- July 7, 2020
- Posted by: Robert Katz
- Category: Personal Injury
Thousands of people are victimized by dog bites in the United States each year. In Pennsylvania, dog bites fall under the scope of personal injury law, and those impacted by canine bites might be entitled to compensation by the animal’s owner through an action known as a civil suit.
At Katz Injury Law, our dog bite accident lawyers representing Philadelphia can help you understand the actions you should take if you’ve been bitten by a dog and how a lawyer might be able to help you recover compensation for your injuries.
Document Evidence
The key to winning any potential civil case is for you and your legal team to provide enough compelling evidence necessary to convince an insurance company or an adjudicating body that your account of the events and injuries is correct. You should thoroughly document the events immediately prior to, during, and throughout your recovery from the biting incident. Capture photos of your injuries and scars and the animal in question. Call the police and make a report with animal control. Collect any other evidence including witness names and phone numbers and medical records.
Obtain Owner Information
If the offending canine was accompanied by its owner or handler, you are strongly encouraged to obtain the names, contact information and insurance providers of said individuals. Additionally, you are encouraged to obtain similar data from eyewitnesses who can offer a third-person account of the events.
Contact Local Law Enforcement Or Animal Control Authorities
Local law enforcement agencies or animal control authorities should be contacted in all cases. They should author a report based upon the facts they gather immediately after the attack. Moreover, these officials can trace stray dogs back to owners and might be able to acquire pertinent information about the animals in question, such as their vaccination histories.
Obtain Medical Evaluation
Dog bites can be quite serious and often result in serious injuries, health concerns and scars. Therefore, even relatively minor wounds should be evaluated promptly. It is important for civil claimants to connect any damage claims to those wounds.
Contact A Personal Injury Lawyer
Only experienced legal professionals can assess the facts of your case and determine if you have a legitimate civil action lawsuit. If so, you might choose to initiate a civil action against the dog’s owners or handlers. That said, winning a case requires the successful completion of two important steps, which are:
In all cases, facts matter. The dog is never at fault, but its owners may be. The laws in the State of Pennsylvania allow you to recoup damages only if you are found to be less than 51 percent at fault for the biting incident. Moreover, your total compensation will be reduced by the percentage of blame a judge or jury assigns upon you.
Additionally, you must prove certain facts in all personal injury cases. These include showing negligence; That the accused party did something wrong, or failed to do something they should have done to prevent the injury. That the person’s negligent actions contributed to the biting incident. And the bite caused the injuries or illness you now claim. The compensation you seek must be directly attributable to those injuries.
Contacting Us
If you were injured in a dog bite incident, please contact our offices. We are some of the best injury lawyers in Philadelphia and we would be happy to review your case and help you win compensation.