bns-featured-category domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/philadel/public_html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131The post Dog Bite Liability: Failure to Stop a Dog Attack in Progress appeared first on Dog Bite Lawyer.
]]>Full owner liability in a dog attack is almost always a certainty, due to Pennsylvania’s strict dog bite negligence laws. All victims are entitled to medical compensation, regardless of whether the animal has ever shown aggressive tendencies before. The circumstances of the attack are largely irrelevant as well. However, when a victim has severe injuries, he may also be entitled to compensation for other losses, such as loss of wages, pain and suffering, damaged property, and more. The caveat to this, is that the animal must have a previous history of aggression or the victim must prove that the attack was unprovoked, he had a lawful right to be on the property, and that he needed multiple sutures, had broken bones, required plastic surgery, or was left with some other kind of serious injury because of the attack. In short, dog bite liability is almost always assigned to the owner, regardless of whether he attempted to stop the attack or not.
Suing for medical injuries is considered a civil case, and it’s between the victim and the animal’s owner, though the owner’s home insurance policy will often pay the final settlement. However, the city, county, or state may also press criminal charges against the animal’s owner for failing to adhere to the local laws. For instance, he may face charges if the animal should have been on a leash at the time of an attack, if he encouraged the animal to attack, or if the animal was subject to Pennsylvania’s dangerous dog laws and he did not follow the mandates. He could also be considered criminally negligent for not attempting to stop the animal from attacking, and cases like this have gone to trial. This came into play during a trial over the death of Penn State graduate Diane Whipple, who was then living in California. The owners, or people responsible for the dogs that attacked Whipple, were convicted of murder in a criminal trial, for failing to stop the attack. In the civil suit, Whipple’s domestic partner was also awarded $1,500,000.
Even though dog bite liability laws in Philadelphia favor the victim, there is a lot involved in proving the extent of the injuries in order to receive a fair settlement that covers any ongoing medical needs, counseling, or other issues that have resulted from the attack. For this reason, it’s important to consult with a competent Philadelphia dog bite lawyer, prior to considering any kind of settlement or attempting to go forward alone on a case. This site is dedicated to helping victims get the information they need, and to connecting them with skilled local attorneys who will fight to ensure the victim does not suffer financially due to a pet owner’s negligence. If you or your child was attacked by someone’s pet, get in touch with one of the lawyers listed here for your no-obligation consultation today.
The post Dog Bite Liability: Failure to Stop a Dog Attack in Progress appeared first on Dog Bite Lawyer.
]]>The post Can You Sue for a Dog Bite? appeared first on Dog Bite Lawyer.
]]>Medical bills can add up quickly, and these should not fall on a victim or his family to pay. Philadelphia’s laws are structured so you can sue over a dog bite, even if the animal has no prior history of aggression. You may also wish to sue for a dog bite if you have extensive injuries that require a hospital stay, time away from work, or the attack left you with permanent scars.
The laws throughout the state of Pennsylvania tend to favor the victim, so it generally does not matter where the attack happened. Some states don’t allow claims when the dog was at the owner’s home or if the animal was otherwise confined, but Pennsylvania generally does not care where the attack took place. The victim also does not have to prove that the owner was negligent, as is the case in other states. Pennsylvania is a strict liability state, which means that the owner does not have to have done anything wrong to be held liable for his pet’s actions.
There are no steadfast rules as to what the courts will award. Medical bills are generally awarded in their entirety. However, those with severe injuries, which include scarring, may qualify for a higher level of compensation. Filing under these guidelines allows for awards that can include time away from work, damaged property, legal fees, pain and suffering, and more. The average insurance settlement sits at around $30,000, though yours could be considerably more or much less.
Don’t be left wondering, “Can you sue for a dog bite?” You can get the answers you need from an experienced and competent attorney for free right now. The professionals listed on Philadelphia Dog Bite Lawyer have dedicated their practices to helping dog bite victims get the compensation they deserve, so they can rebuild and move on with their lives. Best of all, the dog bite lawyers offer no-obligation consultations, and they don’t ask for payments until they win a settlement for you. Take a moment to review the profiles listed here and reach out to the attorneys of your choice to request your free case evaluation today.
The post Can You Sue for a Dog Bite? appeared first on Dog Bite Lawyer.
]]>The post Average Dog Bite Settlement: How Much You Should Expect appeared first on Dog Bite Lawyer.
]]>Not every insurance company is willing to share their data, but State Farm offered up their statistics from 2015. For them, it was an all-time high year, with $118 million paid out in attack-related claims. Bear in mind, there are over 4.5 million bites reported every year, and State Farm only processed 3,100 claims, so their data only represents a fraction of the total claims processed by insurance companies. Even still, they do process claims all over the country, so the information is relevant. According to their totals, the average dog bite settlement in the US is $34,839.
