Compensation Against Dog Bites – What You Need to Know

When Can I Claim Compensation for Dog Bites?

You can file for compensation against dog bites as long as the incident was unanticipated and caused by the negligence of the dog’s owner.

A few examples of such cases are:

• If they are walking the dog outdoors without a leash
• Failing to put up a warning sign on a property guarded by dogs
• Carelessly letting an aggressive dog escape the premises

There are usually two (2) factors that will determine the outcome of your claim for compensation:

1. That the owner was aware of the dog’s aggressive tendencies and still failed to take proper preventive measures, which led to the dog bite incident
2. That the owner’s negligence led to circumstances that caused the dog to attack

What To Do After A Dog Bite Incident?

If you’ve been attacked and severely bitten by a dog, then obviously, the first thing to do is attend to your injuries and seek medical care.

But at the same time, you must also be alert and start thinking about a compensation claim right away.

Follow the instructions below to take the best approach after a dog attack:

Tend To Your Injuries

Wash the bite, try to stop the bleeding with a clean cloth, and call for medical services right away.

Your main priority should be to prevent excess bleeding and keep the wound from getting exposed and infected.

Record The Site Of Incident

If you are able, take pictures and videos of the area right after the attack.

Try to capture as many details as you can as you never know how useful it can be when you are preparing a case against the dog owner

Report To The Authorities

Call the local authorities – either the police or animal services – and report the incident explaining everything in detail.

They will begin looking into the case and also try to track the dog and its owner.

Some people may find it difficult to report to authorities due to compassion for the animal.

Still, it’s important to report mainly to prevent the dog from attacking someone else in the future.

Record All Your Medical Bills

Keep every medical and prescription bill that you paid when getting treated for the bite.

It will all be included in the total compensation, and you can present it as evidence for your claims.

Get A Lawyer To Handle Your Case

If you’re filing for compensation against dog bite, the defendant will likely challenge your claims and try to prove that the allegations of negligence are false.

In cases where the injury is severe, the medical bills get bigger, and so does the compensation, and the other party will try to settle for much less.

To properly gather and present all evidence and prove that the defendant was responsible for the dog attack, you’ll need an experienced lawyer to handle your case.

Laws Regarding Dog Bites in Arkansas

Dog bite incidents fall under Arkansas Code Section 5-62-125 – Unlawful Dog Attack, which is a class A misdemeanor.

A person can be charged with unlawful dog attack if:

1. Their dog is known to exhibit aggressive behavior, and they know or have reasons to know about it.
2. They were negligent in handling the dog, which allowed it to attack another person.
3. The dog attack led to the death or severe injury of the victim.

The law also states that if proven guilty of an unlawful dog attack, the court can order the defendant to pay full compensation to the victim for medical and other injury-related expenses.

Seeking Compensation After a Dog Bite? Contact A Keith Law Group Today!

Dog bite cases can be tricky to handle due to the lack of clear regulations.

Only an experienced lawyer can help you prepare the best case and ensure that you are properly compensated.

Gathering evidence is very important in a dog bite incident, so it’s best to get in touch with a lawyer as soon as possible after the attack and start collecting the necessary evidence early.

If you’ve been the victim of a dog attack, take prompt legal action and find the best dog bite lawyers in Arkansas to get compensation against dog bites!