Dog bites and attacks are often traumatizing. Survivors endure devastating emotional and physical injuries due to dog owner negligence and misconduct.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a dog attack or bite and do not know where to turn for help, contact a Middleton personal injury lawyer at GED Lawyers today. Schedule a free consultation to learn more about how you can hold the dog’s owner accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
Grounds For a Dog Bite Lawsuit
After suffering a dog bite injury, you may wonder how you can move forward with a claim against the dog’s owner or another liable party. Unfortunately, many injury victims have concerns that their injuries are not severe enough to warrant legal action.
However, the type of injury you suffer in your dog bite does not impact your case’s outcome. Instead, the impact your injuries have had on your life determines whether you have the right to move forward with a dog bite lawsuit.
If you have suffered emotional, financial, psychological, or physical injuries that have significantly affected you or your family, you could hold the liable party accountable and recover the compensation you need to get through these difficult times.
Liability for Dog Bites in Middleton
The state of Massachusetts follows a strict liability system for dog bites. This means dog owners will always be held strictly accountable for their dog’s actions. In addition, dog owners can face criminal charges and be held civilly liable if their dog has previously been declared dangerous under Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 140, § 157.
However, if your dog bite attorney discovers other parties could also share liability for your damages after investigating your dog bite case, they will be prepared to pursue legal action against them.
For example, if the fence containing the dog was defective, the manufacturer could be partially responsible for your damages. Or, if a property owner failed to make necessary building repairs that would have otherwise contained the dog, the property owner could be held accountable.
Only a thorough investigation into the cause of your dog attack in Middleton will reveal who is responsible for compensating you for your suffering.
Statute of Limitations to File a Dog Bite Case in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has some of the most victim-friendly statutes of limitations in the country. For example, you have three years to file your personal injury claim when you suffer a dog bite injury in Middleton, per Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 260, § 2A.
However, three years can go by far more quickly than you might expect. During that time, much of the evidence that could be used to support your case could be lost, limiting your opportunity for financial recovery. For this reason, you must reach out to a dog bite attorney in Middleton for help as soon as possible. This way, you have your greatest opportunity to recover the evidence you need to prove liability based on a preponderance of the evidence.
If a loved one suffered fatal dog bite injuries, you might need to act more quickly on your case. The statute of limitations for wrongful death claims in Massachusetts is three years from the date you should have known a wrongful death occurred.
If your lawsuit is not filed in time, you will no longer have the opportunity to pursue your case at trial. If you are unsure how long you have to move forward on your dog bite injury claim, do not hesitate to contact your lawyer to discuss your concerns in greater detail.
Recovering Compensation for Your Damages
Dog bite victims in Middleton can recover compensation for their damages in several ways. First, by filing a claim with the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance provider, you may be able to recover a portion of your damages. Many dog owners carry homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, providing them with a certain amount of protection should their dog attack or bite.
If a dog owner does not have insurance coverage, you might need to be prepared to bring your case to civil court if you hope to recover compensation for your damages. Additionally, if your insurance settlement does not adequately meet your needs, bringing your case to trial may be the only way to maximize your compensation.
How Dog Bite Insurance Claims Work
Insurance coverage is not designed to compensate an injury victim for every loss. Instead, insurance policies cover certain types of damages. In addition, they provide certain types of protection at specific limits based on the kind of coverage the policyholder purchases.
For this reason, it is possible that your insurance settlement could be limited by the dog owner’s or other liable party’s insurance coverage.
Common Types of Recoverable Damages in Dog Bite Claims
When you bring your case to court, you have the best chance of recovering your damages in their entirety. This is because, in civil court, you have the right to be made whole. Therefore, you should be repaid for every single way your dog bite injuries have affected your life.
This includes not only your monetary damages but also how your life has been affected. Some examples of various types of economic and non-economic damages you could recover include:
- Pain and suffering
- Lost income
- Diminished quality of life
- Property damages
- Medical expenses
- Skin scarring and disfigurement
- Emotional distress
Learn More by Contacting a Dog Bite Lawyer in Middleton Today
The dog bite or attack you experienced may have affected your life emotionally, psychologically, financially, and physically. You have the right to be compensated for every loss.
Hold the dog’s owner or other liable parties accountable when you contact a Middleton dog bite lawyer at GED Lawyers for help. Our firm is proud to offer no-cost, risk-free consultations to dog bite victims across Middleton and surrounding towns. Take advantage of this opportunity when you complete our online contact form or call our office.