State Farm also broke down their data regarding which states had the highest number of claims. Pennsylvania is fourth in the nation, with 161 claims processed over the course of the year. The total amount paid out in our state alone was $4.8 million, which reduces the average dog bite settlement in our area to $30,434.
It’s easy to see that the average dog bite settlement amounts vary greatly from state to state, even among states with the largest amounts of claims. From the top payout state of California, with an average payout of $47,781, to the lowest of the group, Michigan, with just $29,365, there’s a difference of over $18,000 per claim. With such a small sample of claims per group, though, it’s very easy for a single claim to swing the balance of the whole group. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what the average dog bite settlement amounts are, because your case will likely not fit into this mold. The courts will consider the extent of your injuries as well as how your life will be impacted going forward. An experienced attorney will be able to examine the facts of your case and give you a better understanding of what you, personally, can expect. Reach out to any of the professionals featured on Philadelphia Dog Bite Lawyer and request a free case evaluation, and get the information you need today.
The post Average Dog Bite Settlement: How Much You Should Expect appeared first on Dog Bite Lawyer.
]]>The post Dog Bite Compensation for Medical Bills and Payment Amounts appeared first on Dog Bite Lawyer.
]]>Pennsylvania’s laws are written so that dog bite award payments are almost always awarded to cover the costs of a victim’s treatments. However, victims with only minor injuries are typically limited to reparations for just their medical expenses, not any other bills or costs they have to manage as a result of the attack. The exception to this is when the animal that attacked has a history of aggression or has been labeled by the state as a “dangerous dog.” When a known dangerous dog attacks, victims may file for dog bite award payments that cover their other costs as well.
The dog bite compensation available opens up significantly when a victim is severely injured. This may include someone who needed multiple stitches, has broken bones, or has a permanent disability/ disfigurement following the attack. Something as simple as scarring may qualify as “severe” because the individual may need plastic surgery and follow-ups with their physician to treat it and minimize the lasting effects. When the criteria for “severe” is satisfied or the animal that attacked is a known dangerous dog, the victim may seek dog bite medical bill compensation and reparations for the following:
The state does not have any hard rules where dog bite award payments are clearly defined. The courts will consider the extent of the injuries, the costs that have accrued, the victim’s future expenses, and how all this will impact the victim’s life. In order to get a clearer picture of what your dog bite award payments may include, you’ll need to speak to an attorney who routinely handles dog bite cases and can assess the specifics of your situation.
If you need dog bite compensation in order to move on with your life and recover from your attack, contact one of the professionals listed on Philadelphia Dog Bite Lawyer. Each attorney featured here has the experience and dedication needed to help you win a fair settlement. Review the profiles and contact those you prefer for your free case evaluation today.
The post Dog Bite Compensation for Medical Bills and Payment Amounts appeared first on Dog Bite Lawyer.
]]>The post Dog Bite Settlement Amounts: What You Can Expect for Your Dog Bite Compensation appeared first on Dog Bite Lawyer.
]]>It is almost a certainty that you will receive reimbursement for your medical expenses, under Pennsylvania’s legislation, which clearly states that animal owners are liable for damages, even if their pet has never shown any sign of aggression in the past. When injuries are minor, however, dog bite lawsuit awards in Philadelphia tend to be limited to the cost of medical expenses only. If the animal has a history of aggression, the case will be treated as if you have severe injuries, and you will be able to file a claim that includes things like your lost wages, legal fees, and pain and suffering.
The state looks for disfigurement (which includes scarring), disability, multiple sutures, and broken bones when they’re determining if an injury is considered “severe.” A victim with severe injuries is permitted to file for a higher level of dog bite compensation than someone with minor injuries is. There are no “typical dog bite settlements” where severe injuries are concerned. Your dog bite lawsuit amount could include payments for medical bills (both present and future), lost wages (again, both present and future), pain and suffering, legal fees, damaged property, and other expenses. The court will look at how much the attack has impacted your life and what the aftereffects will be in your future. They will also look at previous dog bite settlement amounts in cases similar to yours, to help determine what “fair dog bite compensation” is in your case. Because there are so many variables in dog bite settlement amounts, your award could be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to more than a million dollars. An experienced attorney who has worked on many cases will be able to look at the specifics in yours and determine what your dog attack settlement amount is likely to be.
