Yes, you should strongly consider getting a lawyer for a dog bite, especially if you were seriously hurt. Even minor dog bite injuries can turn serious. Our Marietta dog bite lawyers will explain your rights, protect your claim, and deal directly with the dog owner’s insurance company for you.
In Georgia, the rules governing dog bite liability are challenging to understand, and insurance companies don’t always settle claims fairly. Let the experienced dog bite lawyers at Jones & Swanson handle your claim to ensure that you are fairly compensated for your injuries
We will gather all the evidence, prove the dog owner’s fault, and work to recover damages for your medical bills, lost income, pain, and more. Learn more about your next steps during a free consultation.
Can You Sue for a Dog Bite in Georgia?
You can file a personal injury lawsuit if the dog owner or another involved party was negligent. To succeed, your case must show one of the following:
- The dog had a history of aggression.
- The dog was illegally off-leash or not properly contained.
Most dog bite injuries are resolved without having to file a lawsuit. Our Marietta personal injury lawyer will work to maximize the settlement you receive. However, if a lawsuit is needed, we will handle everything.
How We Help Someone Recovering From a Dog Bite Injury
When you hire a Jones & Swanson dog bite lawyer, you can rest easy knowing everything will be handled for you. This means:
- Investigating to find out what happened: This includes gathering photos, witness statements, vet records, and past complaints.
- Prove who’s at fault for your injury: We will work to show the owner was careless or broke the law.
- Leading talks with the insurance company: We’ll speak for you so you don’t say anything that could hurt your case.
- Calculating your damages: This includes past and future medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
- Fighting for a fair outcome: If we must, we will take the case to court.
Cases involving dog bites are about more than just the injury. They also cover everything you go through afterward, including the scarring, emotional trauma, missed work, medical follow-ups, and changes to your daily life.
How Do I Know if I Have a Dog Bite Case?
You have a strong case for damages if:
- The dog was off-leash or escaped from a yard
- The owner knew the dog had bitten or growled at others before
- The bite led to medical care, scarring, or time away from work
- There were witnesses or security footage
- The owner failed to follow local leash laws
We will look at the facts and give you an honest answer about your next steps and how we will pursue damages for you.
What Damages Will You Recover for a Dog-Related Injury?
If someone else’s dog injured you, you should pursue damages for:
- Medical bills: Emergency room or urgent care visits, surgeries, follow-up care, physical therapy
- Lost income: If you missed work or can’t return to your job
- Pain and suffering: Both physical pain and emotional trauma
- Scarring or disfigurement: Both are especially common in face, hand, or leg bites
- Mental health care: If the bite caused anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or depression
Dog-related injuries aren’t always from bites. Some people get knocked down by large or aggressive dogs, leading to broken bones, head injuries, or joint damage. These injuries are just as serious and are just as important to include in an insurance claim or lawsuit.
In cases involving fatal injuries, your lawyer will also help pursue a wrongful death action when appropriate.
Who is Liable for an Injury After a Dog Hurts You?
In most Georgia dog bite cases, the dog’s owner is the main party held responsible. However, they aren’t always the only ones who an injured party can hold responsible.
Depending on where the attack happened and how it occurred, other people or companies may also be legally at fault.
You could seek damages from:
- The dog’s owner or caretaker: If they knew the dog was aggressive or failed to follow leash laws
- A landlord or property manager: If they allowed a dangerous dog to stay on their property and didn’t take proper safety steps
- A business owner: If the attack happened on a business property where the dog was allowed to roam freely
- A dog sitter, dog walker, or boarding facility: If they were in charge of the dog and failed to keep it under control
Our lawyers will investigate who had control over the dog, whether leash laws were broken, and if anyone failed to take action to prevent the attack. Holding the right people accountable is the key to a successful case.
Do You Need Our Lawyer if the Insurance Company Offers a Settlement?
You don’t need to have a lawyer, but having one will make a big difference. Insurance companies offer low settlements right away, hoping you’ll accept before understanding how serious your injuries are.
Our attorney working on your behalf will:
- Review any offer and explain if it’s fair
- Negotiate for more if you’re being shortchanged
- Push back against any attempts to blame you or downplay your injuries
Getting legal advice early will help you avoid mistakes that hurt your case later.
What is the Deadline to File a Dog Bite Injury Claim in Georgia?
Under Ga. Code § 9-3-33, you have two years from the date of the bite to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, the court will likely dismiss your case, even if you had a strong claim. That’s why it’s important to speak to a lawyer from our team as soon as possible.
Should You Talk to Our Lawyer Even if the Bite Seemed Minor?
Yes, you should promptly consult our dog bite lawyer because injuries often get worse over time. What seems like a minor bite might later require surgery, leave a scar, or get infected. Also, the mental and emotional toll is real, especially for children.
Talking to our attorney about your situation costs nothing up front, and it helps protect you from unexpected costs later.
Our Dog Bite Injury Lawyer Will Lead Your Case; Call Us
Need answers after a dog bite? Talk to Jones & Swanson, a local law firm that will give your case the attention that it deserves. We are a smaller firm by choice, and that’s what makes the difference. When you call us, we call you back, and when you email us, we will respond.
Our highly trained staff knows how to handle serious injury claims, even the big ones that other firms avoid. We have the resources and courtroom experience to take on large insurance companies. But more than that, we treat you like family.
We will connect you with medical care, even if you don’t have health insurance. Call now for a free consultation. You won’t pay anything unless we recover damages for you.
