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]]>Philadelphia, United States of America
When children start to return to school, local authorities run campaigns to remind drivers to be on the lookout for kids and ask parents to discuss being a safe pedestrian, but this is also a very dangerous time for dog bites as well.
Visit PhiladelphiaDogBiteLawyer.org or call (215) 515-2146 for a free dog bite consultation today.
There are more than 4.5 million dog bites in the United States every year and children are most likely to be victims of dog attacks than any other age group. Most injuries are minor, but hundreds of thousands of people require medical treatment and around 30 people die annually after being attacked by a dog. Children account for roughly half of these victims.
Research has shown that kids are at an increased risk of being bitten by a dog when no parent is present or the animal’s owner isn’t around. Most of the time, the dog that attacked was known to the child beforehand, which puts youngsters walking to and from schools and bus stops in a risky situation. This very scenario played out near the end of last school year, when two children, ages 11 and 9, were attacked in Strawberry Mansion while waiting for a bus. The 9-year-old was bitten and required medical treatment, including a series of rabies shots. The injuries could have been much worse, if a neighbor hadn’t heard the commotion and come to the rescue.
To speak with an experienced dog bite attorney call (215) 515-2146 or visit PhiladelphiaDogBiteLawyer.org now.
The AMVA advises parents to talk to their kids about how to avoid dog attacks. Main points include:
Learn to understand dog behaviors and signs that an animal wants to be left alone.
Don’t approach animals while they’re eating.
Do not approach strange dogs.
Do not make sudden moves around dogs.
Leave an area slowly if a stray dog is present.
If approached by an aggressive animal, do not scream or try to run away. Try to stand still, like a tree.
When an attack is imminent, use an object, such as a backpack, as a barrier.
About Philadelphia Dog Bite Lawyer
Dog attacks can leave families with massive medical bills, time away from work, and emotional trauma to work through. Philadelphia Dog Bite Lawyer is dedicated to helping families that have been affected by dog attacks, by offering resources, information, and access to some of the city’s most experienced dog bite attorneys, so that they can recover their losses and begin rebuilding.
To speak with a knowledgeable Philadelphia Dog Bite Lawyer about getting help after a dog attack or to receive a free case evaluation, visit PhiladelphiaDogBiteLawyer.org or call (215) 515-2146 today.
For more information, please visit http://philadelphiadogbitelawyer.org
Contact Info:
Name: Philadelphia Dog Bite Lawyer
Organization: philadelphia Dog Bite Lawyer
Phone: (215) 515-2146
Release ID: 126719
This article was originally distributed via SproutNews: http://www.wave3.com/story/32708653/philadelphia-dog-bite-lawyer-reminds-parents-to-teach-kids-dog-attack-safety
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]]>The 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.
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]]>The post Dog Bitten By Another Dog: Can I Sue? appeared first on Dog Bite Lawyer.
]]>When a dog is bitten by a dog, treatment for the wounds is often necessary. The vet will examine the injuries and may need to take x-rays to check for broken bones or perform other diagnostic tests. The primary concern is often puncture wounds from the other dog’s teeth, though some breeds will shake their jaws as they attack. Pit bulls are known for this behavior, and their bites have been likened to shark attacks because they do a lot of tearing damage. Some canines have very powerful jaws that can crush tender tissues as well, and this may cause damage that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Your vet may need to debride and irrigate wounds so that they are clean and will heal properly. Depending on the severity of the injuries, sutures may also be necessary, and antibiotics will likely be prescribed. When your dog is bitten by another dog, treatment compensation may be awarded by the courts, though they will consider what they believe to be “prudent.” In other words, you may not be able to receive repayment for a $15,000 surgery for an aging pet or be repaid for a $5,000 surgery when a $2,000 option was available. Much of this is at the discretion of the court.
The bitten dog isn’t the only one who suffers, and the courts know this. Depending on the severity of the incident, you may also be awarded a settlement that includes payments for your pain and suffering or mental anguish. This is typically reserved for cases that are especially gruesome, or if the pet does not survive its injuries, though courts around the country have ordered payments to pet owners when someone else’s negligence directly caused injury or death.
When a dog is bitten by another dog, the owners often step in to break up the fight. The instinct to protect a “family member” is very strong, and owners are often hurt as a result. These types of claims are much easier to make in Philadelphia, as they fall under the general dog bite guidelines. In this situation, you’ll almost certainly be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, though you may receive greater compensation if your injuries resulted in permanent scarring or were otherwise “severe.”
If you or your child was bitten by a dog, the compensation available could include losses and damages, which include the expenses from when your dog is bitten by another dog as well. The experts at Philadelphia Dog Bite Lawyer generally focus on cases where people were injured, though the costs of your pet’s injuries may be rolled into the same lawsuit, too. For more information on what reparations a court may award you, reach out to any of the professionals listed on this site and request your free consultation today.
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]]>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.
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]]>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.
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]]>This website is dedicated to providing dog bite prevention tips and information for victims of attacks, as well as access to Philadelphia’s top dog bite attorneys. If you or your child was attacked by someone’s pet and you need help getting compensation for your injuries, review the profiles here and contact the professional of your choice for a free consultation today.
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]]>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.
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]]>The post Dog Bite Attorney: When Do I Need One? appeared first on Dog Bite Lawyer.
