Dog Bite Lawyer

Every year, more than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in the United States, according to data from the CDC. One in every five of these dog bites are severe enough to require medical attention.

Dog owners have a responsibility to protect others from being bitten and attacked. If they fail to do so by allowing their dog to walk off a leash, remain unsupervised in an unsecured yard, or by a similar act of negligence, they may be held responsible for any injuries their dog inflicts on another person.

If you were bitten by a dog, contact our Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Georgia law firm for a free legal consultation to see what your legal rights may be. The attorneys at Whitfield Coleman Montoya will fight tirelessly on your behalf to help secure fair compensation for your losses.

Common Injuries Caused by Dog Bites

Dog bites can result in severe injuries that may include the following:

• Puncture wounds
• Infections, including rabies
• Lacerations
• Broken bones
• Avulsions (when tissue is torn from the body)
• Amputated limbs
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Nerve damage

Infections

Infections are a primary concern after any dog bite injuries. It is estimated that as many as 25% of all dog bites become infected. This is because when a dog punctures your skin, it can cause bacteria from their saliva and mouth to enter your bloodstream.

Common bacteria from dog bites include staphylococcus, streptococcus, and pasteurella. The concern for infection is even greater if the dog was unvaccinated, since they may be more likely to have rabies.

If you are ever bitten by a dog, it is important to immediately wash the wound and apply a sterile bandage. If you notice that the wound area becomes red, swollen, or warm to the touch, you should seek medical attention. These may be signs that the wound has become infected.

Fatalities

Sadly, sometimes dog bites are fatal. Dozens of dog bite victims lose their lives every year in the United States.

Recently in April of 2020, Doris Arrington died when four dogs attacked her right here in Tennessee. Injuries to her arms and legs resulted in significant blood loss, which sadly caused her death. The owners of the four dogs were charged with reckless homicide in August of 2020.

Who May Be at Fault for a Dog Bite?

Dog owners are subject to strict liability if their dog bites another person. This means that they may be held liable if their dog causes injury, regardless of whether the owner felt their dog was dangerous or not.

If you were bitten by a dog in a public area or while you were lawfully on private property, you may qualify to file a lawsuit against the owner of the dog that attacked you. However, if you provoked the dog to attack, were unlawfully on private property, or the dog was in a kennel or cage, you may not be able to pursue legal action.

Sometimes landlords may also be held liable for a dog bite if they knew of the dog’s propensity to violence and did not intervene by removing the dog if they had the ability to do so.

If you have any questions about your legal rights, our dog bite lawyers can review the circumstances of your attack during a free legal consultation.

Types of Dog Bite Compensation

If you are bitten by a dog, you may be entitled to compensation for the following types of losses:

• Medical expenses for treatment related to the injury
• Lost wages while you are recovering from an injury
• Loss of earning potential if your injury requires you to find a new job that results in a smaller income, or if you become permanently disabled
• Pain and suffering

If your loved one died as a result of a dog attack, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. A lawsuit can help recover compensation for funeral and burial expenses, as well as help compensate you for the loss of income your loved one may have earned had they lived.

How a Dog Bite Lawyer Can Help You

Whitfield Coleman Montoya is well versed in dog bite laws in the state of Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi and Georgia. We can help you navigate each step of litigation and help you maximize your chances of securing fair compensation.

Specifically, we can help you in the following ways:

• Investigating circumstances surrounding the attack: Our attorneys will review surveillance camera footage, obtain witness statements, review your medical records, and look into the dog’s history to help prove liability for your injuries.
• Filing a claim for compensation: A claim is typically filed against the dog owner’s home insurance policy. We can help prepare and file all of the necessary documentation for your case.
• Negotiating for fair compensation: Our dog bite lawyers will help defend your rights to a fair settlement offer during negotiations with the dog owner’s insurance company. We can help defeat any attempts at discrediting your right to compensation, and will reject low settlement offers. If an insurance company refuses to settle, we can take your case to trial.

Why Hire Whitfield Coleman Montoya?

Whitfield Coleman Montoya is a leading personal injury law firm based in Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi and Georgia. We understand how traumatic a dog attack can be, which is why we fight so hard for our injured clients. We care because you matter: If you have been bitten by someone else’s dog, you should be compensated for the harm you have suffered.

Our dog bite lawyers have the skills and experience necessary to go toe-to-toe with the dog owner’s insurance company in order to maximize the compensation you may be entitled to. To date, we have recovered more than $1 billion for injured clients.

To learn more about how we may be able to help you, schedule a free legal consultation. Our team is available 24/7 to answer any legal questions you may have. If you decide to work with us, you will only pay if and when we win your case.

Call: 615-921-6500 for a free and confidential consultation with an experienced attorney at the Whitfield Coleman Montoya.

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