Have you or your child been bitten by a dog in Durham, North Carolina? Call Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers at (919) 728-1770 for a free consultation.
You may be entitled to compensation for your dog bite injuries, which can help to cover your medical bills, loss of income, and the trauma you’ve endured. Working with our experienced Durham dog bite lawyers can help you maximize your financial recovery.
For four decades, dog bite victims and grieving families in North Carolina have trusted our firm to fight for justice. Our award-winning Durham personal injury attorneys, whose collective experience spans more than 190 years, have an impressive track record of success. Our personal injury case results include over $850 million in damages recovered for our clients.
Contact us today! We offer free consultations, so call our Durham, NC, law office today.
Why Choose Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers to Handle Your Dog Bite Lawsuit in Durham, NC
Don’t let an aggressive dog’s owner off the hook for your life-changing injuries. Force the accountability you deserve by trusting our Durham personal injury lawyers to take charge of your dog bite lawsuit.
We’re the top choice of North Carolina animal attack victims because of our dedicated and aggressive approach to litigation.
It’s also why we have 1,500 five-star reviews on Google and have been recognized by:
- Super Lawyers
- Martindale-Hubbell
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
- The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Your life changed in an instant, and it can take time to recover and figure out how to move forward. Take the time you need to focus on yourself and trust our North Carolina dog bite attorneys in Durham to invest the resources, skills, and experience required to get you the kind of top-tier case results you deserve.
There’s no charge for an initial consultation, so contact us to discuss your case with a Durham dog bite attorney today.
Understanding North Carolina’s Dog Bite Laws
North Carolina is one of a few states to adopt a “one bite” rule.
The one bite rule means that a dog’s owner isn’t automatically liable for damages the first time their animal attacks someone. The first bite is free, so to speak.
However, once the dog has a history of aggression, it becomes a “potentially dangerous dog.” When a person owns a potentially dangerous dog, they should appreciate the potential threat that the animal might pose to others. They assume a responsibility to take extra precautions to keep the dog from hurting someone again.
As a result, the owner of a dangerous dog is strictly liable for bites and attacks. The owner is responsible for damages regardless of the steps they took to prevent it from happening.
Does the One Bite Rule Mean the Owner is Never Liable For a Dog’s First Bite?
No. Dog owners can still be liable for damages the first time their animal attacks in certain situations.
For instance, a dog’s owner will be considered negligent per se if they violate an animal control statute intended to prevent dog attacks, including Durham’s leash laws.
A dog owner can also be sued on the grounds of ordinary negligence if their actions, while not unlawful, contributed to the dog attack.
Can Someone Other Than the Dog’s Owner Be Liable for My Dog Bite Injuries?
Yes. There are times when dog bite cases become a matter of premises liability. If you’re bitten by a dog on someone else’s property, there’s a chance that the owner of the premises could be liable.
This might include:
- A Landlord
- A Hotel
- A Business
- A School
- A Restaurant
- An Employer
Property owners and businesses in Durham have a responsibility to protect guests from reasonable threats to their safety.
If an owner knows or has reason to know that a dangerous dog is on the premises but doesn’t take steps to isolate the animal, ensure it’s properly tethered, or warn guests, they can potentially be on the hook for damages if that dog harms someone.
Our experienced Durham dog bite attorneys know how to untangle the complexities of liability in these types of cases, and they’ll help you identify exactly who could be liable in your specific situation.
How Much Is My Durham Dog Bite Lawsuit Worth?
There is no way to tell you what your dog bite case is worth without knowing the specifics.
However, you can get a sense of your potential damages by considering some factors that are always relevant for valuation:
- What types of injuries have you sustained?
- Are those injuries permanent?
- Can you still work in the same capacity?
- Will you lose any income during your recovery?
- How has being bitten by a dog affected your mental and emotional well-being?
- How old are you?
- Are you being accused of provoking the animal?
- What insurance benefits are available?
The more catastrophic your injuries, the more you might expect to recover when your dog bite lawsuit is settled or resolved at trial.
Working with a smart and skilled Durham dog bite attorney can empower you with the knowledge you’ll need to make informed decisions during the negotiation process. Call Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers to discuss the specifics of your dog bite case today.
What Compensation Can Be Awarded to Dog Bite Victims?
Whether you file a claim with a dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance company or pursue damages through a lawsuit, you can typically request two types of awards: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are intended to make you financially whole by taking care of your present and future costs, such as:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing care
- Lost wages and income
- Lost benefits
- Diminished earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Funeral and burial expenses if a dog bite in Durham is fatal
Being bitten by a dog is one of the most traumatic things a person can experience. However, trauma doesn't have an objective value. Non-economic damages are designed to acknowledge the harder-to-value distress you experience as a victim.
Common non-economic damages include money for:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement
- Physical scarring
- Chronic physical pain
- Embarrassment
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Loss of consortium
Our dog bite attorneys in Durham, NC, will carefully investigate your case, work closely with trusted expert witnesses, and gather key pieces of evidence.
We’ll use the information we uncover to identify your losses and build a claim that forces the dog’s owner (and other liable parties) to take accountability for the full extent of your traumatic experience.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Dog Bite Injuries in Durham, NC
Millions of people are bitten by dogs across the United States every year, half of them children. In many cases, dog bite injuries are severe enough to warrant a trip to the emergency room and/or hospitalization.
These injuries tend to include:
- Puncture wounds
- Cuts and lacerations
- Head injuries
- Eye injuries
- Brain injuries
- Crush injuries
- Nerve damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Degloving injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Leg injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
Dozens of dog bites are also fatal and cause families to grieve the wrongful death of their closest loved ones.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Dog Bite Attorney in Durham?
It won’t cost anything out of your own pocket to hire Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers to litigate your dog bite lawsuit in Durham, NC.
Our Durham personal injury attorneys fight for our clients on a contingent basis. We’re so confident we’ll win that we’ll stake our attorney fees on the results.
You only pay for our help when we recover compensation for your dog bite case. When we win, those fees are a pre-agreed-upon percentage that comes out of your financial recovery, so there’s no added stress to ask for our help.
We’ll clearly explain all the terms of our contingency fee agreement before you sign it, and we’ll also ensure we answer all of your questions before signing.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Dog Bite Accident in North Carolina?
Dog bite victims in North Carolina typically have three years to file a lawsuit against the dog’s owner or another responsible party.
The three-year statute of limitations has few exceptions. For example, if a child is bitten by a dog, the right to sue can be extended until the child’s 21st birthday.
If you’re bitten by a dog, you must file your dog bite lawsuit before time runs out. When the filing deadline passes, you’ll potentially forfeit the ability to demand compensation for your injuries.
That’s why it’s critical to consult with a Durham personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after you are bitten by a dog. They’ll be able to help you determine your case’s deadline.
Schedule a Free Case Review With an Experienced Durham Dog Bite Lawyer
Dog bite injuries can have long-lasting consequences throughout your life. Don’t struggle with those consequences on your own. Call Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers, and trust our Durham dog bite lawyers to fight for the financial justice you deserve.
Learn about the benefits of having our aggressive personal injury law firm in your corner by calling our Durham law office today. Your first case evaluation is free.