A Brief Guide for Dog Bite Victims

More and more recently, the news reports serious injuries to innocent people resulting from animal attacks. Even lifelong dog lovers have been bitten by dogs, sometimes while near the home of dog owners who ignore or even abuse their pets. Unfortunately in the past, even where they have done nothing to provoke the animal, dog bite victims had little or no recourse against the pet owner for the serious injuries caused by a vicious animal.

However, while current Georgia law does seem to provide loopholes for the owner of a dog who injures a victim in an attack and despite insurance companies’ efforts to exclude dog bite injuries from coverage, both aspects affecting the landscape of animal attack law and recovery are in flux.

Dog bite victims are encouraged to investigate the incident with the help of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney. This means documenting the injury and doing what you can to identify the owner of the both the animal and the property on which the attack took place. Often, the investigation can lead to a claim against the owner’s insurance policy and, sometimes, a settlement agreement can be reached to compensate the victim for the injuries and other damages. For example, a large settlement was recently obtained by a dog bite victim in Illinois.

Don’t let a negligent home or business owner and potential pet abuser walk away from liability for a vicious animal attack causing serious injury. If you or a loved one has been involved in an animal attack or been a dog bite victim in Georgia, contact The Law Offices of T. Andrew Miller today for a free consultation to discuss your options.