Dog Bite Lawyer Belleville

When a dog attacks you unprovoked, the owner is the one liable for your wounds. Dog bites are dangerous because they can cause injury to the muscle, bones, and ligaments of your body. Additionally, the mouths of dogs can carry a lot of bacteria that can cause an infection. A dog bite injury can cause you to be temporarily disabled, preventing you from performing normal job functions. When you have been bitten by a dog, you can seek damages from the owner. You can learn about the steps you should take from speaking with a professional who can guide you through this process. 

If you have injuries from a dog bite, then a professional legal team can guide you. You should work with a dog bite lawyer in Belleville, Illinois that has plenty of experience in this area. Contact Hipskind & McAninch, LLC today for a free consultation. 

What To Do When You Have A Dog Bite Personal Injury

You need to not only seek medical attention but also to stay in contact with the dog’s owner after the dog bite. If possible, collect evidence to prove that the owner could have avoided this unfortunate outcome.

Types Of Dog Bite Injuries

When a dog bites you, you may sustain puncture wounds, lacerations, abrasions, and infections. While abrasions are light scrapes, lacerations are deep wounds that penetrate the skin. Puncture wounds occur when the dog’s teeth pierce your skin. There is also the risk of scarring and nerve damage. There are long-term repercussions of being attacked by a dog, such as nerve damage, which can be permanent. Infections are not too common and make up 10% to 15% of all dog bites. There is a risk of rabies, so after a dog bite, it is recommended that you get a rabies shot. 

What Can You Be Compensated For In A Dog Bite Settlement?

When you demand a settlement amount from the dog owner, it must be because they neglected to restrain their dog, properly fence them in, or warn you to keep your distance. Even if you did or didn’t agitate the animal, it is the owner’s responsibility to keep the dog from biting you regardless of how the dog’s demeanor was before it met you. 

To seek compensation, you can request economic and non-economic damages. In the case of economic damages, this includes all of the medical bills you had to cover because of your injury. It can also include any income loss if you were unable to attend work due to your injury. Any financial burden you underwent can be included. Non-economic damages include the emotional and non-measurable aspects of these damages. This means that if you have anxiety around dogs after the attack, depression, or felt a lot of emotional pain, this is included. For example, if you became depressed because of the scar the dog left on your skin, this can be included in the settlement amount. 

What Does A Dog Bite Lawyer Do?

A dog bite lawyer will direct you in legal matters and help negotiate a settlement for you. If the settlement falls through, then they will represent you in court. The dog bite lawyer will advise you on what information you need and will ask you questions about what happened. They will use the evidence you provided them so they can approach the dog owner and any other parties that may be involved. They are experienced negotiators, so they will contact the dog owner on your behalf to bring about a fair settlement amount. 

How Do I Prepare For My Dog Bite Case?

You have to make sure you documented the injury and everything you experienced because of the attack. For example, taking pictures of your wound will help show the extent of the damage you suffered. You can also write down how you felt during the entire scenario. This will help you recount the non-economic damages you endured. Make sure you keep track of all the medical bills and items you spent money on. All of this information will be necessary for you to provide evidence to the attorney. With all of this evidence collected, the attorney can properly represent your case to the other parties involved. This will make it easier to get a fast settlement within months rather than a year or more. 

Learn More About Dog Bite Lawyers in Belleville, Illinois

If you need help with a personal injury that was caused by a dog bite, then you can receive professional legal help from dedicated experts. You can contact Hipskind & McAninch, LLC today for a free consultation.