Were you or a loved one recently bitten by a dog in Raleigh, North Carolina? Call Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers at (919) 876-3020 for a free consultation. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical care, lost wages, and emotional trauma. However, getting the financial justice you deserve can be an uphill battle unless you trust our Raleigh dog bite lawyers to fight for you.
For the past four decades, we have been a fierce legal advocate for injury victims and families in North Carolina. Knowing that insurance companies rarely put injury victims’ best interests first, we’ve dedicated our careers to holding them accountable when innocent people get hurt.
Trust our Raleigh personal injury attorneys to make a difference in your dog bite lawsuit. Contact our Raleigh law office today to schedule a free consultation.
Why Choose Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers After a Dog Bite in Raleigh, NC
Being bitten by a dog can be terrifying, traumatic, and overwhelming. Faced with uncertainty, you deserve to work with a team of legal professionals in Raleigh, NC, who can provide reliable, trustworthy, and powerful representation when you need it most. That’s why you need Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers.
Our Raleigh personal injury lawyers are recognized as leaders in North Carolina civil litigation by:
- Super Lawyers
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and 40 Under 40
- Martindale Hubbell
- The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum (see disclaimer below)
- Trial Lawyers Board of Regents
- North Carolina Advocates for Justice
We are backed by 190+ years of combined attorney experience and have secured over $850 million in damages for clients like you (see disclaimer below). We’re aggressive negotiators with a clear-cut ability to leverage top-dollar settlements who aren’t afraid to take lawsuits to trial to get the best possible case results.
Don’t accept less than you deserve for your dog bite injuries. There’s no charge for your first case evaluation, so call our Raleigh dog bite attorneys today.
What Is My Dog Bite Case Worth?
No two dog bites are the same, and the potential financial recovery will vary from case to case. Without knowing the specifics of your situation, it’s hard to say how much money you might be able to get if you file for insurance or sue.
Several factors can be important when it comes to valuation:
- The age of the dog bite victim
- The types of injuries sustained in the dog attack
- The potential for long-term disability or impairment
- Whether the victim requires hospitalization or will need long-term nursing assistance
- Changes in the victim’s income or projected earning capacity
- Changes in the victim’s emotional and/or psychological well-being
- Shared responsibility for the dog attack
- Out-of-pocket expenses related to the dog bite
Never underestimate what your dog bite case might be worth, even if you think your injuries are moderate. Working with an experienced dog bite attorney in Raleigh can help you win your case and achieve the best possible results.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Raleigh Dog Bite Victims?
As the victim of a dog bite in Raleigh, North Carolina, you can file a legal claim for compensatory damages.
Compensatory damages can include money for your economic losses and harder-to-value non-economic losses, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing assistance
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Reduced quality of life
- Emotional distress
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Disfigurement
- Physical scarring
- Funeral expenses if a dog bite was fatal
When you’ve turned to our firm for help, you can count on our North Carolina dog bite attorneys in Raleigh to fight for every cent you deserve.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Dog Bite Attorney in Raleigh?
Hiring our firm won’t cost your family anything up front, and you won’t pay our legal fees out of your own pocket. Our dog bite attorneys in Raleigh advocate for clients on a contingent basis. Under this system, we only get paid when we win compensation for your dog bite case.
When we win, our fees are deducted from your financial award. While every case is different, the typical attorney fee for these types of cases is generally between 33% and 40%.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for My Dog Bite Injuries in North Carolina?
You’ll need to fight back aggressively against any claims that you provoked the dog or share responsibility for the dog bite. North Carolina adheres to a harsh pure contributory fault system. Sharing any degree of responsibility for a dog bite is typically an automatic bar to recovery.
It’s important to note that the state’s contributory fault system won’t necessarily apply in dog bite cases involving young children. So, a child’s age and overall maturity could be considered if there are any claims of contributory fault.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Dog Bite Injuries in Raleigh, NC
No matter the breed, a dog’s bite can inflict serious injuries, such as:
- Broken bones
- Cuts and lacerations
- Puncture wounds
- Crushing injuries
- Nerve damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Degloving injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Leg injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Head injuries
- Eye injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
It’s important to call 911 and report that you’ve been bitten by a dog to generate a formal record of the incident, which can be extremely valuable when you decide to pursue compensation. Then, seek prompt medical attention at your closest emergency room. If left untreated, dog bite injuries can lead to serious infections, diseases, and other complications. Further, your medical records can help to prove your case and help you maximize your recovery.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Dog Bite in North Carolina?
Once you’ve been bitten by a dog in Raleigh, NC, you’ll usually have up to three years to file a personal injury claim. If you’ve lost a family member in a fatal dog attack in Raleigh, you may only have two years from your loved one’s passing to pursue damages in a wrongful death case.
The statute of limitations can potentially be extended if a child is bitten by a dog. In these situations, the filing deadline is typically tolled until the child’s 21st birthday.
If you miss your case’s deadline, you could lose your right to compensation for your injuries. That’s why it’s critical to consult with a North Carolina dog bite lawyer as soon as possible after your incident to ensure you understand the deadline in your case.
Does North Carolina Have a One Bite Rule?
North Carolina is a “one-bite” state regarding dog bite liability.
Simply put, dog owners aren’t strictly liable the first time their animal attacks someone and causes harm. Instead, owners are strictly liable once they know or should have known that their dog had vicious tendencies, meaning they’ve bitten or attacked someone (or tried to) in the past. Dogs with a history of aggression are formally defined as “potentially dangerous dogs.”
Strict liability means a dog’s owner is automatically responsible for a dog bite victim’s damages, even if they weren’t negligent.
Just because a dog’s owner might not be strictly liable if this was the dog’s first time biting someone, doesn’t mean the owner is necessarily off the hook. The owner can still be liable if their negligence contributed to the dog attack (such as violating the city’s leash laws).
What Do I Have to Prove to Win a Dog Bite Lawsuit?
It depends on who you’re filing a lawsuit against and the legal basis of your dog bite claim.
When you file a dog bite claim against the dog’s owner, you have to either prove:
- The owner is strictly liable because the animal is a “potentially dangerous” animal under North Carolina law, or
- The owner is liable because they were negligent, regardless of the dog’s history
Strict liability claims require proof that:
- The dog who bit you had a known history of aggression,
- The dog is owned by the defendant, and
- You suffered damages because of the dog bite.
Negligence claims, which can also potentially be raised against property owners in a premises liability action, require proof that:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care,
- This duty of care was breached in some way,
- The dog bit you because of the defendant’s actions or failure to take action, and
- You’ve sustained damages.
No matter the basis of your claim, you’ll need persuasive evidence to prove your case, establish your damages, and secure victory.
Contact Our Raleigh Dog Bite Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Call Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers for help if you or someone you care about has been attacked by a dog in Raleigh, NC. You deserve to be compensated for your medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and personal trauma.
Our award-winning Raleigh dog bite lawyers want to help you maximize your recovery (see disclaimer below). Your first case evaluation is free. Contact us at our law office in Raleigh to learn more about how we can help.