Dogs are the number one pet in America, but this does not mean they are not capable of causing serious injury. Canine attacks continue to be a public health concern across the country, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating 45 million dog bites are reported annually. If man’s bestfriend has bitten you or a loved one, you should consult with a Cherry Hill dog bite lawyer, as you may have the basis to file an injury claim to recover damages.
If you were bitten by a dog, a Cherry Hill personal injury attorney could help make sure you are being compensated fairly for damages such as medical bills and the need for treatment. Filing a dog bite claim means asking an insurance company for compensation for your injuries. A claim is meant to help you recover money spent on medical treatment, lost wages, and medical bills. Filing for compensation is an attempt to be made whole again as if this incident did not happen. If you or your close family member suffered a dog attack and sustained injuries, call our Cherry Hill dog bite lawyers at Grungo Law today so we can begin a strong legal strategy for prompt compensation for your damages.
Why Choose a Dog Bite Injury Lawyer From Grungo?
A dog attack is terrifying and traumatic as well as painful. Dog bites leave physical and emotional scars on victims. It can be difficult to navigate the legal system while simultaneously dealing with pain and trauma, medical appointments, and caring for your injuries. The Cherry Hill dog bite attorneys at Grungo Law are ready to help. Legal representation from Grungo Law will benefit your case in the following ways:
- We provide free confidential consultation and no fees until we secure your compensation
- Compassionate representation by an experienced attorney
- Strong negotiators with a resolution-based approach to gain compensation through an ample settlement whenever possible so you can move forward without a court appearance
- Experienced litigators who are more than prepared to represent your interests and rights in court if necessary to secure your compensation for damages like medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering
- A team of Cherry Hill injury attorneys with a strong track record of securing millions of dollars for our clients to put a powerful voice behind your claim
At Grungo Law, we use a winning combination of time-honored client advocacy methods and the latest technology to document evidence and create an individually tailored legal strategy for each client’s unique injury case, including dog attacks in Cherry Hill or the surrounding area.
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite injury lawyer serving Cherry Hill, call (856) 528-4494
Causes of Cherry Hill Dog Bites
Around 80,000 dog attacks occur in the United States each year. Common causes of dog attacks and dog-bite injuries include the following:
Dog Dominance Aggression:
Some dogs naturally believe that they are dominant over the humans surrounding them. If a dog’s owner has not taught their pet that all humans are above them in their hierarchy, a dog may show dominance by becoming aggressive to any human it perceives as a threat to its position or territory.
Fear Biting:
Dogs sometimes bite out of fear. When strangers approach in a manner that a dog finds frightening—even if they’re only being friendly—it may trigger the dog’s self-defense instincts, resulting in bites.
Territorial Bites:
Some dogs feel very defensive over their territory, their favorite items, and/or the humans they perceive as their “pack.” A territorial dog may attack to aggressively defend its territory, pack, or favorite items such as dog toys or a dog bed. Some dog breeds are more naturally territorial than others, but some pet owners train their dogs to become territorial to defend their property or to guard their family.
Food Aggression
Many dogs feel naturally protective over their food. Dog bites often occur to children who innocently approach a dog while it’s eating.
Redirected Aggression
Some dog bites occur when a human attempts to break up a dog fight. By intervening in a fight between dogs, a human might become a target of the dog’s aggression.
Aggression due to Pain
An injured dog or one who’s sick or in pain, may defend itself aggressively against perceived threats to protect itself against further pain.
These are the most common reasons dogs attack, but many other circumstances could lead to dog bites, including a dog protecting her puppies, or a dog who has been pestered beyond its limits by a child, adult, or another pet.
Cherry Hill Dog Bite Injury Lawyer Near Me (856) 528-4494
Common Dog Bite Injuries In Cherry Hill
Our Cherry Hill lawyers have seen dog bites and attacks result in different types of injuries with varying levels of severity. Some of the most common types of injuries that should include contact with a Cherry Hill dog bite attorney include:
- Puncture wounds tear or scratch human flesh when a dog’s sharp claws or fangs penetrate the skin. The wounds can leave permanent scarring and are susceptible to infection. Nerve and muscle damage is possible with deep dog bites.
- Blood poisoning and infection occur from the transfer of dog saliva to an individual’s bloodstream. Since small blood infections can grow and spread quickly, even minor dog bites place victims at risk for blood poisoning. Infections, such as rabies and tetanus, are dangerous. When left untreated, they can cause organ failure, amputation or even death. Speak to a wrongful death lawyer in Cherry Hill to learn more.
