Dogs make terrific pets and companions. Yet, sometimes they bite or attack without warning, leaving painful wounds and psychological harm. An animal attack could be particularly damaging for young children. Kids are shorter and often at the dog’s eye level.
Children are especially vulnerable to attacks, often sustaining severe head and facial injuries. Further, they often suffer severe harm to their mental health and well-being. If a dog bites or attacks you or a family member, you could have the right to collect compensation from the pet’s owner. Call a Houma and Terrebonne Parish dog bite lawyer to discuss your case. A personal injury attorney could help protect you and your family after an attack.
Common Injuries in Animal Attacks
Injuries from dog bites and attacks can range from minor to severe. While the injured party must care for the wounds immediately, they can treat minor lacerations at home by cleaning them and monitoring them to ensure it does not show signs of infection.
Animal bites carry bacteria and can potentially progress quickly into severe illness. If the wounds cover much of the body or cause severe or potentially permanent damage, seek care from a healthcare professional. Finally, if the dog owner does not have a rabies vaccination record, see a doctor for care. Some more severe animal attack injuries include:
- Tissue damage, such as puncture wounds and lacerations
- Severe head, neck, and facial injuries
- Permanent nerve damage
- Eye damage
- Broken bones
- Severe psychological harm, such as post-traumatic stress disorder
Seeking medical care for serious injuries is vital for health reasons and essential for filing a claim and collecting compensation. A dog bite attorney in Houma and Terrebonne Parish could review the harm experienced and potential damage recovery during a consultation.
The Dog Bite Law and Strict Liability
Pet owners must ensure their dogs or another animal, including cats, exotic, or farm animals, do not cause harm to the public. Per the Louisiana Civil Statute § CC 2321, animal owners are liable for the damages an aggressive dog causes other people except in two circumstances: an individual provoking the animal or trespassing.
A case must show an owner knew or should have known, through reasonable care, that the animal was aggressive or capable of injuring other people. However, the strict liability rule requires pet owners to pay for damages and losses their animals cause without provocation.
Damages in Dog Bite Injury Lawsuits
A court will consider factors, including the extent of the defendant’s negligence and injuries the plaintiff incurred during the attack. The award for damages would cover the following:
- The total cost of current and future medical treatment and ongoing care
- Psychological and emotional care
- Lost wages, benefits, and future earning potential
- Medical equipment and prescriptions
- Pain and suffering
A court will consider the total losses as well as the defendant’s extent of negligence when calculating the award amount. A seasoned Dog bite lawyer in Houma and Terrebonne Parish could investigate and collect the evidence needed to recover the maximum potential award amount.
Call a Skilled Dog Bite Attorney in Houma and Terrebonne Parish
If an animal attacks and causes harm, you have the right to seek compensation to cover the damages and losses. The state follows strict liability laws regarding pets. If you have permission to be on the property, or the pet attacked you in public, you could have the legal right to collect reimbursement.
Payments could cover medical expenses, the time you missed from work, and psychological and physical pain and suffering. Schedule a meeting with a Houma and Terrebonne Parish dog bite lawyer if you need help with a case.
