Were you bitten by a dog in Charlotte, NC? Dog owners can be held liable for injuries caused by their pets. Call Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers at (704) 486-5824 to learn more about your legal rights and options from our Charlotte dog bite lawyers.
We have over 190 years of combined experience. Our Charlotte personal injury attorneys have already recovered over $850 million in settlements and verdicts, and now we’re prepared to fight for you (see disclaimer below).
Our attorneys have the experience to build a case that the insurance companies cannot ignore. Contact our law offices in Charlotte, North Carolina, to schedule a free consultation to learn more about how we can help.
How Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers Can Help With a Dog Bite Injury Claim in Charlotte
A serious injury can leave you struggling with pain, trauma, and fear for months and years to come. Unfortunately, most people don’t stand up and take responsibility.
When dealing with painful injuries, our Charlotte personal injury lawyers are here to provide the fierce legal representation you deserve.
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers, we’ve been honored with:
- Super Lawyers rating
- A perfect-10 Avvo rating
- Membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates’ Forum
- An AV-Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell
We’ve also earned over 1,800 five-star Google reviews from satisfied clients. You can count on our Charlotte dog bite attorneys to put the full weight of our experience into your case. Call us today to learn how a lawyer can add value to your case.
How Common Are Dog Bites in North Carolina?
According to some reports, roughly 1,000 people in the United States receive emergency medical care due to dog bite injuries every single day. About 12,480 dog bite victims are hospitalized each year.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, North Carolina insurance companies paid over $15 million in dog bite settlements in a single year.
How Much Money Is My Charlotte Dog Bite Injury Case Worth?
When assessing the value of your personal injury claim, our Charlotte injury lawyers will consider all relevant factors, including:
- The general severity of your injuries
- The long-term impacts on your health and quality of life
- Your current medical bills and expenses
- The nature and cost of any ongoing medical care and rehabilitation
- The value of any income you’ve lost during recovery
- Long-term impacts on your work and earning capacity
- Whether you share any blame in the incident
- Available insurance coverage
Dog attacks can cause significant physical and mental pain. Our Charlotte dog bite attorneys can help you understand how much you deserve–and fight for every dollar. Contact us today to learn more about your legal options.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Dog Bite Victims in Charlotte?
Like any personal injury victim, dog bite victims can seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages.
Your compensation award should cover all current financial costs and projected future expenses, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Reconstructive surgeries
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Nursing care
- Property damage
You can also pursue compensation for the personal and intangible losses caused by the ordeal, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Fear
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Damage to relationships
As the victim, you must identify the specific losses you’ve suffered. Once you’ve proven these damages exist, you’ll also have to establish their value. This can be a daunting task, especially if you were seriously injured.
Our lawyers are prepared to handle every aspect of your case. You can count on us to handle these legal issues while you take the time to recover.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer for My Dog Bite Claim?
Initially, you won’t pay anything to hire our law firm. Our clients sign contingency fee agreements to retain our legal services. In that agreement, you’ll agree that we’ll deduct a percentage of the compensation we recover in your case. You won’t be responsible for attorneys’ fees if we can’t win.
Can I Still Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for My Dog Bite Injuries in North Carolina?
It depends, but it’s not likely. Dog owners and their insurance companies will search for ways to defend themselves against liability. Provocation is perhaps the most common defense in negligence-based dog bite injury cases. If a judge agrees that you provoked the dog and caused your own injuries, you will lose your right to damages.
North Carolina has a strict contributory negligence law. Even if the dog’s owner was negligent, your own negligence will likely prevent you from recovering any damages at all.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Dog Bite Injuries in Charlotte, NC
Depending on the situation, a dog attack can cause the victim to suffer any number of serious injuries, including:
- Puncture wounds and lacerations
- Broken bones
- Facial injuries
- Nerve damage
- Back injuries and herniated discs
- Joint injuries
- Physical scarring and disfigurement
- Infections, which can lead to amputations and other serious conditions
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Internal injuries and organ damage
Dog bite injuries can be difficult to treat. A dog’s bite often roughly tears the skin. Unlike a stab wound, it can be much more difficult to prevent infection and scarring.
After a dog bites you, it’s important to seek medical help as quickly as possible. The sooner your doctor can treat the wound, the better the outcome. Your doctor can also report the attack and ensure that the dog is tested for rabies and other diseases.
Is There a Deadline for Filing a Lawsuit After a Dog Bite in North Carolina?
Yes. Under the North Carolina statute of limitations for personal injury cases, you typically have three years from the date of the dog bite to file a lawsuit. After three years have passed, you may lose your right to seek compensation.
Exceptions can give you more or less time. For example, if the victim was a child, as many dog bite victims unfortunately are, the clock doesn’t start running until their 18th birthday.
That said, even if an exception does apply, we highly recommend enlisting a lawyer to build your case soon after the injury. That way, you won’t run the risk that evidence will disappear.
How Do I Prove I Deserve Compensation After a Dog Bite in North Carolina?
Most personal injury cases are based on negligence. Victims are only entitled to compensation if the defendant failed to use reasonable caution to prevent injuries. While negligence is a general legal concept, most states have adopted specific laws on dog bite injuries.
Some dog bite injury cases in North Carolina may be governed by a strict liability law. That said, your burden of proof will likely be more complex. For example, owners of “dangerous dogs” are strictly liable under North Carolina dog bite laws.
Strict liability theories apply if:
- The dog was over six months old and allowed to roam freely at night.
- The dog had previously been classified as a dangerous dog or “potentially dangerous dog.”
- The dog had previously injured or killed another person.
Dogs are typically classified as dangerous or potentially dangerous if they have caused injury, killed, or threatened to attack in the past.
“Strict liability” means the owner can be liable regardless of whether they did something carelessly or recklessly. However, if your dog bite case doesn’t fit neatly into one of these situations, you can still pursue compensation under negligence theories.
What Do I Have to Prove to Win a Negligence-Based Dog Bite Case in North Carolina?
The four basic elements of a negligence-based case are:
- The defendant had a legal duty of care.
- They breached their duty.
- That breach was the direct cause of your injury.
- You can point to specific damages or harm that you suffered.
Dog owners have responsibilities like anyone else. One of those responsibilities is the basic duty to take reasonable precautions to prevent their dogs from harming others.
In dog bite injury cases, you may have to prove that:
- The defendant knew, or reasonably should have known, that the dog had aggressive tendencies.
- The dog owner failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the dog bite (such as keeping the dog secured on a leash or confined in a secure area).
- The dog injured you.
Many different types of evidence can be used to prove your case. For example, our lawyers will search for prior complaints about the dog or proof that the owner allowed the dog to roam freely, violating Charlotte leash laws.
Regardless of the facts, our team at Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers has the skills to help you fight for the full compensation you deserve. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you prove your case.
Contact Our Charlotte Dog Bite Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one were bitten by someone else’s dog, our team at Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers is here to stand up for you. Contact an experienced Charlotte dog bite lawyer for a free case review to start exploring your legal options today.