If you’ve suffered a dog bite in Westwood, it’s essential to seek immediate assistance from a reputable Westwood personal injury lawyer. With their expertise in handling dog bite cases, they can provide invaluable guidance and support as you navigate the legal process.
Are you wondering what to do after a dog bite in Dedham, Norwood, or Westwood, MA? The Westwood personal injury lawyers can explain your legal rights and help you receive financial compensation for your injuries. You Better Phone Stone®. The legal team at Jason Stone Injury Lawyers is experienced in handling dog bite injury cases, and we have helped our clients recover maximum compensation for their physical wounds, psychological trauma, and pain and suffering.
Phone Stone today at 800-577-5188 to schedule a free case consultation or fill out the online contact form with your name, email, and phone number.
How Does Massachusetts Law Protect Victims of Dog Bite Attacks?
Dog attacks can cause serious, life-threatening injuries. When the victim is injured, the result may be medical expenses, expensive and growing. The victim of a canine attack should not have to bear the burden of these medical costs. Massachusetts law states that the owner of the dog is strictly liable for the injuries and losses suffered by the victim. In other words, the dog owners have the legal obligation to pay the victim for damages sustained in the attack.
The law is not limited to only “dog bites” but also allows for financial compensation from any personal injury caused by a dog or animal. For instance, a dog may trip you and you sustain a fracture by falling. Or, a dog knocks you down so you hit your head.
One exception to the rule is when the injured person had been teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog. If you were doing any of the above, strict liability will not apply.
Our personal injury attorneys will use Massachusetts dog bite law as their basis for protecting your legal rights. Fill out the online contact form or call our office today to schedule a free no obligation case consultation – we are able to come to you or arrange a phone or video conference call as you prefer.
What Injuries May Be Caused By Dog Bites?
When you go out for a walk around your neighborhood, or downtown after dinner, the last thing you may expect is to be attacked by a dog. However, dog bites occur more often in Massachusetts than you would like to think.
Dog attacks cause a wide range of wounds, some minor while others cause permanent injury. The following are some types of injuries caused by dogs.
Puncture wounds
This happens when the teeth of the animal puncture or pierce your skin. A puncture wound may not cause a lot of bleeding but can cause damage to the skin, muscle, and underlying tissue. These types of wounds tend to be deep, increasing the risk of infection and potentially leading to other medical complications.
Facial scarring
The face is often the part of the human body that is attacked by a dog, especially among children. A facial animal bite can result in permanent scarring or disfigurement and may require extensive, painful reconstructive surgeries. Victims of facial scarring may suffer from a lack of self-confidence and have their lives completely altered.
Head injury
A dog that charges and jumps on someone can knock the person who may hit his or her head. This can cause anything from a small bump to a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Lacerations
These are deep cuts or tears in the skin. A laceration goes beyond the skin, into the body’s muscle, bone, nerves, and blood vessels. These types of wounds shouldn’t be treated at home as they require medical attention. Stitches will likely be necessary, and surgeries may need to be performed in order to repair the damage to muscles and nerve endings.
Broken bones
A charging dog can knock victims over with such force that it causes them to break or fracture bones. These breaks could occur on any part of the body.
Infections
Animal bite infections can be caused by bacteria found in the mouth or saliva of the dog. This is why it is important to quickly clean the wound after you have been bitten. Signs of infection include pain, redness, swelling, or pus. Seek medical attention at the first sign of infection.
Rabies
The risk of being attacked by a rabid dog is minimal in the United States, since most canine owners ensure that their animals are vaccinated. However, you should try to find out if the dog has been vaccinated after you are bitten. If the animal hasn’t been vaccinated, or you’re unable to confirm whether it has been, seek immediate medical attention.
Death
Tragically, dog bite attacks led to 48 deaths in the US in 2019, with 13 of those victims being children.
How To Prevent Dog Bites
They say that dogs are man’s best friend – but this doesn’t mean that dogs are always friendly. Since dogs can be aggressive and territorial, you must exercise caution around them. This is especially true if you have young children.
According to the ASPCA, the following tips can help prevent anyone, but especially children, from being attacked by a dog:
- Don’t go near a dog that is sleeping, eating, chewing on a toy, or caring for puppies. There’s an increased chance that a dog will bite if startled, afraid, or with pups.
