your lawyer and the court interpreting the toll the incident has taken on your life. Pacific West Injury Law can help determine that cost.
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving Henderson, call 702-268-2933.
What does a Henderson Dog Bite Lawyer Do?
Following a dog attack, a good, experienced dog bite lawyer will know how to proceed and handle your case. They can help protect you from low settlement offers or an owner’s attempt to intimidate you or refuse to accept responsibility. A Henderson dog bite lawyer can also handle the process of filing a claim and pursuing legal action while you recover from your injuries.
Some of the specific actions an experience Henderson dog bit attorney can take include:
- Negotiating with insurance companies (both yours and the service provider for any liability insurance the dog owner may have)
- Calculating the potential value of a dog bite claim so you can weigh your options, protect yourself from lowball settlement offers, and more
- Collect evidence, hire investigators, and take statements of the incident
Two of the most important services an experienced legal team can provide include filing your claim and collecting evidence.
File Your Claim
Just as the statute of limitations may vary from state to state, so may the methods to file a claim following a dog attack. You will need to meet with the attorney and be prepared to relive the experience, including what led up to the attack, what happened immediately after, and how you obtained medical care.
Filing the paperwork alone can be complicated. An attorney with expertise in the field will not only fill out paperwork properly but promptly while taking that burden off your mind.
Collect Evidence
Besides the information you provide, there is a lot more evidence to obtain. Your Henderson dog bite lawyer’s team will find out:
- If the owner was aware of the incident
- Whether the dog’s accessibility to you was due to neglect
- Whether there have been any prior police reports filed against the dog’s owner
- If the dog has a previous history of attacking and/or biting others
The “one-bite” rule is applicable in Nevada. This does not excuse dog owners for being responsible for their dog in a first bite situation but rather holds the owner responsible for any subsequent bites.
In theory, the owner of a dog in a first bite altercation is unaware of the potential for his dog to bite and has proper licensing of his dog. He may be held to a lesser standard than an owner who is fully aware of the potential biting actions of his dog. That owner is subject to a higher level of liability.
How Much Can You Get in a Dog Bite Settlement?
When working with Pacific West Injury Law, your attorney will help you obtain the best possible settlement in your case after receiving a dog bite. Often a settlement can be reached between the parties without going to court. A good dog bite attorney in Henderson knows how much you should request in compensation and what you can expect.
Henderson Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me 702-268-2933
What to Do If a Dog Bites You
Getting attacked by a dog can put you in shock. If you, or someone you are with, is bitten, call 9-1-1. Not only will the paramedics treat you and, if warranted, take you to a hospital, calling for help documents the incident.
When a dog bite occurs, the dog may be taken in by animal control. If the owner, however, has proof of rabies vaccination, proper licensing from the city of Henderson, and this is a first-time incident for the dog, it may be able to stay in its owner’s possession.
Getting Medical Treatment
Do not take a dog bite lightly. If paramedics are not called, or if you do not go to the hospital immediately, be sure to consult a physician as soon as possible. Consider going to urgent care if your physician is not readily available.
Animal bites may be worse than they initially seem. Going untreated can result in further injury or illness. Any puncture wound could become infected. The possibility of rabies is also of concern. So is the possibility of a fracture. Even a minor dog bite injury can be sufficient for a strong case.
Contacting a Dog Bite Injury Lawyer in Henderson
Once you are cared for medically, it is important to contact the Pacific West Injury Law firm quickly to schedule a free consultation with our Henderson dog bite lawyer. While you may not be completely healed yet, it is important to establish a relationship with your attorney. He can move forward with collecting evidence. Witness statements may become foggy with time. Prompt follow-up is important.
While you may not be ready to file a claim yet, and all damages may not yet be known, it is important to get your lawyer involved quickly. You can also ask your lawyer about the best way to report the incident to local animal control, which both creates a record of the incident and helps protect future potential victims of a dog bite.
Click to contact our Henderson Personal Injury Lawyers today.
A Henderson Dog Bite Injury Attorney Can Help You Build a Strong Case
If you, or a loved one, has suffered from a dog bite, a knowledgeable attorney can help you obtain your rights. The experienced staff of Pacific West Injury Law is ready to help you file a claim and receive your deserved compensation. Contact us today.
