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Dog Bite Lawyer in Huntington, WV
Dogs can be dangerous, especially when improperly trained. A dangerous dog can lead to severe injuries, which can cause hundreds to thousands of dollars in medical bills. As such, it is always important to be represented by a highly skilled personal injury lawyer in Huntington, WV.
At Warner Law Offices, PLLC, our dog bite lawyer in Huntington can help you receive fair compensation for your injuries. We have extensive experience helping dog bite survivors hold negligent dog owners accountable.
How Does Dog Bite Liability Work in West Virginia?
Most dog bite attacks occur due to negligent dog owners. Although West Virginia does not have a statewide leash law, there are state laws that address dog bites and animal attacks.
Statewide Liability Laws
For example, West Virginia Code § 19-20-13 makes the owner of a roaming dog liable for any injuries or attacks, even if the owner did not have knowledge of the incident. Additionally, West Virginia Code § 19-20-9a requires the owner to quarantine the dog for 10 days for rabies observation.
Local Dog Attack Ordinances
The City of Huntington has enacted local ordinances that protect innocent bystanders from dog attacks. Under Article 507 of the Huntington Code of Ordinances, no owner shall fail to keep their dog under restraint or allow it to roam unsupervised. The owner will have to pay fines depending on how many violations have been committed under the ordinance.
In other words, if the dog owner allows their dog to roam freely unsupervised, and an injury results from it, the dog owner is liable at all times. This law protects unsuspecting victims of dog attacks that could have been prevented by the owner. Moreover, it allows the victim to pursue legal action against the owner without the owner having many defenses to justify their negligence.
What Are the Most Common Reasons for Dog Attacks?
Dogs can attack for various reasons. Usually, however, dogs are aggressive because dog owners are negligent in properly training their dogs. This creates an unsafe environment for everyone, as an improperly trained dog can be unpredictable. To ensure that a dog is not prone to violent behavior, it is important to understand when and how dogs become violent. Some of the reasons for violent behavior can include:
- Illness or Disease: Dogs that are suffering from illness or disease are often in pain and unable to think clearly. Owners may be treating the illness or disease the best way they can, but if they do not take precautions around other people and animals, attacks can happen.
- Abuse or Neglect: When a dog suffers abuse or neglect from their owners, fear, anxiety, and aggression often increase. Unfortunately, otherwise good dogs can become dangerous and present a risk to the public.
- Improper Training: When dog owners neglect the proper training for their animals, it can lead to potential problems. Dogs may lack the ability to socialize with other animals, people, and children. This can lead to acts of aggression and disobedience.
- Fear or Anxiety: In addition to a lack of training, some dogs may feel anxiety or fear around other animals, adults, and especially children. Dogs may lash out in fear. For a child, even a small bite can cause devastating and lasting injuries.
By understanding why and how dogs became violent, the victim can argue a stronger case for maximum compensation. As such, our Huntington dog bite attorneys pride themselves on providing the most thorough expert and forensic evidence to ensure you are covered.
How Dog Breeds Can Impact the Severity of Injuries and Likelihood of Attacks
Some dog breeds can create everlasting damage due to the strength of their bite. As a result, it is important for potential victims to become aware of which dog breeds are statistically more likely to attack. Potentially dangerous dog breeds can be divided as follows.
Fighting Dog Breeds
This category is composed of dogs that have traditionally been used for dog fighting. While the pitbull terrier comes to mind when discussing dog fighting, some additional breeds utilized for dog fighting include American bulldog, cane corso, dogo Argentino, fila Brasileiro, pit bull, presa canario, presa mallorquin, and Japanese tosa. Some of these breeds have been banned in different countries because of their aggressive nature.
Wolf-Dog Hybrids
Wolf-dog hybrids are considered dangerous because of their unpredictable nature. Wolf-dog hybrids have a fatal attack record, as it can become difficult when their wolf traits are activated. If left unsupervised, the wolf-dogs can harm small children and other small animals.
Dogs can be dangerous depending on their socialization and training. However, fighting dog breeds and wolf-dog breeds have higher odds of creating some serious damage to their victims. In those cases, Warner Law Offices, PLLC will fight to its fullest extent to ensure compensation is maximized.
What Are Some Potential Injuries That Could Result From Dog Bites?
A dog bite can create physical and psychological trauma for victims. It is important to understand what kind of injuries can occur after a dog bite. Some examples include:
- Puncture Wounds: Even seemingly minor punctures from a dog’s teeth require professional medical care, which can lead to serious infections if left untreated. Moreover, puncture wounds could also lead to dangerous diseases such as rabies or tetanus. Children and the elderly are often at higher risk of infection.
- Fractures: Certain dog bites can produce so much pressure that they break bones. Arms and legs are particularly susceptible to fractures. A fracture can lead to numerous medical visits and substantial medical bills.
- Facial Injuries and Disfigurement: Bites to the face can result in disfigurement and may require extensive reconstructive surgery. If a victim has to undergo significant body reconstruction, they are looking to pay hundreds to thousands of dollars in medical bills. The costs can be higher when the victim is a child.
