Many people love dogs, but dogs don’t always love you back. It’s easy to forget that these animals we typically consider friends have the capacity to inflict serious injuries. In rare circumstances, a dog attack can lead to permanent disability or death.
Dogs bite for a number of reasons. They may be scared, confused, or simply trained to behave aggressively. When a dog attack occurs, there is typically a human who is accountable. Our dog bite lawyers in Cleveland will help you seek the compensation you deserve.
Our team at Teague Law has almost two decades of combined legal experience, standing up for injured victims. We put North Georgia first. Call today for your free consultation and learn more about how our personal injury lawyers in Cleveland can help with your dog bite case.
Who Is Liable for a Dog Bite in Georgia?
Liability for a dog bite in Georgia depends on who controlled the dog and whether the dog was known to be dangerous. Control means having responsibility over the dog at the time of the incident.
Leash laws and local ordinances are important in determining fault. If a dog is illegally off its leash, liability may apply even without a prior bite. The victims’ actions, such as provocation or trespassing, can limit the dog owner’s liability and limit the victim’s damages.
Our dog bite attorneys in Cleveland will investigate the incident and review available evidence such as police reports, witness testimony, and medical records. Our goal is to learn what happened and identify all liable parties responsible for the dog attack.
What Is the Vicious Propensity Rule?
The Vicious Propensity Rule in Georgia considers whether a dog was known to be dangerous and whether the owner knew or should have known the dog might act aggressively. This knowledge can come from past behavior or warnings, and not just a prior bite.
The issue is whether harm was reasonably foreseeable based on the dog’s past conduct. If the owner knew the dog could be a danger and took no action, they are likely liable for the dog’s actions when an attack occurs.
Under Georgia’s Responsible Dog Ownership Law, local animal control officers can investigate a dog and designate it as dangerous. Once classified, the owner must register the dog with local authorities and obtain a certificate of registration before keeping it.
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What Compensation Can You Get for a Dog Bite?
Like any personal injury case, your compensation for a dog bite injury will depend on the extent of your damages. This usually hinges on how badly you were injured and the future impact of those injuries on your quality of life.
Our Cleveland dog bite lawyers will review your physical and psychological hardships in order to understand the full value of your claim. While each case is different, we often seek to recover:
- Past and future medical bills, including surgery
- Lost income and reduced future earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring, disfigurement, and related counseling or therapy
- Out-of-pocket costs, travel for care, and property damage
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What Should You Do After a Dog Bite?
The steps you take after a dog bite can make sure you get the medical attention you need to recover, but also preserve your legal case. Proving negligence in a dog bite case depends on showing the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous.
Recovering compensation means showing the real damage caused by the dog owner’s negligence. Evidence like medical bills, incident reports, and photos can help our attorneys with your case.
To the extent you are able, consider the following steps after a dog bite:
- Seek medical treatment the same day and follow all care instructions.
- Photograph wounds, torn clothing, the scene, and the dog if safe.
- Report the incident to White County Animal Control and request a copy of the report.
- Collect names and contact information for the owner and witnesses.
- Keep bills, receipts, and a symptom journal with pain levels and limitations.
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Get Help From Our Dog Bite Attorneys in Cleveland
A dog attack can be a terrifying experience that leaves you physically and mentally scarred.
Dogs are often victims as well. In most cases, there is a human responsible for an animal that bites a person. Even good dogs can bite if they get scared or feel threatened.
Unfortunately, some people choose to mistreat their animals. Or, they may train their dog to bite or behave aggressively. Our dog bite attorneys in Cleveland will help you file a claim and pursue the compensation you deserve when their negligence leads to a dog bite.
Teague Law has recovered millions in awards and settlements on behalf of North Georgians who were injured due to no fault of their own. We are a local firm that can take on the big cases9 Call today to schedule your free consultation and tell us about your dog bite case.
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