- You should never approach unfamiliar dogs without permission from the owner. If the owner gives permission, you should allow the dog to sniff your hand before petting.
- If you are knocked down by a dog, you should curl into a ball and lock your fingers behind your neck and over your ears. The dog will likely just sniff you and then leave you alone.
- Don’t try to outrun a dog. If the animal tries to grab at you, you should put anything you can between them and the dog – a jacket, backpack, or whatever else is available – for the dog to grab onto.
- If an unfamiliar dog approaches you, you should attempt to remain calm and quiet while not looking the dog directly in the eye. After a moment, the animal will likely lose interest in you and move on.
What Damages Can You Pursue After a Dog Bite Injury?
Dog attacks can leave victims with painful injuries, mounting medical expenses, and without work. Be assured that the attorneys at Jason Stone Injury Lawyers can help you during this difficult time. We are proud to advocate for our clients’ rights and will work diligently to get you the financial compensation you are legally entitled to.
Depending on the extent of your injuries and the circumstances surrounding your case, you may receive damages for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Reduced earning potential
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Dog Bite Injuries?
Yes, if the dog’s owner has a homeowner’s insurance policy, it may compensate a victim for losses sustained in an attack – in most situations. In the State of Massachusetts, a homeowner’s insurance policy will cover liability or bodily injury.
However, some homeowner’s policies are now adding breeds of dogs to their policies that exclude coverage. Dogs that may be excluded include rottweilers, German shepherds, Doberman pinschers, and Great Danes.
If the dog’s owner rents his or her home or doesn’t hold a homeowner’s insurance policy, it can be even more difficult to receive adequate compensation for your dog bite injuries. Whether or not the dog owner has homeowner’s insurance, it’s recommended to keep from accepting settlement without first consulting an attorney. With a knowledgeable dog bite attorney on your side, you can be confident that your best interests are being served.
Our Team Can Handle Your Claim from Start to Finish
When you have the Jason Stone Injury Lawyers legal team on your side, you can focus on getting back on your feet while we focus on recovering the compensation to which you are entitled. From our very first conversation, our team will go to work protecting your right to compensation, will give you peace of mind and will spend our time fighting for a full financial recovery.
Our commitment to your well-being and satisfaction is summed up in our Stone Cold Guarantee®. Our attorneys are ready to do the heavy lifting so you can focus on getting better.
We will stand by you through the entire process, helping you understand what to expect and updating you on the status of your case. We can often prove you qualify to hold the at-fault driver liable and settle these cases without resorting to filing a personal injury lawsuit. However, we will not hesitate to take your case to court if necessary to get the full range of damages to which you are entitled.
Contact Jason Stone Injury Lawyers Today
If you or your child has been a victim of a dog bite attack, contact our law firm today. Under the Massachusetts statute of limitations, injury victims have 3 years to file a lawsuit. However, the sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we can get started working on your case and preserving evidence that is important to your claim.
Our law firm works on a contingent fee basis. This means that you don’t need to worry about paying any out of pocket legal fees. Part of our Stone Cold Guarantee® is that your initial consultation with our law firm is always free, and after taking on your case we only get paid once you get money.
If you have been a victim of a serious dog bite, you may feel that you are a long way from recovery. The attorneys at Jason Stone Injury Lawyers want to help you get your life back on track. We help dog bite victims recover financial compensation that allows them to receive the best possible treatment for their injuries.
If you believe you may have a case, you call us today, at 800-577-5188. You can also fill out our online contact form with your name, email, and phone number. We can arrange your free consultation by phone or video conference call – whatever is best for you.
Jason Stone is truly the best! They did such a wonderful job with my case and communicated really well with me. I was amazed by their work and amazed by how much they really care about their clients. Whenever I called them about a concern or for any other reason they made sure they answered every question! They also try their best to make things go quickly as possible! I would highly recommend people to chose Jason Stone Injury Lawyer. They are honest with you; they take their time to listen to you and make sure everything is resolved! They did a great job with my case that I have recommended them to others. Thanks so much Jason Stone, I really appreciate it all!
VICTORIA PIERRE-LOUIS | FORMER CLIENT
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