- Muscle and nerve damage can cause long-term pain and immobility due to a dog’s strong jaws, especially when they bite hard and deep into a limb, neck or face. Some damage can be permanent, leaving individuals with years of treatment for numbness, loss of sensation, chronic pain, and immobility.
- Scars and tissue loss from dog bites are lasting imprints that can result in deformity or disfigurement to the area. Severe injuries often require repeated, painful reconstructive surgeries to reduce or remove the scar or recreate the tissue loss. Victims suffer physically and emotionally with a constant and visible reminder of the dog attack.
- Broken bones are common with dog bites and, in most cases, occur when a person falls from fighting the dog, or when they are knocked over by a large dog during an attack. In addition, powerful dog jaws can crush bones in smaller limbs such as the wrists, hands, arms, ankles, and feet. Broken bones impact an individual’s quality of life and ability to work.
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Types of Dog Bites Common in Cherry Hill Dog Attacks
Dogs have very sharp-edged, jagged teeth that function similarly to a serrated blade when they bite. The medical community standards classify dog bites into the following six categories:
- Level-1 bites occur when a dog acts aggressively in a warning to someone it perceives as a threat. The dog may snap at the victim or pull his or her clothes but does not make contact with the skin.
- Level-2 bites occur when an aggressive dog uses its teeth and jaw on a human’s hand, arm, or leg but doesn’t break the skin. Level-2 bites may leave red marks or bruises.
- Level-3 bites are single-bite attacks that break the victim’s skin and leave shallow lacerations.
- Level-4 bites result from a dog bite that breaks the victim’s skin with one to four tooth penetrations to a depth of at least half the length of the dog’s teeth. Additionally, the dog may shake the bitten body part, causing further tissue damage.
- Level-5 bites occur when a dog bites a victim with deep, penetrating wounds multiple times in one or more body parts.
- Level-6 bites occur when a dog attacks, bites, and consumes parts of the attacked human, resulting in severe injury or death.
If a close family member was killed by an attacking dog, the Grungo wrongful death attorneys in Cherry Hill can help your family gain justice in a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent dog owner.
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Dog Bites and Premises Liability
Most dog bites result from owner negligence. When an owner fails to protect others from suffering injuries caused by their pet, they are liable for the victim’s damages. Compensation in a dog bite claim in Cherry Hill typically comes through a settlement from the pet owner’s property insurance liability policy.
Your attorney from Grungo Law in Cherry Hill will investigate the circumstances of your dog bite case to identify the liable party and then document evidence of liability including the following:
- The pet owner owed a duty of care to others to prevent their dog from causing injury
- They breached this duty through an act of negligence
- Their breach of duty directly caused your injuries
- You suffered significant damages from the injury
Once your Cherry Hill premises liability attorney documents evidence of the owner’s liability, they will carefully calculate your damages to maximize your compensation and make a compelling argument for your complete compensation for damages.
Damages Available in a Dog Bite Case
Both children and senior citizens are common victims of serious dog bite injuries, but anyone can fall victim to a frightening and painful dog attack when a dog’s owner doesn’t take proper care to keep their pet from harming others. Common damages cited in dog bite cases in Cherry Hill include the following:
- Medical expenses and future medical costs
- Reimbursement for past and future income loss
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma, PTSD, and anxiety
Emotional trauma and its accompanying symptoms are common after a dog attack. Many victims seek compensation for counseling and therapy sessions as well as their medical expenses.
What to Do After a Dog Bite in Cherry Hill
If you’ve been injured by a dog, always seek medical help immediately. Use your phone to take photos of the visible injuries and the dog when possible. Add the owner’s contact information to your phone while you wait for transportation to a hospital.
At the hospital, have the doctor write a detailed report of your injuries and the course of treatment they recommend as well as your prognosis, including any long-term impacts and/or scars.
Call the dog bite attorneys at Cherry Hill to speak to your attorney from Grungo Law before talking to insurance representatives.
Consulting with a Cherry Hill Dog Bite Attorney
If you or a loved one have suffered any of the above-mentioned injuries as a result of a canine attack, please do not hesitate to contact the Cherry Hill dog bite lawyers at Grungo Law as soon as possible so they can begin to evaluate your case and help you get the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering.
Experienced attorneys do not recommend walking up to strange dogs that you may be unfamiliar with. Do not begin petting them without having spoken with the owner of that dog and make sure it is okay. It is not wise to assume the places a dog enjoys being pet despite how friendly the animal may look. You should ask the owner questions to ensure it is safe to pet that dog.
Call or text (856) 528-4494 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form