Lincolnton Dog Bite Lawyer

Dedicated Dog Bite Injury Attorney in Lincolnton, NC

Many people in the Lincolnton area have enjoyable experiences with dogs, whether this is at the Motz Avenue Dog Park, while walking through their neighborhood, or while visiting friends’ and family members’ homes. However, any dog can bite unexpectedly, and it is vital to understand your legal options if you have been bitten by someone else’s dog. A Skilled Lincolnton dog bite lawyer can help you understand your legal options for claiming compensation for your damages.

Representing Dog Bite Victims in Lincolnton, NC

The attorneys at Roberts Law Firm, P.A. have more than 40 combined years of experience helping injured clients recover from their personal injuries in Lincolnton and throughout Lincoln County. If you or a family member were attacked and injured by someone else’s dog, it’s important to know the North Carolina dog bite laws that apply to your situation and how to recover your losses.

The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that about 45% of US homes have at least one dog, and each year, about 4.5 million people suffer dog bites. Some of these incidents only result in minor injuries, while others cause severe harm, and whether the dog’s owner is liable for the resulting damages will typically depend on whether North Carolina’s One Bite rule applies.

Your Lincolnton dog bite lawyer can help you build your case, gathering evidence needed to prove that the dog owner is liable for your damages. We can help you determine whether the One Bite rule protects the dog owner or prove that they were negligent in some way that allowed the incident to occur.

Regardless of what your specific case entails, you can trust us to help you pursue as much compensation as possible for your damages. The goal of a personal injury case is for the injured plaintiff to hold a defendant accountable for the damages the defendant caused and for the plaintiff to secure the compensation they need to recover as fully as possible from those damages.

Understanding North Carolina Dog Bite Laws

North Carolina’s One Bite rule exists to protect dog owners from liability for the injuries their pets cause, but this rule only applies to the first time a dog bites someone. This is meant to apply to a situation in which a dog owner had no reason to believe their dog was dangerous and to address the fact that any dog can bite unpredictably. Once a dog has bitten someone unprovoked, the One Bite rule no longer applies, and the owner is strictly liable for any future attacks.

A dog owner can be held liable for the injuries their dog caused if the dog has been classified as dangerous or potentially dangerous after attacking someone else in the past, or if the dog owner was negligent. For example, if they allowed their dog off-leash in an unsecured yard without supervision and it bites someone, the owner is likely to be found negligent and liable for the resulting damages.

Your Lincolnton dog bite lawyer can help you gather evidence to prove liability for the attack you experienced. They can also help you defend against any allegations of contributory negligence. In North Carolina, if a plaintiff bears any level of fault for causing their personal injury, this will completely negate their ability to claim damages from the defendant.

The team at Roberts Law Firm, P.A. can help you determine which North Carolina dog bite laws apply to your situation, what damages you are eligible to claim, and the most efficient way to resolve your case. We know that a dog attack can be a damaging and traumatic experience, and our goal is to help you recover as fully as possible. Reach out to our firm as soon as you can to learn how a Lincolnton dog bite attorney can assist with your case.

FAQs

What Will Happen to a Dog That Bites Someone in Lincolnton?

After a dog bites someone in Lincolnton, the owner must arrange a mandatory medical quarantine so animal control authorities can medically examine the dog and determine whether it carries rabies or other infectious diseases. The dog will then be returned to the owner, but if the dog is found to be unmanageably aggressive or a threat to public safety, then the court may order euthanasia.

What Are a Dog Owner’s Defenses Against a Dog Bite Claim?

A dog owner’s defenses against a dog bite claim may extend beyond the protection of the One Bite rule. Even if this rule does not apply, the dog owner may avoid liability for the victim’s damages if they can prove that the victim was trespassing on private property, that they provoked the dog, or that their own contributory negligence caused their damages.

What Damages Can Be Recovered From a Dog Bite Claim?

The damages that can be recovered from a dog bite claim include any economic or non-economic losses the victim suffered from the incident. Your Lincolnton dog bite attorney can potentially help you recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and the pain and suffering you have experienced. Generally, the total potential value of a personal injury case depends on the severity of the harm the victim suffered.

Is it Necessary to Hire a Dog Bite Lawyer in Lincolnton?

Yes, it is necessary to hire a dog bite lawyer in Lincolnton if you want to have the greatest chance of success with your case. A skilled local attorney can help you establish liability for the damages you suffered and determine which defenses are available to the dog owner. They can also help you resolve your case efficiently, potentially reducing how long you need to wait to recover compensation for your damages.

Lincolnton, NC Related Dog Bite Injury Resources:

• Dog Bite Laws in North Carolina: What Victims Need to Know 
• North Carolina Personal Injury Statute of Limitations 

Contact Our Team of Lawyers to Discuss Your Dog Bite Injury Case

The team at Roberts Law Firm, P.A. has years of proven experience handling a wide range of difficult personal injury cases for clients in Lincolnton. We know how damaging dog attacks can be, and we can provide the answers to your various legal questions in the aftermath of such an incident. You have limited time to build your case, so contact us today to schedule your free consultation with an experienced Lincolnton dog bite lawyer.