Kelly & West News

Ouch! That Dog Bit Me… But What Can I Do?

Have you or a loved one experienced a severe dog bite injury? According to North Carolina Law, as a Dog Bite victim you may have the right to be compensated by the dog’s owner for any damages caused from the attack.

The first step is to ask the dog’s owner if he/she has homeowner’s insurance. If the owner will not tell you whether or not they have insurance, then you made need assistance of an attorney or do additional research to find out.  We suggest you do this first because if there is no insurance coverage available, it may be difficult to find an attorney to pursue your case. Even if there is homeowner’s insurance available, there may be language in the policy that prevents them from paying for dog bite claims.

In addition to contacting an experienced animal attack attorney, you should be careful to document several aspects of the attack including:

• Taking photos of your injury and of the scene where the dog bite happened
• With permission from the owner, having the dog evaluated so that its behavior characteristics can be shown to the court
• With permission from the owner, taking pictures and videos of the dog to demonstrate its size, weight, and mannerisms
• Consulting neighbors, Neighborhood Watch, etc. to get an understanding of the dog’s history
• Consulting the dog’s veterinarian to review its medical records and see if any past aggressive behavior was documented
• If possible, speaking with the owner to understand whether or not the dog was trained, licensed, etc.

Collecting this information can play an important role in determining whether the dog’s owner truly is liable for the attack. Don’t wait to contact an attorney. Not only can you be provided with compensation, but you can help prevent future attacks as well. If you would like to talk with an experienced and caring dog bite attorney please contact the law offices of Kelly & West today.