Were you or a loved one bitten by someone else’s dog in Thomson, GA? You may be entitled to financial compensation for medical treatment, pain and suffering, and other damages. An experienced Thomson dog bite lawyer at Hawk Law Group can help you maximize your settlement or verdict.
Our lawyers have provided quality legal representation to injured clients in the CSRA for over three decades. We’ve recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients and their families.
If you were hurt, contact our law offices in Thomson, Georgia, at 706.361.0350 to schedule a free consultation. We’d be happy to sit down and discuss your legal options.
How Can Hawk Law Group Help With a Dog Bite Claim in Thomson?
Dog bites are a serious public health issue. Even a minor bite can become infected and cause serious problems. Serious dog bite injuries can lead to permanent scarring and even loss of a limb. Your treatment costs can add up quickly.
Victims of dog bites often don’t know what their future costs will be when negotiating with the insurance company. Insurance companies typically offer small lump sum settlements to settle the case quickly. It’s not easy to know whether the offer is fair. Fortunately, a Thomson personal injury lawyer can help.
Collectively, our attorneys at Hawk Law Group have over 71 years of experience helping clients like you. We’ve recovered some of the largest personal injury verdicts in the area.
You can expect our experienced personal injury attorneys to:
- Gather evidence to establish the dog owner’s liability
- Identify all laws that apply in your case
- Hire experts and specialists when needed
- Accurately value your damages, including future anticipated costs
- Negotiate with the insurance company
- Take your case to court if the insurance company refuses to offer an acceptable settlement
Our Thomson personal injury attorneys will use the full weight of our experience to help you get what’s right. Give us a quick call today to learn more.
How Common Are Dog Bites in Thomson?
Approximately 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs every year. According to CDC research, children between the ages of five and nine are most likely to be injured by a dog bite.
About 800,000 people seek medical care for dog bite injuries each year in the U.S. Around 42% of all dog bites treated in emergency rooms involve children under age 14.
Georgia has been ranked among the top states when it comes to dog bite insurance settlements. In a single year, State Farm paid approximately $3.4 million to settle dog bite claims in the state.
What is My Thomson Dog Bite Case Worth?
Insurance companies won’t automatically hand over a fair settlement check after a dog bite. Instead, they’ll do everything possible to minimize your financial compensation. Ultimately, it’s up to you to prove how much you deserve.
Calculating the value of a personal injury claim is complicated. Many factors can influence the value of your case, including:
- Your past out-of-pocket expenses
- The cost of future medical treatment and expenses
- Whether the bite will cause a permanent disability or disfigurement
- The value of your lost wages
- Any emotional trauma or physical pain
It’s important to consider all factors before filing a claim with the insurance company. Our lawyers often consult experts who can help estimate future costs. Their opinions can also be important when calculating non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering.
Are you wondering how much your personal injury case is worth? Call a Thomson dog bite attorney at Hawk Law Group for a free case evaluation today.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Dog Bite Victims?
If someone else’s dog has bitten you, you may be entitled to compensation for your economic and non-economic losses.
Your economic damages represent out-of-pocket costs, including:
- Medical expenses, such as the cost of ER visits, hospitalization, reconstructive surgeries, and medications
- Future medical care
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning potential
- Rehabilitation
- Counseling
You can also recover non-economic damages from the dog owner and insurance companies. Examples of these losses include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement
- Permanent scarring
- PTSD and depression
- Loss of the use of a limb
- Loss of consortium
Most of the time, the dog owner’s homeowner’s or rental insurance will cover these costs. It’s important to keep a record of all expenses related to your injury.
You should also expect the insurance company to provide a low estimate for pain and suffering damages. That’s why it’s always important to work with an experienced attorney who can fight to maximize your financial settlement.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Dog Bite in Georgia?
Under Georgia modified comparative negligence law, victims are barred from recovering damages if they’re more than 49% liable for an injury. Dog bite laws prevent victims from recovering damages if they provoked the dog attack.
Insurance companies often try to blame victims for getting hurt. Their claims aren’t always legitimate. If you’re being blamed for causing the bite or attack, call our law firm today. We know how to help you minimize the impact of these insurance tactics.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Dog Bite Injuries
According to the CDC, most dog bite injuries impact the arms, hands, legs, and feet. However, young children are much more likely to suffer injuries to the head and neck.
At Hawk Law Group, we’re ready to fight for fair compensation for all of your injuries, including:
- Puncture wounds, cuts, and lacerations
- Soft tissue damage
- Broken bones
- Nerve injuries
- Infection
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Crush injuries
- Avulsion injuries
- Eye injuries and facial scarring
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Many dog bite victims struggle in the days, weeks, and months after an injury. Fortunately, you can talk to an experienced dog bite lawyer for free. Call to schedule your free initial consultation today.
How Do I Prove I Deserve Compensation for Dog Bite Injuries in Georgia?
Many states have a “one bite rule.” In these states, dog bite victims must prove that the dog has bitten before to recover compensation. In other states, dog owners are strictly liable for dog bite injuries, regardless of whether the dog has displayed vicious tendencies in the past.
Georgia doesn’t have a one bite rule or a strict liability law. Under Georgia state law, a “modified” one bite rule applies.
To recover compensation under Georgia dog bite laws, the victim must prove that:
- The dog was dangerous or vicious
- The dog was “at large” or that the owner carelessly managed the animal
- You did nothing to provoke the dog bite or animal attack
In other words, dog owners in Georgia are liable if they allow dangerous dogs to roam free or if they’re careless in managing a vicious animal.
If the dog has never attacked before, it can be tough to prove the dog was dangerous or vicious. Alternatively, if the dog had bitten or attacked before, the prior incident can be used to show that the owner knew the dog was dangerous.
Dogs in Georgia are also deemed to be dangerous if the owner violated local leash laws.
In Thomson, animal control laws require dog owners to keep dogs on a leash anytime the dog leaves the owner’s private property. That means dog owners are strictly liable for dog bites that occur on public property, in a vet’s office or while walking down the street.
Rules for Dangerous Dogs in Georgia
A dog can be classified as a “dangerous dog” in Georgia. Owners of dangerous dogs are subject to stricter regulations if the dog has caused a serious injury in the past without any provocation.
Owners of dangerous dogs must:
- Purchase at least $50,000 in liability insurance
- Register the dog
- Keep the dog confined to a secure area
- Restrain and muzzle the dog
- Post warning signs about the dangerous dog
If the dog has already been classified as a dangerous dog, these stricter rules apply if the dog aggressively bites, attacks or endangers the safety of humans without provocation.
Owners of dangerous dogs can be subject to criminal penalties in addition to civil liability for dog bite injuries. In these cases, the law presumes that the owner knew about the dog’s dangerous propensities.
How Long Do I Have to File a Dog Bite Lawsuit in Georgia?
Dog bite victims in Georgia have only two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. The statute of limitations starts to run on the date the dog bite occurs.
This deadline is important. Once the two-year period is up, you forfeit your right to seek compensation.
Contact a Thomson Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Have you or your child sustained a dog bite injury? Hawk Law Group is here to help in any way we can. We offer free consultations, so call an experienced Thomson dog bite lawyer today to learn more about your legal right to compensation.