Injuries incurred from dog bites can be serious and expensive. As such, it is important to find legal representation that will put your interests first. Our dog bite attorneys in Huntington will fight to ensure you receive the maximum compensation possible.
What Are the Medical Costs Associated With Dog Bites?
Dog bite injuries can lead to lifelong medical costs for victims. These costs can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. To understand how important it is to seek legal counsel after a dog bite, it is crucial to know what potential costs are associated with a dog bite.
Emergency Room Visit
There are situations where a dog bite can be lethal. During those times, victims go to the emergency room to seek immediate medical attention. An emergency room visit can cost hundreds of dollars, which can create financial hardship for victims.
Imaging Tests
Depending on the severity of the bite, a doctor may recommend imaging to better assess the damage from a bite. X-rays and MRIs can cost thousands of dollars, especially for victims without any type of health insurance.
Reconstructive Surgery
Surgery may be necessary for some victims for full recovery. Reconstructive surgery may be cost-prohibitive for many victims, which may discourage them from receiving all necessary surgeries to return to a normal life. Additionally, surgery can lead to a long recovery time, which could potentially affect the victim’s ability to maintain employment.
Physical Therapy
If the dog bite is significantly severe, the victim will have to undergo physical therapy. The time spent in physical therapy will depend on a myriad of factors, such as the severity of damage, the victim’s response to therapy, or the possibility of additional surgeries along the way. Physical therapy can be expensive, and there are instances where insurance may not cover the cost.
Psychological Trauma
Beyond the physical injuries, dog attacks can cause psychological difficulties, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a fear of dogs. Some victims may require ongoing psychological counseling to cope with these emotional scars.
At Warner Law Offices, PLLC, we will work tirelessly to understand the full medical impact of your injuries.
Potential Damages in a Dog Bite Claim
A victim can maximize the possibility of receiving medical compensation by seeking legal representation. There are two ways in which a dog bite attorney can help victims:
Filing An Insurance Claim
Usually, victims can be compensated through the dog owner’s renters’ or homeowner’s insurance. The victim’s attorney would compile several evidentiary documents, such as medical bills, physical therapy bills, proof of lost wages, etc., and send them to the insurance company for coverage of damages. Certain insurance companies may not cover all dog breeds, or they may minimize the payout to the victim.
Filing A Personal Injury Lawsuit
When an insurance company and the victim do not agree on the amount of compensation for the injury, filing a personal injury lawsuit is the next step. A personal injury lawsuit is adversarial in nature, meaning that the victim and the insurance company are represented by attorneys. To win a potential lawsuit, our Huntington dog bite attorneys need to show that you were lawfully present in the property or area where the attack occurred to win the suit.
Whether you are filing an insurance claim or need to commence the process for a personal injury lawsuit, Warner Law Offices, PLLC, has the experience to zealously represent your best interests. Our dog bite attorneys pride themselves on providing our clients with personalized, attentive legal service. While we recognize that some people need help in the form of legal services, we also know that other West Virginians face challenges that cannot be addressed in the legal justice system.
What Types of Compensation Can a Victim of a Dog Bite Receive?
Overcoming the prohibitive costs of a dog bite attack can be troublesome for some families. Receiving proper legal representation can minimize these costs, especially when substantial costs are at stake. Some of the different types of financial compensation include:
- Medical expenses for emergency treatment, wound care, and related rehabilitative services
- Lost wages if your injuries prevented you from working or require extended recovery time
- Potential loss of income should your injuries prove debilitating
- Pain and suffering damages for any physical pain related to the attack, including nerve damage or muscle damage, broken bones, pain from reconstructive surgery, etc.
- Emotional and psychological distress
- Possible punitive damages in cases where the dog owner acted recklessly or ignored previous warnings about their pet’s aggression
At Warner Law Offices, PLLC, our objective is simple–we want to supply selective, relevant, and accurate information about personal injury law. Our dog bite lawyers are ready to maximize compensation for our clients.
How Our Cabell County Dog Bite Lawyers Can Help You
Warner Law Offices, PLLC, prides itself on supporting our community in the best way possible. For those reasons, we provide free consultations to assess how to maximize compensation for your case. A free consultation is an initial meeting between the attorney and a potential client to discuss their case.
The meeting does not have an initial cost, and there is no contractual obligation between the attorney and the potential client at that time. To better understand how our free consultations work, it is important to know what to expect during your free consultation.
Going Over Facts and Reviewing Evidence
The attorney and the potential client will address fact chronology, legal issues, and discuss present injuries. To better prepare for a free consultation with our team, we recommend that you bring the following documents:
- Copies of police reports
- Photographs of property damage
- Insurance claim documents
- Written or video-recorded witness statements
- Medical records
- Doctor’s notes related to your injury
If unavailable, that is ok. Once you become our client, we will work to gather all the critical documents and evidence to prepare your claim. Use this time to ask questions so you can decide the best legal recourse for your unique situation.
Contact Our Dog Bite Lawyers in Huntington, WV
If you or a loved one have been attacked by a dog, you have the right to seek justice and hold negligent owners accountable. Let Warner Law Offices, PLLC help you protect your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve. To request a free case review from experienced Huntington dog bite attorneys near you, contact our law firm online.