What do I do if I’ve Been Bitten By a Dog

Dog attack victims have legal recourse against the owner of the dog that attacked them in certain circumstances. Kentucky law deems that a dog owner is strictly liable for all damage to humans and property caused by his or her dog. It does not even matter if the dog has a history of good behavior. Brett H. Oppenheimer has been representing dog attack victims for more than 30 years in the Louisville, Kentucky area and across the state.

Common, Dangerous, Sometimes Fatal

Dogs are often our comfort animals and sometimes our best friends. However some dog owners do not adequately train their dogs or even encourage a “guard dog” mentality in their animals.  Sometimes, sadly, dog owners do not take appropriate care of their dogs or mistreat them, leading to aggressive behavior in their pets.  Unfortunately, dog attacks are much more common than some people realize, and they are often quite a bit more severe than “just a bite.” Dog attack victims (including children) are sometimes killed or permanently disfigured. In fact, according to the CDC, over 4.5 million people are attacked by a dog in the U.S. every year.

Contact Brett H. Oppenheimer, PLLC today to discuss your legal rights and options.

Damages Suffered by Dog Attack Victims

Dog attacks can result in permanent disability — from torn tendons, ligaments and nerves, broken bones, back and neck injuries, to spinal cord injuries and infections. Dog bites also result in scarring, disfigurement, lost work time, medical bills and rehabilitation costs, and many more adverse consequences, including emotional injuries.

Alarmingly, most dog attack victims are children. Half of the 800,000+ emergency room visits for dog attacks each year in the U.S. are for children aged 5 to 9. A child who survives a severe dog attack may be left with permanent physical damage, emotional scars, and physical disfigurement.

If You’re a Dog Attack Victim

If you’ve been attacked by a dog recently, or if your child or another family member was attacked by a dog:

• SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION – CALL 911
• File a report with local health department or animal control.  In Louisville, call 473-PETS (473-7387) 
• Don’t talk to the owner’s insurance agent or attorney about the dog attack or your injuries before consulting a Louisville dog bite attorney.
• Take it seriously, no matter what the degree of injury. Keep all of the medical records regarding the treatment for the injury.
• Take photographs of the injuries, including for days or weeks after the attack.
• Do all that you can to identify both the dog and its owner.
• Write down all relevant information about the attack: the date/time, location, circumstances, witnesses’ information.

Of course you need to seek medical attention immediately, but it is important to contact a dog bite attorney as early as possible.  You have only one year from the time of the dog bite to file a lawsuit against the responsible party.  These cases will require investigations by local authorities and insurance companies, as well as the gathering of medical records.  An attorney will help you to navigate these processes so you can spend time taking care of your emotional and physical injuries. 

While dog owners are liable for any damages that you or a loved one has suffered, it is important to realize that Kentucky has comparative negligence laws.  These laws consider the levels of fault in each claim. If, for instance, the dog bite victim was provoking the dog, or trespassing on private property, the courts may determine the percentage of liability awarded to the victim. 

For legal assistance with filing a claim or determining if you have grounds for a case, contact our Louisville dog bite attorney at Brett H. Oppenheimer, PLLC. For decades, we have been fighting for the rights of people injured by negligence – such as dog bite cases - throughout Kentucky, and have collected more than $100 million in successful verdicts and settlements for them. We want to hear from you and show you how we can help you if you have been attacked by a dog.