If you’d like to speak with an experienced attorney about how much dog bite compensation you may be entitled to, speak with one of the professionals listed here on Philadelphia Dog Bite Lawyer. Each one has dedicated a portion of his or her practice to fighting cases just like yours, and has a wealth of information on the topic. Best of all, they offer their consultation services at absolutely no cost to you, and they don’t collect any fees unless they win dog bite compensation for you. To take advantage of this, reach out to the professional of your choice and request your free case evaluation today.
The post Dog Bite Settlement Amounts: What You Can Expect for Your Dog Bite Compensation appeared first on Dog Bite Lawyer.
]]>The post Dog Bite Lawsuits: How and When to File appeared first on Dog Bite Lawyer.
]]>In Philadelphia, getting bitten by a dog almost certainly entitles you to compensation for your medical bills, regardless of the circumstances. If the dog has a past history of aggression or your injuries are severe, you may also be able to receive payments for your legal fees, pain and suffering, damaged property, lost wages, and more. Scarring, broken bones, the need for multiple sutures, and disfigurement or disability all qualify as “severe,” and may qualify you for the higher level of coverage, though you will likely need to file a dog bite lawsuit in order to receive the full amount you’re entitled to. There is a statute of limitations to file a lawsuit for a dog bite, so it’s important to file right away, even if you think you’ll settle out of court. If you miss the deadline, you will not be able to file at all, which means you cannot fight for any funds- not even coverage for medical bills that you’ve paid out of your own pocket.
Filing an injury lawsuit for a dog bite can be very involved. You’ll need to use the correct court forms, include all the pertinent information, and include the proper documentation to substantiate your claims. This is incredibly difficult to do if you’re seeking non-economic damages, like pain and suffering. It’s always best to have an experienced professional handle the court documents, because you often only get once chance to handle the case properly. If you fail to include an expense, you may not be able to request compensation for it at all.
The experts on this site handle dog bite lawsuits all the time, and they can ensure that the courts receive all necessary documentation, in the proper format, within the correct timeframe. They can also evaluate the amounts you’re requesting and offer advice as to which expenses you may have overlooked, so you can be sure you’re getting compensation for all of your expenses and do not suffer a financial burden. They also wait for payment until your injury lawsuit for the dog bite successfully concludes, and the fees are usually included in the settlement, separate from any other compensation you receive, so you won’t be overwhelmed with expenses from the case. If you’d like to take advantage of their no-obligation consultations, contact the professional of your choice and book your appointment today.
The post Dog Bite Lawsuits: How and When to File appeared first on Dog Bite Lawyer.
]]>The post Dog Bite Lawsuit Settlements: Future Pain and Suffering (or Being Scared of Other Pets) appeared first on Dog Bite Lawyer.
]]>Pennsylvania law typically awards reparations for medical bills with few questions asked. However, they offer a second tier of compensation for people with severe injuries or those who were attacked by a known dangerous dog. When determining whether someone’s injuries were “severe,” the court will look for proof that bones were broken, the victim needed multiple sutures, or that permanent disability or disfigurement occurred. To be clear, scarring does generally qualify as a disfigurement, which means many victims will qualify for the higher level of compensation. This entitles them to file for a pain and suffering dog bite lawsuit settlement, as well as for other things, like lost wages, damaged property, and further non-economic damages.
This is one of the most difficult areas of dog bite lawsuit settlements, because there are no steadfast rules that will determine what fair compensation is. In fact, around three-quarters of insurance company negotiations fall apart during discussions about the dog bite compensation for pain and suffering. Children will arguably have the most difficult time with emotional recovery, simply because they’re in the most character and behavior-forming years of their life, though adults often struggle emotionally after an attack, too. PTSD symptoms are common, and they may cause a person to become fearful of all dogs, afraid of the location of the attack, or to suffer issues like generalized anxiety. In serious cases, an attack can literally change the course of someone’s life. Because it’s difficult to assign a dollar amount to this, the courts generally look at similar dog bite lawsuit settlements that include the same injuries and victim demographics, to determine what a fair amount of dog bite compensation for pain and suffering is.
Dog bite lawsuit settlements may include payments for many things, including pain and suffering. However, you absolutely must have an experienced attorney on your side who can demonstrate the extent of your injuries and prove to the court how much the incident has impacted your life. At Philadelphia Dog Bite Lawyer, this is the type of attorney we feature; those willing to go above and beyond to stand up for the rights of their clients and ensure they get the full amount of compensation they are entitled to. Get in touch with an attorney featured on this site to take advantage of their free consultation today.
The post Dog Bite Lawsuit Settlements: Future Pain and Suffering (or Being Scared of Other Pets) appeared first on Dog Bite Lawyer.
]]>