While dogs generally make excellent companions and enrich our lives, a dog bite can leave you seriously injured and facing serious losses. Being attacked by someone else’s pet is both terrifying and dangerous, and pursuing compensation that covers your physical, financial, and emotional losses can make a profound difference in your health outcome, which makes having an experienced injury attorney in Marietta backing you up the best plan of action.
Dog Bites
Dogs have powerful jaws, and when they attack, they gnash, crush, and mangle the flesh rather than cut it, which means their bites are associated with severe injuries that are slow to heal, exceptionally painful, and prone to infection and permanent disfigurement. In other words, dog bites must be taken seriously, and if any of the following symptoms are present, you’re advised to seek immediate medical attention:
- An oozing or pus-filled wound
- Any swelling, redness, or heat at the injury site
- Lingering pain or intense shooting pain at the site of the injury
Regarding dog bites, erring on the side of caution is always suggested.
The One-Bite Law and Georgia’s Modified Stance
Many states employ a one-bite law, and while Georgia does not, it sets the stage for Georgia’s legal position on the matter. Under the one-bite law, dog owners are given the benefit of the doubt regarding whether they know their animal’s propensity for aggression.
When a dog has shown no prior aggression and exhibits no signs that they may be prone to aggression, owners aren’t held legally responsible for a first bite or aggressive act. Once a dog demonstrates that it is prone to aggression, such as if it bit or attempted to bite someone, its owner can be held liable for a future victim’s full range of legal damages.
In Georgia, dog owners can be held legally accountable when their animals show dangerous aggression for the first time, whenever one of the following also applies:
- The attack resulted from the pet owner’s negligence, such as if they failed to keep the dog leashed.
- The attack was not provoked in any way but instead came entirely out of the blue.
Your Injuries and Losses
As mentioned, dog bites can cause serious injuries that lead to severe physical, financial, and emotional losses. For example, dogs often attack their victims’ hands, which translates to very complicated injuries that interfere with the complex web of physical interactions that support precise hand movements. Further, when the bite is on or near the face, there is the potential for permanent disfigurement. Dog attacks can also result in broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and infections that can be difficult to treat effectively.
Talk to a Dog Bite Lawyer You Can Trust
At Essa, Janho & Associates, LLC, our respected Marietta attorneys are committed to protecting your rights and pursuing the compensation you need to recover. Contact us online or call 770-955-8322 today to get started.