Qualified Dog Bite Case

Answer:

I often get calls from people who’ve been involved in a dog bite incident. They  walk their dog in their neighborhood and a dog charges at them. A scuffle ensues and they get bit, or they have fallen down. The first thing on their mind is, what do I do? Do I have a claim? Is this even worth it? Ultimately, that’s a question for the injured person to answer. Do they want to pursue it or not? Yes, you have a claim. Yes, you have rights. Do you want to pursue those rights?

I look at the situation and I tell them you don’t have to do anything about it, but your knee is injured. It probably hurts. I can see you limping. You may have puncture wounds, went to the ER. They’re afraid if they make a claim they’re going to put the dog down. I hear that a lot. A lot of people are concerned that the dog might get euthanized. They don’t want that. They wonder  how they can protect themselves and their rights, but they don’t want the dog to die. That’s where someone like me comes in to help the injured party get what they need  to get their health back, but then how do we go about handling their claim?

Not every dog bite situation turns into a lawsuit, but at the end of the day, should you be the one stuck with the medical bills and scars? Most people don’t think so. They want the person responsible to pay for their  medical bills, their pain and suffering, the disruption in their life. It seems fair and reasonable. Those are the conversations that I’m having. Is it worth it? Like I’ve always taught my kids, if you spill the milk, you have to clean it up. You have to answer that question for yourself. You didn’t spill the milk. Should you be responsible for cleaning it up?