North Carolina Dog Bite Attorneys
It is true that dogs are man's best friend, unfortunately for some living in Raleigh, Dunn and Fayetteville North Carolina, man's best friend can sometimes turn into man's scariest enemy. Though it is not always out of pure viciousness, any kind of dog bite is extremely painful. It is every dog owner's responsibility to know how their animal will behave around other people. It is also the owner's responsibility to have his dog properly restrained in any kind of public situation or anytime the dog may come into contact with other individuals.
If you have been the victim of a dog bite or attack in North Carolina resulting in any kind of injury, you may be entitled to monetary compensation from the dog's owner for medical bills and other losses that you may have incurred as a result of the injury. At the personal injury law offices of Brent Adams & Associates, our one and only priority is to help you in anyway we can. Our North Carolina dog bite attorneys work to get you the compensation you deserve.
Facts About Dog Attacks
Every year in the United States, as many as five million people, or roughly two percent of the entire American population, are the victims of some kind of dog bite or other related injury. Of all those people injured by dog bites, about 800,000 require some kind of professional medical attention. For those admitted to a hospital, the average stay for a dog bite injury is three and a half days. And perhaps most surprising of all, each year an average of 10-20 people in the United States are killed as the result of serious dog attacks--the majority of which are usually young children.
Reasons Dogs Bite
Though most dogs do not ever intend to inflict serious injury on anyone, it does happen and for a variety of reasons. A dog bite is more likely to occur if a dog is fearful of its own safety, if the dog is acting to protect its owner's territory, if it feels threatened to the extent that it does not feel as though there is any other alternative, or if it tries to establish some kind of dominance over another dog or individual.
When a female dog is in heat and there are male dogs present, there is a higher risk of becoming the victim of a dog bite. Statistically, male dogs are more likely to bite than females, dogs that are unaltered reproductively are more likely to bite, and dogs that are chained up, mistreated, or beaten are more likely to bite. There is no such thing as a dog that will never attempt to attack or bite. All dog breeds have the potential to bite, though statistically more than 50% of the time fatal dog bite injuries involve the Pit Bull and Rottweiler breeds.
Your Legal Options After Dog Bite Injuries
If you have been the victim of a dog bite in North Carolina, you have the legal right to seek compensation for your injuries from any and all parties responsible. Laws and regulations regarding the legal rights of dog bite victims often vary from state to state, and even from city to city, so it is vital that you hire a good dog bite lawyer who knows and understands such laws and has experience in dealing with these kinds of cases. At Brent Adams & Associates, our skilled team of lawyers know what it takes to get you the money you are entitled to.
In all US states, a dog bite victim has the legal right to seek damages and compensation from a person whose negligence caused the dog bite. As an example, a person in violation of local animal restraint and confinement laws, or any person who knowingly kept a dog on their property with a known history of aggression towards people, is liable for all injuries caused by the dog.
In North Carolina, the owners of certain dangerous breeds of dog are held strictly liable for injuries caused by their dog. That means the owner has to pay for all damages and injuries caused by their dog even if the owner is not negligent or careless.
Sometimes other people can be held responsible for a given dog bite incident as well. Under certain conditions and circumstances, any third party that knew of the dog's aggressive history can also be held responsible. This can include landlords, day care centers, and previous owners of the dog in question. In general, most laws place the responsibility for a dog bite on the dog's current owner and they are held liable for the dog's behavior, as well as the pain and suffering of any victim of a bite or attack from the dog.
Call Attorneys After a Dog Attack in NC
If you or someone you know has been the victim of a dog bite resulting in any kind of physical injury, it is important to contact a North Carolina dog bite victim attorney as soon as possible. Cases such as these tend to be fairly time sensitive, so the sooner you file your claim, the better chance you have at seeing your desired results.
At Brent Adams & Associates, we are here to help dog attacks victims. Our North Carolina dog bite victim attorneys work to get you the money you deserve for your dog bite injuries. It will not cost you anything to have your personal injury claim evaluated by one of our experienced attorneys. After we have review all of your legal options with you, you will then make the decision as to whether or not you wish to proceed with your case. If you have been bitten by a dog, you may be legally entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering; and we are the NC dog bite law firm that will get you the maximum results you are looking for. Please give us a call today.