When a dog attacks someone, absolutely no one wins. The entire neighborhood can be affected. No one wants such a tragedy, but when it does happen, who pays? Who covers the hospital bills? What if it was a child and they need therapy? What about if the attack requires expensive reconstructive work on the face or elsewhere?
As a dog attack lawyer Memphis TN turns to for their toughest animal attack cases, I understand how complicated these cases can be. People’s lives are at stake, and so are people’s pets and personal reputations. But personal injury law is designed to protect people who’ve been injured in animal attacks and need compensation to recover.
Homeowners Insurance
Ideally, the animal owner will have homeowners insurance, and that should cover most dog attacks. There are many thousands of insurance claims related to dog bites every year. Some policies will limit the liability, and some will specifically limit certain breeds. But in general, this will cover a lot of cases.
Car Insurance
A good deal of car insurance policies cover animal attacks that happen inside the vehicle. You’d need to check the owner’s policy to know for sure.
The Dog’s Owner
If the dog’s owner doesn’t have insurance, technically they’re still liable for owning a dangerous animal. These injuries can be catastrophic, and the law says the victim shouldn’t be required to pay for it on their own if there’s any other way.
Why You Should Get a Dog Bite Attorney
There are, unfortunately, situations in which the dog’s owner doesn’t have insurance but also doesn’t have the money to pay. These situations can be really frustrating for the victim as they try to focus on getting better. It leaves the person who was attacked responsible for all of their medical bills, reconstructive surgery, and therapy.
In addition, the above payment methods can be extremely complicated. Insurance companies love to put up a fight, and it’s not always clear who’s responsible or how much compensation the injured person should get. The corporations don’t like to give up a lot of money without going through a long process.
A lot of people try to deal with the legal side of things alone, and they can get down about how difficult it starts to seem. Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone. An experienced dog attack lawyer such as the dog attack lawyer Memphis TN locals trust will investigate the case and look into liability. They can help determine exactly who pays, and they put up the fight for you, so you don’t have to worry about anything except getting better.
Thanks to our friends and contributors from Darrell Castle & Associates, PLLC for their insight into dog attack cases.