Personal Injury Firm
If you or a loved one has had the unfortunate experience of being hurt by a dog, even if the dog belongs to a friend or a family member, call our office today and we can look into what civil and appropriate options are available for you.
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Dog Bites
We recently received a call in our office from a gentleman, who was in his driveway, working on his motorcycle, when a pitbull with a reputation for biting people got loose from his neighbor’s yard, and attacked him. The injuries from the dog bite have cost him several thousand dollars in medical bills. It’s unfortunate, but dog bites happen to people all the time, and dog bites are one of the least understood aspects of the law. If you, or a loved one were bit by a dog that was out of control, you deserve to know your rights.
For the man in his driveway, he actually had several options that covered his expenses, and gave him compensation for his pain and suffering. But he had no idea what to do on his own. He needed professional, legal assistance. Since every situation is different, and timing is of the essence, you should call our office, and have a free confidential discussion about the details of your unfortunate incident.
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Dog Bites
One of my close friends called me recently and told me about his daughter who was bit by his own sister’s dog. It was a really sad story. They were at his sister’s house and his daughter had been playing all day with the dog. As they were leaving, his daughter ran to give the dog one last hug and it unexpectedly bit her face. Fortunately, it missed her eye, but she had to undergo several surgeries to repair her tear duct. She has over $10,000 in medical bills.
My friend doesn’t know what to do because the last thing he would ever consider doing is suing his sister, however, he didn’t need to have this fear. He simply needed to know his rights and understand the law. For example, in his situation, there was insurance that would cover all of his daughter’s medical bills. He just needed to know how to ask for that coverage. To his delight, it didn’t require any lawsuits. It just required our lawyers knowing how to guide him through the process.
If you or a loved one has had the unfortunate experience of being hurt by a dog, even if the dog belongs to a friend or a family member, call our office today and we can look into what civil and appropriate options are available for you.
Because of the complicated legal issues involved in an Indiana dog bite case, you need to make sure you have an experienced lawyer assisting you in pursuing compensation. Many dog bite victims are confused about their rights and may underestimate the severity of their accident. Taking immediate action by filing a legal claim may be the only way to obtain the compensation you need for your injuries. Legal action needs to be taken as soon as possible to maximize your recovery.
Chapman Injury Lawyers has lawyers with the experience necessary to tackle any Indiana dog bite case. After your initial free consultation, we will start investigating your dog bite case immediately, collecting evidence, talking with witnesses, and taking all the appropriate steps toward building your case.
Legal issues involving dog attacks require an experienced personal injury law firm such as Chapman Injury Lawyers. Our Indiana dog bite lawyers understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll dog attacks have on the victim. Our compassionate attorneys will be able to navigate all the legal issues that arise from dog attack case, so you can focus on your recovery and health.
At Chapman Injury Lawyers, we represent dog bite victims who have suffered any type of injury as a result of the dog attack, therefore we handle dog bite cases involving a wide range of injuries. People who are attacked by dogs are most commonly bitten on the hand, arm, foot, leg, head, or neck. Common injuries resulting from a dog attack, include:
If a dog bites you, have it looked at by a doctor. Make sure that you verify whether the dog who bit you has been vaccinated for rabies. The most serious dog bite injuries may require hospitalization, reconstructive surgery, and rehabilitation therapy, as well as psychological help for emotional trauma.
Approximately 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and 800,000 of those result in medical care. That equates to a dog bite for 1 out of every 69 people in the U.S. Nearly 20% of dog bites become infected.
In 2018, homeowners’ insurers paid out $675 million in liability claims related to dog attacks and dog-related injuries, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
Between 1993 and 2008, there was an 86% increase in dog bite-related hospital stays in the U.S., according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
The average cost of a dog bite-related hospital stay is $18,200, which is about 50% higher than the average injury-related hospital stay according to AHRQ.
At Chapman Injury Lawyers, we get many questions from clients concerning dog bite cases. Below we have included a few of the most frequently asked dog bite questions. We hope you find the information useful. If you have any questions about your particular dog attack case, please do not hesitate to contact one of our experienced Indiana dog bite attorneys by calling (812) 461-6261.
In Indiana, if a dog bites someone, the dog’s owner can be held liable. However, the dog bite victim may be prohibited from recovering damages if it is proved that they provoked the dog. Indiana law imposes what is known as “strict liability,” which means the dog’s owner is liable for all damages suffered by the person attacked. The dog owner is liable for damages even if the dog had not previously behaved in an aggressive manner or the owner had no knowledge of the dog’s prior vicious behavior.
Indiana law also requires all dog owners to take reasonable steps to restrain their dogs. If the owner does not do this, and the dog enters another person’s property and attacks them, the owner may be subject to criminal prosecution.
Whether the dog attack happened on public or private property isn’t as important as determining who the dog’s owner is and whether or not the owner has insurance to pursue. No matter where the dog attack takes place, the dog owner has a responsibility to keep their dog under reasonable care at all times. In some cases, people or businesses who do not even own the dog can be held legally responsible if the dog was under their care at the time of the attack, and if they were aware that the dog was dangerous.
The end goal of a dog bite lawsuit is the payment of financial compensation by the dog owner’s insurance company. However, sometimes a party other than the dog’s owner may be held responsible. It is important to consult with an Indiana dog bite attorney, especially when you are concerned about the best way to proceed with a dog bite case with no homeowner’s insurance policy in place.
A dog bite can have a serious and lasting impact on your life. You could endure injuries that could lead to permanent scars or disfigurement and be hit with sky-high medical bills. The psychological and emotional pain from a dog bite can leave you with a traumatizing fear of dogs. If the negligence of a dog owner has caused you to suffer a dog attack injury in Indiana, contact the experienced dog bite attorneys at Chapman Injury Lawyers.
When you hire us, we offer you a much better chance of securing the full and fair compensation you deserve for your injuries. You can schedule a free and confidential consultation by filling out a form on our website or giving us a call at (812) 461-6261.
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NEIL CHAPMAN, LAWYER
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