Dog Bites

Dog Bite Attorneys in Arizona

Many households across Arizona are home to one or more dogs. Yours might be one of them. There are several benefits to owning a dog, from home security to companionship. However, those benefits come with the risk of a dog bite.

Dog bites are not isolated instances. Hundreds of thousands of people seek medical attention for dog bites every year. Countless others are bitten but do not report the matter or go to the doctor. Either way, being bitten by someone’s dog can be a painful and potentially traumatic event.

Valley Injury Team is committed to holding dog owners accountable when their canines run amok and attack you and your loved ones. Contact us — you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

Consequences of an Arizona Dog Bite or Dog Attack

Dog bites can be surprisingly serious injury events. On average, about 46 people a year die due to a dog-related attack. The chance of death increases if the victim is a child, elderly, or in poor health. While a larger dog presents a greater risk of severe or fatal injuries, smaller dogs are still capable of inflicting serious harm.

With any dog bite or dog attack, there is the risk of:

Puncture wounds
Lacerations
Disfigurement and scarring
Transmission of diseases like rabies
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental and emotional injuries

In addition, a dog’s powerful jaws can damage not just skin but underlying muscle tissue and nerves. A dog can also sever or mangle fingers, leading to amputations.

Treatment for Dog Bite Injuries

Any moderate or severe injuries you receive from a vicious dog bite attack need to be treated by qualified medical personnel right away. This step is especially important if there is a total or partial loss of a finger or hand, significant blood loss, or an injury to the face or throat.

Prompt medical care is also essential if you are bitten by an unfamiliar dog. Rabies and other communicable diseases are treatable, but treatment must commence immediately after the bite to be effective. For example, the rabies vaccine is most effective when it is given within 72 hours of exposure.

Depending on the nature and severity of your injuries, your wounds will be cleaned and dressed. Your doctor will start you on a round of antibiotics to keep your wounds from becoming infected. You may also be scheduled for one or more surgeries to treat deep cuts, lost limbs, or any nerve and muscle damage.

Beyond this, any anxiety or PTSD you experience as a result of your incident will likely necessitate the help of a therapist or counselor.

Arizona Is a Strict-Liability State for Dog Bites

In a typical personal injury case, an injured party must prove that the party responsible for causing the injury accident behaved carelessly under the circumstances. If the injured party cannot prove the other party acted negligently, then they cannot recover any compensation.

Dog bite cases in Arizona are different. Instead of the traditional negligence standard, dog owners are held strictly liable for the harm their animals cause. This means that a dog’s owner can be held legally responsible for the dog’s actions even if the owner otherwise acted reasonably in the situation.

For example, suppose that a dog owner constructs a reasonably sturdy outdoor pen for their animal even though the dog has no history of running away to attack strangers. Nevertheless, the dog breaks out of the pen and bites you when you are out jogging. In this case, you have a claim for damages against the dog’s owner.

Exceptions to Liability

This general rule imposing strict liability on dog owners has a few exceptions. Most importantly, a dog owner will not be liable for a dog bite if the victim provoked the dog into attacking. Provocation is determined on a case-by-case basis but includes a wide range of actions that would reasonably be expected to antagonize a dog and make it attack.

A second exception exists when the dog bite victim is trespassing at the time of the attack. If the victim had no lawful right to be in the place where they were attacked, then the dog’s owner will not be strictly liable for damages their animal causes.

How Your Arizona Dog Bite Lawyer From Valley Injury Team Helps

Determining whether you are entitled to damages is not as straightforward a question as it might seem. One of the first things your lawyer from Valley Injury Team will do is review the facts of your case and determine whether you are eligible for compensation. If so, our dedicated team will devote its energy and resources to accomplishing this goal for you as quickly as possible.

Contact Valley Injury Team today to learn about what legal rights you have.

Compensation in Dog Bite Cases

As the victim in a dog bite case, your rights include the right to receive compensation for the harm you suffered because of the dog attack. These damages are divided into two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.

Economic damages cover the financial losses you experienced, including:

Costs of medical treatment, including hospital stays and surgeries
Time missed from work to recover or care for your loved one
Prescription drug costs
Rehabilitation or therapy needed for physical disabilities
Counseling or mental health therapy

Moreover, your non-economic losses can also be compensated. These losses include your mental pain and suffering and harm to your quality of life. Securing an appropriate amount of compensation for such injuries is more difficult to do, but we at Valley Injury Team can help.

At Valley Injury Team, we have one goal: to help you get the compensation you deserve following a dog bite. Whether through a fair and reasonable settlement or following a hard-won verdict at trial, we will never stop working for you. Contact Valley Injury Team today.

Statute of Limitations for Dog Bite Cases

Arizona law clearly states that dog bite injury claims must be brought within two years of the date the attack occurred. If you wait longer than this, you risk having your claim denied and receiving no compensation at all. There are a few limitations to this deadline, though, so it always pays to check with Valley Injury Team as soon as possible about your precise rights.

When to Call Valley Injury Team

If you have been bitten by a dog, your first concern should be going to a local hospital like Banner-University Medical Center Phoenix or St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. Explain what happened and follow your doctor’s treatment orders. This includes returning for follow-up care as your doctor might direct.

As soon as you are able to do so after getting treated, contact Valley Injury Team. Once you retain our services, we will get to work on your claim so you can turn your attention to your physical recovery. With us working on your dog bite case, you can rest easy knowing that our competent and professional staff is safeguarding your rights.

Contact Valley Injury Team Today

Dog bite cases can be challenging to win. Do not jeopardize your future by trying to handle your case yourself. Let us help. Call or reach out to Valley Injury Team for immediate assistance with your dog bite injury claim.

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Chris is AMAZING to work with! He got me way more than I expected and in a short period of time!!

Loved my experience with Adam and his team. My husband and I felt heard and he gave his best our whole time during our ordeal. Would recommend his services to anyone in need of an amazing attorney!

Mason was absolutely wonderful and always made me feel at ease and patiently helped me understand the whole process. He went above and beyond on multiple occasions and in the end gave me the best possible outcome for my case!

Testimonials

Clients Have Confidence in Us

Chris is AMAZING to work with! He got me way more than I expected and in a short period of time!!

Loved my experience with Adam and his team. My husband and I felt heard and he gave his best our whole time during our ordeal. Would recommend his services to anyone in need of an amazing attorney!

Mason was absolutely wonderful and always made me feel at ease and patiently helped me understand the whole process. He went above and beyond on multiple occasions and in the end gave me the best possible outcome for my case!

Dog Bites

Dog Bite Attorneys in Arizona

Consequences of an Arizona Dog Bite or Dog Attack

Treatment for Dog Bite Injuries

Arizona Is a Strict-Liability State for Dog Bites

Exceptions to Liability

How Your Arizona Dog Bite Lawyer From Valley Injury Team Helps

Compensation in Dog Bite Cases

Statute of Limitations for Dog Bite Cases

When to Call Valley Injury Team

Contact Valley Injury Team Today

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Clients Have Confidence in Us

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