Dog bites frequently cause deep lacerations and puncture wounds, leading to severe emotional problems and expensive medical bills. If you were bitten, you might experience years of pain and financial stress, and you have the right to hold a careless dog owner accountable.
Ted A. Greve & Associates understands your pain and desire for justice. Our Shelby dog bite lawyers understand North Carolina’s complex laws and will simplify your life as best we can during this challenging time. Firm founder Ted A. Greve’s experience as a lawyer and chiropractic physician gives him unique insights into these cases and how dog bites can affect your life. You don’t owe us any fees unless you recover compensation, so call now or visit our contact page for a free consultation.
Understanding the Role of a Dog Bite Lawyer in Shelby, NC
Personal injury lawyers do much more than represent you in court. Your Shelby dog bite attorney will handle all your case’s legal work. That includes documenting your injuries, proving the dog was dangerous or that the owner was negligent, submitting a demanding lawyer to the owner and their homeowner’s insurance company, and negotiating a fair settlement. Your dog bite lawyer can also explain the legal process to you and answer your questions.
In many cases, the dog’s owner may have been a friend or relative. Your lawyer can handle all communications with them about the dog bite, allowing you to continue your relationship with as little disruption as possible.
Comprehensive Overview of North Carolina Dog Bite Laws
North Carolina law includes clear rules about how dog owners must keep others safe and prevent their pets from causing injuries. Owners must keep their dogs securely on their property and prevent them from roaming without supervision. When walking a dog in public, owners should always use a leash so their pets don’t injure anyone.
State law also applies specific labels to dogs who act aggressively or hurt people or animals. A dog is deemed “dangerous” if it severely injures or kills someone without being provoked. Similarly, a “potentially dangerous” dog is one that bites someone and causes injuries like broken bones or deep cuts. Officials might also classify a dog as potentially dangerous if it attacks another animal away from the owner’s property. Even if a dog doesn’t bite anyone, aggressively charging or acting threateningly toward a person can lead to a “potentially dangerous” classification.
These labels matter because owners of dangerous dogs are strictly responsible for any injuries their dogs cause. Strict liability means the owner must pay for any injuries their dog causes—even if the owner tried to stop their dog from biting someone. Basically, once officials classify a dog as dangerous, its owner is nearly always responsible if the dog harms someone. (There are exceptions for cases where someone is trespassing or provokes a dog.)
But what happens if a dog bites someone and isn’t classified as dangerous? The “one-bite rule” typically applies in these situations. This law says a dog’s owner isn’t automatically responsible for injuries the first time their pet bites someone. However, the rule only applies if the owner doesn’t know that the dog might hurt someone.
Still, a dog bite victim may have a case against an owner based on negligence, even if the one-bite rule applies. For example, if an owner lets their dog roam freely, they could be liable for injuries their pet causes.
Steps to Take Following a Dog Bite in Shelby, NC
Winning a dog bite case in Shelby can be challenging. You can increase your chances of winning your case by taking the following steps:
Immediate Actions to Ensure Safety and Evidence Collection
Get to a safe place before worrying about anything else. Next, take pictures of your injuries, where the attack happened, and the dog (if possible). Clean your wounds with soap and water, then see a doctor as soon as possible.
Contacting Authorities and Reporting the Bite
Report the incident promptly to your local animal control office or the police. An official report helps the authorities monitor potentially dangerous dogs and can help prevent future bites.
Obtaining Medical Help and Documenting Injuries
Seek medical care immediately, even if the bite seems minor, as dog bites can cause severe infections without rapid treatment. Document all your treatments, medical costs, and any work you miss while healing. Thorough medical records show how serious your injuries are and strengthen your case.
Consulting with a Dog Bite Attorney
Talk to a Shelby dog bite attorney as soon as you can. A lawyer can guide you through the legal process, protect your rights, and help you recover fair compensation.
Pursuing a Dog Bite Claim: Navigating the Legal Process
Dog bite cases can be challenging to win, but hiring a lawyer significantly improves your chances. Your dog bite attorney will start by collecting evidence of your injuries and the dog owner’s careless or dangerous actions. For example, the owner might have let the dog run free, and eyewitness accounts or surveillance footage can prove the dog was outside its owner’s property.
Next, your lawyer will submit a demand letter to the dog’s owner and their homeowner’s insurance company (if the owner has one). This letter outlines your injuries and the compensation you’re seeking for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, etc. Your lawyer and the other side’s legal team will negotiate for a potential settlement. Your attorney will also prepare your case for court while settlement negotiations continue.
If the other side agrees to a fair settlement, you’ll receive your compensation, and your case ends. If not, your attorney can take your case to trial and present arguments to a judge or jury. Regardless of whether your case goes to trial, hiring a dog bite lawyer means you can focus on healing while your attorney fights on your behalf.
Call Ted A. Greve & Associates Today
You have three years after a dog bite in North Carolina to file a personal injury lawsuit. Waiting to talk to a lawyer can compromise the available evidence and increase the challenges of recovering fair compensation. Ted A. Greve & Associates is fully prepared to represent you in your fight for justice. Call now or complete our contact form for a free case evaluation.
