Metairie Dog Bite Lawyer
Most people associate dogs with loving, comforting companionship. But if you have ever been bitten or attacked by a dog you may feel differently. A dog bite is often a significant physical and psychological trauma. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people are treated in hospital emergency departments for dog bites. And even if the physical damage turns out to be not that serious, the emotional wounds may still take a long time to heal.
A qualified Metairie dog bite lawyer can assist you in obtaining compensation from an owner whose negligence led their pet to attack you in the first place. Dog bite victims often incur substantial medical bills and other financial losses. The dog owner can–and should–be held responsible for those losses under the law. The team at Palazzo Law Firm can help make sure that is what happens in your case.
What Louisiana’s “One Bite” Rule Means for Your Case
To be clear, not every dog owner is automatically liable when their animal bites or attacks someone. Louisiana has fairly strict rules governing liability in these cases. The state follows what is often called the “one-bite rule,” which can be summarized as follows:
- The dog’s owner must have known–or should have known–that the dog was dangerous to people. For example, the dog had previously bitten or attacked someone else before you. This is why it is referred to as the one-bite rule.
- The dog’s owner could have prevented the dog bite or attack by exercising reasonable care. If the owner let the dog roam free around the neighborhood instead of keeping in a fenced yard would be one example of exercising reasonable care.
- The dog’s attack was not provoked by the victim or another person other than the owner.
Even in cases where a dog owner presents evidence that the victim’s actions provoked a bite or attack, that does not necessarily bar the recovery of damages. Louisiana follows a “pure comparative fault” rule in personal injury cases, which means a court can reduce the amount of compensation awarded to a plaintiff to account for the relative fault. But the dog owner may still have to pay something.
Contact The Palazzo Law Firm Today
Dog bite injuries usually fall within the scope of homeowner’s insurance. So if someone’s dog bites you, their homeowner’s policy should cover your injuries and related losses. Of course, negotiating with an insurance company can itself be quite an ordeal, especially if the insurer tries to claim you provoked the dog or that there was no prior evidence the animal was dangerous to people.
This is where working with an experienced Metairie dog and animal bite lawyer can be crucial. Palazzo Law Firm knows how to deal with insurance companies. We can fully investigate the circumstances surrounding your animal attack and represent you in negotiating a fair settlement. We also understand that time is of the essence, as Louisiana has a one-year statute of limitations to bring a lawsuit arising from a dog or animal attack.
So if you need to speak with an attorney as soon as possible, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
