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If you or someone you love was the victim of a dog bite injury in Charlotte, North Carolina, contact DeMayo Law Offices to learn about your legal options. We know what your rights are and how to protect them. When you hire us, we’ll fight hard to ensure you receive the financial compensation you deserve for the pain and suffering you endured. We believe in holding people responsible for their careless actions.
Nearly 5 million people get bitten by a dog every year in the United States. Despite a majority of those resulting in minimal injuries, there are close to 800,000 victims who need medical care each year and approximately 40 fatalities, according to the non-profit group, DogsBite.org.
When a dog bites someone, their teeth could easily break the skin and damage tissue, muscle, tendons, and nerves. It’s a traumatic experience that could negatively impact your opinion of that particular breed or all dogs for the rest of your life.
The Charlotte dog bite lawyers from DeMayo Law Offices will file an insurance claim or lawsuit on your behalf and negotiate the maximum settlement available. You should be able to hold the negligent party accountable, and we’ll make sure they pay you the money you deserve. To find out more about how we can help you in your dog bite case, call us at (704) 333-1000 today.
Every state has different sets of laws pertaining to dangerous dog breeds and what happens when one bites a person and causes bodily harm. North Carolina statute 67-4.4 states that the owner of a dangerous dog becomes liable for injury or property damage inflicted on another animal, property, or person.
North Carolina statute 67-4.1 defines a dangerous dog as one that:
Charlotte and other cities in North Carolina are also able to enforce their own dog bite rules. Along with state laws, city and town officials can implement rules like requiring the use of a leash or which areas dogs can go into.
If you’re unfamiliar with dog bite laws, it can be confusing. Generally speaking, if there’s an unprovoked attack by another person’s dog and you require medical attention, you might qualify for compensation from the owner of the dog or the property owner’s insurance policy. You must have an injury that resulted in damages, such as a hospital or x-ray bill. You can’t seek a monetary award if you only sustained a small wound that healed without medical intervention.
State laws say that you’re allowed to file an insurance claim for an injury or property damage that happened as a result of someone’s dangerous dog biting or attacking you. Most claims will involve an injury instead of property damage. Dog attacks can lead to serious injuries, such as:
Injuries like the ones listed above could require a trip to the emergency room. Some people end up needing cosmetic surgery, especially if the dog bit them in the face. Other people suffer from long-term effects like disfigurement, disability, or PTSD.
Filing a claim with the dog owner’s insurance company may seem like a straightforward affair, but in order to obtain the maximum compensation possible, you should hire a reputable attorney to review your claim before you submit it.
An attorney can help your claim in ways you may not expect. An attorney is not just someone to write letters or stand next to you in court; we are legal advocates, and it’s our job to assist you in any way possible to get your claim for compensation approved and paid.
Here are some ways hiring an attorney can help your dog bite claim in North Carolina:
When you file an insurance claim, the insurance adjuster will review different factors and evidence you submit to them to determine how much money you deserve.
Typically, the more severe the injury, the higher the compensation.
Factors that could lead to a larger settlement include:
Factors that could result in a small financial award include:
If a dog attacks you and you get hurt, you’re allowed to seek compensation for your total damages.
Economic damages are expenses and include things such as:
Non-economic damages are intangible losses, such as:
Punitive damages are often the result of negligent or egregious actions. Unlike economic and non-economic damages that reimburse injured victims for their losses, punitive damages aim to punish the liable party. It’s not a common form of damages people receive, but it’s possible if the circumstances of the situation are entirely horrific.
If an insurance claim isn’t enough, and you believe the dog owner should face financial punishment for their actions that resulted in their dog biting you, it’s your right to do so. To sue the dog owner, you’ll need to follow North Carolina’s statute of limitations for personal injury. Anyone who sustains an injury can pursue civil action against the responsible party within three years from the date of the incident.
If the statute of limitations passes and you haven’t filed a lawsuit, you likely won’t have the opportunity to pursue compensation. You could try to bring the case to court, but the judge will probably dismiss your request because you missed the deadline.
There are, however, some exceptions to the statute of limitations rule. You could essentially pause the “clock” if either of these situations applies:
A dog owner residing in North Carolina can use multiple defenses if they get sued for a dog bite injury. If any of these situations occurred, they might not have to face legal action from you:
Before you pursue a claim or lawsuit, make sure none of the circumstances listed above apply to your dog bite case. You could end up with nothing if you somehow instigated the attack or were on the dog owner’s property without permission.
Reach out to DeMayo Law Offices, a Charlotte personal injury law firm, to find out more about how we can help you with your case. We’ll work hard to recover the compensation you need to pay for your treatment. We know how much you’re struggling; it’s been a financial, emotional, and physical burden ever since someone’s dog injured you. We want to be your advocate and seek the justice you deserve.
Schedule your free consultation by calling us at (704) 333-1000 or fill out our contact form.