When you have been bitten by a dog in Georgia, the details of the incident are crucial for determining liability and compensation. As with most injury events, your first course of action after a dog bite should be to seek medical care. This will help safeguard your personal wellbeing, and a timely doctor visit will also show the court that a dog caused the injury and demonstrate you sought immediate medical attention. Delaying treatment does not look good in court; the court may assume that since you did not seek medical care for your injuries right away, they were probably not severe enough to warrant medical intervention or perhaps another cause was to blame for your injuries.
To successfully obtain compensation for your dog bite injury in Georgia, Attorney Miguel Cossio will need to prove that the dog’s owner was negligent at the time of the attack. In Georgia, the only ways a dog owner can be held liable for a dog bite is if the dog was not under proper control at the time or is known to have a history of aggression. Alternatively, it could be shown that the dog was illegally off a leash, and in violation of the leash law in the city or county, which could create “liability per se” (liability by law).
If injured at the dog owner’s home, Georgia law requires that the victim must be legally on the property. Generally, a trespasser who is bitten by a dog cannot sue the owner for injuries.
Defenses for Dog Owners
If you own a dog who injures another person, there are several defenses available. If the victim provoked the dog or was an otherwise threatening presence, then the dog’s instinct to protect itself and/or its owner does not mean it was being aggressive. Similar concept to self-defense. Additionally, as mentioned above, you are not liable for your dog biting a trespasser on your property.
Compensation for a Dog Bite Injury
If a dog has bitten you and the owner is found negligent, there are several types of compensation Attorney Miguel Cossio can pursue on your behalf:
- Medical expenses related to your injuries. This includes emergency transportation costs, surgical bills, hospital bills, and all other medical expenses resulting from the incident.
- Pain and suffering. Dogs’ teeth and jaws are capable of inflicting serious punctures, lacerations, and crushing wounds. Miguel will need to consult with expert witnesses who will assess your injuries and the dog’s physical traits to determine the level of pain you experienced. A judge will use this testimony to award an appropriate amount of compensation.
- Lost wages. For serious injuries that prevent you from resuming your job, you can claim compensation for the income you would have reasonably expected to earn had the attack not taken place.
- Property damage, in cases where the dog damaged any of your personal belongings.
Contact Attorney Miguel Cossio if you have been attacked by a dog
Dog bite injury cases in Georgia can be exceedingly complex. If you’ve been on either side of a fence, so to speak, it’s crucial that you call Miguel for competent, reliable legal representation to fight for your rights
