North Carolina Dog Bite Lawyer
If you or someone you love was one of the 4.7 million victims of dog bite injuries every year, you know a bite can be traumatic and can cause serious injuries. The dog’s owner may be responsible for paying compensation not just for your physical injuries but also for the emotional and physical pain the dog attack causes you to endure.
It is up to you to take legal action against a dog’s owner or others responsible for the animal if you or someone you care about is harmed. Since 1994, Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers has been helping victims of bite injuries to pursue claims for compensation. As soon as a bite occurs, contact us to speak with a dog bite lawyer in North Carolina so we can evaluate your case and help you move forward with a damage claim. Our attorneys can help you take legal action and can answer questions including:
- How can you take legal action against dog owners in North Carolina?
- What responsibility do dog owners have under North Carolina law?
- How can a dog bite lawyer in North Carolina help you?
How Can You Take Legal Action After a North Carolina Dog Bite?
North Carolina law has a one-bite rule, which limits when a dog’s owner can be liable for injuries. The one-bite rule means that owners are generally held accountable for paying for damages from a dog bite only if they had reason to believe that their dog had a propensity toward violence or if they should have known their dog was dangerous.
Once a dog has bitten, been violent or been declared a dangerous dog, dog owners become strictly liable. This means that a dog owner is always liable for damages caused by their aggressive dog – you don’t have to prove negligence to obtain compensation for your bite injuries.
If you believe you have a claim because a dog was violent or because the owners were negligent, you can file a lawsuit or negotiate a settlement to obtain compensation. The dog owner may be required to pay for all of the financial and non-economic costs of the bite in order to compensate victims or their family members, including.
- Medical costs
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost income/wages
- Wrongful death
The amount of compensation after a dog attack will vary depending on the severity of the wound(s). The costs of treating a dog bite can be very high, especially when reconstructive surgery is needed. Permanent disfigurement could result from a dog attack, even with the best of treatments. A dog bite lawyer in North Carolina can help you to determine the amount of compensation that you may be entitled to based on your injuries.
Responsibility of Dog Owners
Dog owners must be responsible dog owners. Most areas in North Carolina have leash laws and dogs aren’t allowed to run free in public places or through the neighborhood. An owner who violated leash laws and negligently let a dog roam could potentially be held responsible for the consequences of this careless choice. Owners also need to ensure that dogs that are obviously dangerous do not bite or cause harm.
Whenever a dog owner fails to live up to legal obligations, victims should pursue damage claims. Auger & Auger offers free consultations to help those who have been harmed determine if they can make a case for compensation.
Contact a North Carolina Dog Bite Lawyer
Our North Carolina dog bite lawyers understand how much is at stake after a dog hurts you or one of your loved ones. We will resolve your case in the most effective way possible so you get the money you deserve. In cases involving dog bites, it is critical that an immediate investigation be conducted to ensure swift identification of the animal and the owner. Contact Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation so we can get started on your case.
