Were you or a child bitten by someone else’s dog in Lafayette, Louisiana? Dog bite injuries can impact your life in serious ways. The dog’s owner may owe you significant compensation.
An experienced Lafayette dog bite lawyer at Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight for every dime you deserve. Call our law offices in Lafayette, Louisiana to learn more about legal representation today at (337) 473-2991. Your consultation is always free of charge.
How Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You After a Dog Bite in Lafayette, LA
After the trauma of a dog bite injury, you shouldn’t be left to battle with a cold and uncaring insurance company on your own. Even if the insurance adjuster seems sympathetic, remember that they’re out to pay as little as possible. They also hire teams of lawyers to defend against liability.
Our trusted personal injury lawyers have over 50 years of combined experience. Because of our legal assistance, our injured clients and their families have received tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.
Our top-rated Lafayette personal injury lawyers have decades of experience negotiating top-dollar insurance settlements and working on the insurance side of the table. That means we know every trick in the book–and we know exactly how to fight back.
When you hire Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, our team will:
- Handle the paperwork and insurance details
- Conduct our own investigation to locate evidence
- Protect you against claims that you provoked the dog to bite
- Prevent the insurance company from taking advantage of you
- Determine how much money you deserve
- Negotiate for a full and fair insurance settlement
On your own, the insurance claims process can be frustrating and overwhelming. Our Lafayette dog bite attorneys are here to handle any issues that arise. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you recover.
How Common Are Dog Bites in Louisiana?
Almost 12,500 Americans are hospitalized every year due to dog bite injuries, and close to 1,000 people need emergency care each day for serious dog bites. Many of those injuries are minor and heal on their own; however, many people experience catastrophic injuries.
In a single year, insurance carriers across Louisiana paid dog bite victims $10.75 million to settle personal injury claims.
How Much Money Is My Lafayette Dog Bite Injury Case Worth?
Calculating the value of a personal injury case can be a difficult task. Some losses, like your medical bills and expenses, will be easy to prove. Establishing the value of your expected future losses can be much more challenging–as can putting a dollar value on your intangible, non-financial losses.
As our lawyers are building your case, we’ll consult with experts when necessary as we evaluate factors like:
- The type of injuries you have suffered
- Your prognosis for making a full recovery or suffering long-term harm
- Your current medical bills
- Projected future medical and rehabilitative costs
- The value of your lost wages
- The length of your recovery period
- Mental trauma and damage to your quality of life
- Your age at the time of the animal attack
Even if the dog owner’s insurance will cover your damages, don’t expect them to hand over a fair settlement without a fight. Insurance carriers know exactly how much your case is worth. They’re also known for using tactics designed to get victims to take lowball deals.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Dog Bite Victims in Lafayette?
Your damages are classified according to whether they compensate for economic or non-economic losses.
Examples might include:
- Medical expenses
- Reconstructive surgeries
- Rehabilitation
- Future medical costs
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Assistance with household activities
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Fear and PTSD
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Diminished quality of life
Our lawyers in Lafayette have the experience and resources to help you maximize your financial award. Give us a call today for your free case review to get started.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Lawyer to Handle a Dog Bite Injury Claim in Lafayette?
Our law firm operates on a contingency fee basis. When you hire us, you’ll agree to pay a portion of your final compensation award. You won’t have to pay an initial retainer fee or cover any upfront costs. We only get paid if we win your case.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for Causing My Own Dog Bite Injuries in Louisiana?
Yes, if the dog’s owner was also partly to blame. Louisiana has pure comparative negligence laws. In a dog bite case, each party is assigned a percentage of fault and will be responsible for covering that portion of the damages.
Say the dog’s owner has some evidence to prove you provoked the dog. However, they were also negligent in failing to keep the dog confined. If you’re assigned 30% of the blame, you can still take 70% of your compensation home.
Our Lafayette Dog Bite Attorneys Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Dog Bite Injuries
Injuries caused by an animal attack can vary dramatically from case to case. Injuries tend to be the most severe when the victim is small, and the dog is large and aggressive. These injuries can extend well beyond the dog bite wound itself if the victim is forced to the ground.
Some examples of dog bite injuries include:
- Severe lacerations and puncture wounds
- Nerve damage
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Knee and leg injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Soft tissue damage to the muscles, tendons and ligaments
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Amputations caused by infection
- Sepsis and shock
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Our team at Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers has the skills to handle even the most complicated personal injury cases. Contact us today to learn more about how we can put our knowledge to work for you.
How Do I Prove I Deserve Compensation After Suffering Dog Bite Injuries in Louisiana?
Dog owners in Louisiana are liable for damages caused by their animals. In Louisiana, dog owners are subject to a “limited strict liability” rule for dog bite injuries. This means that they are automatically responsible for damages in most cases, with two key exceptions:
- The injured person provoked the dog
- The owner could not have prevented the injury
There is no one-bite rule in Louisiana. The dog’s owner can be liable if the dog has never bitten anyone before. In fact, if the dog has bitten in the past, it may be classified as a dangerous dog in Louisiana. Owners of dangerous dogs are required to take extra precautions to prevent their animals from attacking again.
Can Negligence Theories Be Relevant to a Dog Bite Injury Claim in Lafayette?
Anyone can be held liable for their own negligence. Louisiana dog bite laws actually build in a negligence component.
The dog’s owner can be liable for damages caused by their dog if:
- The owner knew or reasonably should have known that their dog’s behavior could cause damage,
- The damage could have been prevented had the owner used a reasonable amount of care, and
- The owner failed to use a reasonable amount of caution.
This negligence-based claim can be used, for example, if the dog’s owner has evidence that you somehow provoked the dog. Provocation is a common defense to the application of Louisiana’s strict liability dog bite law.
Dog owners can be negligent in many different ways. For example, negligence claims can be based on the owner’s failure to secure the animal or ignoring Louisiana leash laws.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Dog Bite in Louisiana?
The statute of limitations in Louisiana for most personal injury cases is two years. You must file a lawsuit to seek damages within two years of the date the dog bit you. If you wait longer than two years, you’ll be completely prohibited from recovering compensation.
Exceptions to this deadline are rare. If a parent decides not to pursue compensation for their child’s dog bite injuries, for example, the child has two years from their 18th birthday to sue for damages.
Because exceptions are so rare, getting legal advice quickly can be critical to the success of your case.
Contact a Seasoned Lafayette Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Consultation
After an injury, it never hurts to consult an experienced attorney. If you were bitten by someone else’s dog, call our Lafayette dog bite lawyers today. At Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, your initial consultation is always free.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Lafayette, LA
Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
1318 Camellia Boulevard, Suite 206, Lafayette, LA, 70508
(337) 473-2991
Our Personal Injury law firm in Lafayette also provides:
- Lafayette Bicycle Accident Lawyers
- Brain Injury Accident Attorneys in Lafayette, LA
- Car Accident Attorneys in Lafayette, LA
- Dog Bite Accident Lawyers in Lafayette, LA
- Motorcycle Accidents Lawyer in Lafayette, LA
- Lafayette Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
- Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers in Lafayette, LA
- Truck Accident Attorneys in Lafayette, LA
- Wrongful Death Lawyers in Lafayette
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