]]>In Philadelphia, you’re almost certainly entitled to compensation for your medical bills, but dog bite settlement awards from insurance companies don’t always include everything you should receive.
The laws here also provide greater dog bite settlement awards if your injuries are considered severe. This could mean you have a permanent scar, needed multiple sutures, broke bones, or have some other sort of permanent disability or disfigurement as a result of the attack. Dog bite compensation also increases if the animal has a history of aggression and has been labeled as a “dangerous dog” by the state.
Obtaining fair dog bite compensation so you can rebuild your life is not always easy. You may face numerous obstacles as you struggle with insurance companies or try work with the animal’s owner. Fighting to be treated fairly, after you’ve already been hurt, should not be your responsibility. Philadelphia and the state of Pennsylvania recognize this, which is why they allow seriously injured victims to recover their legal fees in dog bite settlement awards. It’s also why each dog bite attorney listed on this site will gladly wait to collect a fee for their time, until you have a successful case outcome. If you or your child was injured by someone’s pet, you owe it to yourself to take advantage of a free consultation, so you can make the best possible decision about your future. Get in touch with any of the professionals listed on this site and schedule your no-obligation case evaluation today.
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]]>A handful of states are considered “one bite” states, and related types of dog bite claims enable a victim to collect regardless of whether the animal has bitten someone before or not. Other states may not award victims any funds if the animal in question does not have an aggressive history. In Pennsylvania, you can file dog bite personal injury claims regardless of the animal’s history.
Most types of personal injury cases require the victim to prove that the defendant was somehow negligent and that this negligence led to the injury. You can think of this in terms of a “slip and fall” case. A restaurant may mop a floor and fail to signal the danger to customers. If someone slips and falls, the business is often considered negligent and must pay for damages. However, if the customer spills his own drink and slips on it, it’s generally ruled that the business could not have prevented the incident, and they are not held responsible for the injuries. A lot of states operate this way with dog bite personal injury claims as well. The victim must prove that the owner violated a leash law or brought a dangerous dog into a situation they should not have. Pennsylvania does not operate this way. The victim does not need to prove that the animal’s owner did anything wrong. Beyond demonstrating that the animal caused the damage and that the animal belongs to the defendant, very little else is needed to prove who the responsible party is.
It’s common for a victim to miss time from work and to require ongoing treatment, in addition to the medical bills that are accrued right after the incident. Philadelphia laws allow victims to collect funds for these types of expenses and more under the dog attack claims laws. The different types of dog bite claims may make it easier for a victim to begin a case, but the victim must still prove the extent of his injuries and how those injuries have affected his life in order to receive fair compensation. If you or your child was attacked by someone’s pet, the experienced professionals featured on Philadelphia Dog Bite Lawyer can help ensure you receive a fair settlement so your family is not burdened with debt and can move forward with your lives. Review the profiles and contact the attorneys of your choice for a free case evaluation today.
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]]>Your attitude can make all the difference in the world in how your child responds to treatment and how he recovers emotionally after the incident. Above all else, try to remain calm, and make sure your child is taken to a safe environment.
Call 911 and/ or Perform First Aid: If the injuries are severe, call an ambulance right away. If not, you may perform first aid at home, including cleaning the wound, applying antibiotic ointment, and covering it. You may also apply pressure to help stop bleeding. After this, the child should be taken to a medical office for examination and treatment.
Contact the Authorities: The Philadelphia Police Department will conduct an investigation and file a report.
When a child is bitten by a dog, various injuries can occur. There are often scratches from the animal’s claws, as well as puncture wounds from its teeth. Some breeds have the tendency to shake their heads as they attack, which will tear the tissue and can cause immense amounts of damage. These areas are breeding grounds for bacteria and often become infected if not treated promptly. Stitches are commonly required to close up the wounds, after they are thoroughly cleaned by a medical professional. Some breeds also bite down with incredible force, and the pressure of this causes “crushing-type” injuries internally that may not be visible to the naked eye. They require immediate medical attention and specialized treatment. A dog bite on a kid should always be examined by a doctor right afterwards, so that the wounds heal properly and complications can be avoided.
Children are especially prone to emotional trauma resulting from an attack. It’s very common for kids to have PTSD-like symptoms and anxiety. They may become fearful of all pets, of places, or just be emotional in general. Counseling can help with this. Most kids are familiar with the dogs that attack them, and they often have fears over what will happen to the pet. Providing reassurance can help put these fears at ease. In Philadelphia, mandatory euthanasia is reserved only for very aggressive animals, though the dog will be quarantined and its actions will be scrutinized. The officer who investigates will decide where the quarantine occurs, and he may well allow the animal to stay with its owners, depending on the severity of the attack and the dog’s track record, but dangerous dogs will be transported elsewhere. Knowing these things can help a child cope, whether it’s reassurance that a family pet will not be taken away, or that a “bad dog” can no longer hurt anyone.
After the dust has settled and immediate medical needs are seen to, you will likely find yourself facing medical bills from the attack. If it was severe, you may also have future medical expenses, have to take time off work, and more. The state allows you to recoup these losses, so you can help your child move on and recover, without being burdened with the debts that come from it. If you’d like to find out what you can be compensated for, or would like to begin the process of recovering damages, contact any of the experienced attorneys featured on this site and request your free case evaluation today.
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