Dog bites are serious risks to physical health, well-being, and mental health. If you suffered a dog bite that creates a serious injury for you, our Vernon dog bite lawyer can help you get the financial support you need to recover. At Aeton Law, our Vernon personal injury lawyer knows the impact that such an incident can have on the well-being of our clients, and we will fight hard to protect their rights.
What You Should Do After a Dog Bite
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that 4.5 million people suffer a dog bite each year in the U.S., and while most are minimal, 1 in 5 of them suffer an infection or other complications from those injuries. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons issued a report that shows that, in 2018 alone, 27,000 people needed to have surgery for reconstructive needs after being bitten by a dog. Often, many of these injuries are to children.
When you are in a situation like this, you should prioritize getting the medical care you need by going to the emergency room or an urgent care location nearby. If it is possible to do so, also get the names of the people involved and witnesses. You also want to make sure to file a police report to document what occurred.
Follow up with all of the medical care you are required to receive, and be sure to take photos of what happened to you. We also recommend staying off social media and avoiding making any statements that could implicate your fault in this case. Then, contact a Vernon dog bite lawyer at Aeton Law for immediate help and guidance.
Know CT Dog Bite Laws and How They Can Protect You
In Connecticut, dog bite statutes make it clear that the owner of the dog is strictly liable for any losses the dog causes to other people. As a strict liability state, that means that the owner is responsible even if they tried to hold the dog back, kept it on a leash, or had no idea the dog would act in the way it did. If they fail to do this, you may have the right to pursue financial compensation for all of the losses you have.
Note that there is one exception to this rule, and it falls in the situation of trespassing. If you have not been explicitly or implicitly welcomed onto the property or did not have official business to attend to, such as dropping off the mail and a dog bites you, the property owner may not be at fault. In this situation, it may be harder – but not impossible – to file a claim for the losses you have.
There is also an exception for younger children. If a child wanders onto someone else’s property and is hurt by the dog through a puncture bite, then the owner may still be considered at fault. However, this is also a difficult case to pursue, and we encourage you to reach out to our dog bite attorney in Vernon about defending.
Recognize the Losses in a Dog Bite Case
A person hurt from a serious dog bite may be able to file for compensation for those losses, and the amount received is often dependent on the severity of the injury, the overall impact of the injury, and the circumstances surrounding it. Our Vernon dog bite attorney can determine what your losses are and then aid in completing a claim for their recovery. We do not recommend filing a claim until you know what all of those losses could be.
Dog bite injuries often start with economic losses, which include medical bills, lost time at work, and loss of property. They may also include any ongoing rehabilitation you need, support for counselors to discuss the trauma, and modifications to your life to meet your current losses, such as wheelchairs or walking limitations. Economic losses are just a fraction of what you may be owed, though.
Non-economic losses include losses related to pain and suffering, emotional trauma, mental anguish, and loss of quality of life. We look at how this incident impacted your social and physical abilities now and into the future. For many of our clients, the injuries from a dog bite can last for years to come, limiting your overall quality of life and well-being, so be sure to talk to a dog bite lawyer in Vernon from Aeton Law.
Why Choose Aeton Law as Your Vernon Dog Bite Attorney
Our dog bite attorneys in Vernon have the experience you can rely on to help you through the challenges of an injury like this. We have helped many clients in the past to recover compensation from those who failed to control and maintain their dogs and those who allowed that recklessness to create traumatic injuries. There are several key reasons why you should consider our team for your losses.
- Our experience of more than 50 years in personal injury allows us to help our clients navigate the challenges of this area of the law with confidence.
- You will not find a team that is more dedicated to protecting your rights and fighting for you and your family throughout this incident – our client testimonials show our passion.
- We also have proven results, including helping our clients recover millions of dollars from the negligence of other parties.
We do not put pressure on you throughout this process. Rather, when you hire our dog bite attorneys, we do not charge you anything for our legal services until we win your case for you, and if we do not, you owe us nothing. That can give you peace of mind in moving forward with your case.
Set Up a Free Consultation with Our Dog Bite Attorney Now
Our Vernon dog bite lawyer from Aeton Law is ready to work with you and can offer a free case evaluation to give you insight into your legal rights and strategy options. Avoid speaking with the insurance company until you talk to our legal team. Expect outstanding support from us every step of the way as you fight for fair compensation after your injury.