Whether you were bit by a person’s dog or a stray dog, there may be legal routes you can take to pursue compensation for the damages you experienced. At Sevenish Law Firm, P.C., we have a Brownsburg dog bite lawyer who can take over your case and help you fight for financial recovery.
If you are aware of who owns the dog, we can help you take civil action against the dog owner to compensate you for your injuries. However, if the dog owner is unknown or does not exist, you may be able to hold another party liable in your case.
You May Be Able to Recover Damages You Incurred From the Dog Bite
Through either an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit, you may be able to recover some or all of the damages you experienced as a result of the dog bite. Our legal team will discuss the details of your case with you to assess what kind of damages you should claim and how much they might be worth in terms of compensation.
The following are some main examples of damages you might pursue in your dog bite case.
Medical-Related Damages
Dog bites can rupture the skin, which can lead to infection and other types of health complications if not treated fast enough or if the dog was sick. We may demand compensation for any medical treatment you had or other medical-related expenses you had to pay, such as costs for:
- Emergency room care
- Rabies shots and other dog disease-preventative shots
- Blood work and other diagnostic tests that had to be done in a lab
- Imaging exam tests, such as X-rays or MRIs
- Medical support devices, such as wheelchairs, crutches, slings, and neck braces
- Prescription medicines
- Surgical stitching or extensive surgical procedures
Financial Damages
If your injuries prevented you from going to work or fulfilling previous work duties, you may be able to recover compensation for the amount of income you lost during your recovery. If your injuries are still healing or you have developed a long-term or permanent disability, we may also be able to pursue compensation for future loss of income or reduced earning potential, depending on how your injuries affect your ability to provide for yourself.
If there are other financial damages you incurred from the dog bite, we may also include those into your compensation demands. For example, if your injuries require you to hire someone else to take care of your home, cook food, or provide other forms of domestic assistance, we may pursue those damages.
Physical And Emotional Damages
Certain damages do not have an immediate price tag and may require some evaluation to determine their value. We can help you measure non-economic forms of damages, which might include:
- Physical and emotional forms of pain and suffering
- Permanent disability or loss of bodily function, including amputation
- Psychological trauma from the dog bite attack
- Loss of enjoyment of activities, whether as a defense mechanism to avoid repeating the attack or because your injuries limit your abilities
Our legal team may suggest other forms of damages after reviewing your case.
Our Personal Injury Firm Can Handle Legal Duties On Your Behalf
Our law firm focuses on personal injury cases, which include dog bite cases. If you would like legal assistance with your case, you can work with us, and we can help you build your case by doing the following:
- Identifying the dog owner or the party liable for the dog’s actions
- Investigating how the dog bite occurred and collecting evidence to prove your claims about the dog bite and your injuries
- Assessing and calculating your damages
- Filing paperwork on your behalf, including submitting your lawsuit within the filing deadline set by IC §34-11-2-4 (about two years)
- Serving as your legal representative when negotiating a settlement or presenting your case in court
- Providing legal advice as your case progresses, including advice on whether to accept a settlement offer or keep pursuing better compensation
A Brownsburg dog bite lawyer from our team can begin preparing materials for your case right after your free case review.
The “One Bite Rule” Might Affect Your Case
If the dog owner is known, you would have to file an insurance claim with the owner’s insurance provider or file a personal injury lawsuit against them to receive compensation. IC §15-20-1-3 places liability on dog owners for the actions of their pets.
Still, Indiana also has a “one bite rule,” meaning that dog owners may be able to challenge their liability if they can prove that they had no prior knowledge that their dog would act aggressively or had a history of violence.
When the Owner is Unknown
If a dog has no owner—as in, it is a stray—liability could fall to a number of entities. For instance, if the dog that bit you had escaped from impoundment, you may be able to pursue the pound for negligence.
If the dog was abandoned, our law firm may try to investigate whether the original dog owner can be found. This may be done through microchip information or veterinarian records if available.
Call Us Today to Start Working With Our Brownsburg Dog Bite Lawyers
If you or a loved one was bitten by someone else’s dog or a stray dog, you may have legal options to pursue compensation. Call Sevenish Law Firm, P.C. at (317) 720-3229 for a free consultation with one of our team members. We can explain your litigation options in more detail, as well as the legal services we will provide to you as our new client.
Our legal team also works on a contingency fee basis. So, if you are concerned about how you will be able to cover the costs of hiring a personal injury lawyer, just know that we will only charge attorney’s fees if we win your case. Our fee comes out of your compensation award so that you do not have to pay us out of pocket.
Call now to start working with our legal team today.
Call or text 317-636-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
