Dog bites can be very serious and painful injuries that require immediate medical care. Some can even be life-threatening. These injuries often become infected and require months of intense and painful treatment. The incident can be very traumatic and leave emotional wounds as well. Dog bite injuries often cause permanent physical scarring, disfigurement, and even nerve damage. Many of our injured clients in North Carolina ask, “Can I sue for a dog bite?”
The short answer is that, yes, you can sue for a dog bite if the owner’s negligence contributed to the attack.
In this blog post, we’ll answer the question, “Can I sue for a dog bite?”, and share tips you can use to protect your legal rights and seek compensation if you’ve been injured by a dog bite.
First, Seek Medical Attention
If you’ve suffered a dog bite, the first and most important thing to do is to seek emergency medical care. Your health and safety is the #1 priority.
If you have suffered a dog bite and seek medical care, the medical provider will report the incident to local authorities. If the dog has not been vaccinated for rabies, then you may receive a series of rabies shots. Under North Carolina law, the dog must be quarantined for 10 days following the bite. Animal control may quarantine the dog at the county shelter, or they may allow the dog to be confined by the owner during the quarantine period.
The “One Bite” Rule
If you’ve been injured by a dog bite, you may have heard about the “one bite rule” and be wondering if you can still receive compensation for your injuries. If a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog causes injury, then the owner can be liable for injury that dog causes. A dangerous dog is one that has caused serious injury to a person without provocation and the local animal control has determined it to be a dangerous dog.
But what if the dog has never bitten a person before and caused serious injury? Can you still sue for a dog bite?
In short, the answer is yes, the owner could still be liable even if the dog has not been previously deemed a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog by the county animal control. Because the law in North Carolina involving dog bite injuries can be very complicated, it is crucial to contact an experienced dog bite attorney as soon as possible.
Our attorneys regularly handle dog bite cases and are ready to help you. Attorney Molly Schertzinger is especially experienced handling these cases and recently secured a significant settlement in a dog bite injury case (see disclaimer below). In separate case, attorneys Gene Riddle and Adam Smith won a $1,000,000 judgment in Superior Court on behalf of an elderly woman who suffered a dog bite due to the owner’s negligence (see disclaimer below).
“We believe justice counts for all North Carolinians and we are proud to represent dog bite victims who have suffered due to others’ negligence.”
-Molly Schertzinger, dog bite attorney, Riddle & Brantley
For a FREE consultation with an experienced North Carolina dog bite lawyer, please call 1-800-525-7111 or complete the fast and easy form below.
There is never any obligation and you won’t pay attorney fees unless we win your case and recover compensation for your dog bite injury.
Please call 1-800-525-7111 today and let’s review your dog bite injury claim. You deserve justice and you may be entitled to compensation.
“What if the dog didn’t bite me but still caused my injury?”
The owner may still be liable for any injury caused by the dog, not just bites.
Untrained and unrestrained dogs can often cause injuries to people by running into them or jumping on them and knocking them onto the ground. In these cases, the individuals are not bitten but nevertheless injured due to the owner’s negligence.
We recently recovered compensation for a lady who sustained significant injuries after the neighbor’s large dog ran into her (see disclaimer below).
What Type of Insurance Covers a Dog Bite Claim?
Our attorneys are often asked what type of insurance covers a dog bite claim. Many times, the owner of the dog will have a homeowner’s or renter’s policy that covers injuries for dog bites. However, some of these policies may have exclusions for certain breeds. You’ll want an experienced dog bite attorney by your side to help you navigate these complex claims.
“Can I sue for a dog bite? How do I get an attorney?”
It is important to know what steps to take if you or a family member has been injured by a dog. Always make sure to report the injury to local animal control and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
If you’re wondering if you can sue for a dog bite, the answer is yes. Our experienced dog bite attorneys are here to guide you through the process and help you begin healing and moving forward to a fair resolution.
For a FREE, no-obligation consultation with an experienced North Carolina dog bite attorney serving clients throughout the state, please call 1-800-525-7111.
You can also complete the fast and easy form below if you prefer.
Justice Counts for victims of dog bites due to owners’ negligence and we are ready to help you fight for justice if we can.
Call 1-800-525-7111 today and let’s review your case.
*** Disclaimer: The results mentioned are intended to illustrate the type of cases handled by the firm. These results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and they should not be construed to constitute a promise or guarantee of a particular result in any particular case. Every case is different, and the outcome of any case depends upon a variety of factors unique to that case.