If you were bitten by a dog in Georgia, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Dog owners can be held liable for injuries caused by their animals. An experienced Georgia dog bite lawyer at Lawson Personal Injury Attorneys can help you fight to recover money for economic damages. Call us today at (678) 446-3655.

Since 2012, our law firm has been committed to providing effective legal representation to families like yours. Between us, we have over 18 years of experience handling personal injury cases. We’ve put that experience to work and won millions of dollars for our injured clients in cases involving Georgia catastrophic injuries, Georgia pedestrian accidents, child injuries, brain injuries, and more.

We’re standing by to provide help when you need it most. Call our law offices in Georgia to schedule a free consultation today.

How Can Lawson Personal Injury Attorneys Help if I Was Bitten by a Dog in Georgia?

Dog bites can cause lasting scars – both physical and emotional. When a dog’s owner is irresponsible and allows their pet to cause injuries, they should be held accountable.

Our Georgia personal injury lawyer is ready to take on the fight so you can rest and recover. Lawson Personal Injury Attorneys has been rated by Super Lawyers two years in a row.

While you take the time to heal, our experienced attorney will:

• Gather the evidence you need to prove the dog owner is liable
• Determine whether the dog has any history of aggressive behavior
• Calculate the fair value of your dog bite injury case
• Bring in experts if needed to strengthen your claim
• Defend you if the dog’s owner claims you provoked the attack
• Negotiate with the dog owner’s insurance companies for a fair settlement

Our Georgia personal injury attorney works on a contingency fee basis. We only charge attorneys’ fees if we actually recover compensation in your case. That way, there’s no risk in seeking legal advice.

If you were injured by someone else’s dog, contact us today to explore your legal options.

How Common Are Dog Bites in Georgia?

According to CDC research, it’s now estimated that as many as 10 million Americans were bitten by dogs in 2022. Thousands of victims suffer dog bite injuries that are serious enough to require hospitalization and medical attention each year.

Georgia ranked 10th in the nation when it comes to the highest number of dog bite injuries. According to the Insurance Information Institute, insurance companies in Georgia paid about $29 million to settle dog bite injury cases in 2022.

Georgia Dog Bite Laws: An Overview

Every state has its own set of laws governing dog bite injury cases. Some states follow a one-bite rule. In those states, a dog owner will be held liable for a dog bite victim’s injuries only if the dog had bitten someone before. That’s because the dog owner is presumed to have known the dog was dangerous and failed to do anything about it.

Georgia’s dog bite law is similar, but it doesn’t require proof that the dog has bitten in the past.

Under Georgia law, a dog owner is liable for injuries if:

• Their dog is vicious or dangerous
• The owner is careless in managing the dog
• The victim did nothing to provoke the animal to attack or bite

Unlike in other states, this law applies whether you were injured due to a dog bite or a dog attack.

While the law may seem simple, it can be tough to prove that the dog had vicious propensities. Dog owners often claim that their dogs were not vicious and that the victim provoked the attack.

However, under the law, you can prove that the dog was vicious or dangerous by showing:

• The dog was not on a leash or at heel
• Some type of city or county ordinance required the dog to be on a leash or at heel

Under the leash laws in Gwinnett County, dogs must be kept under control. They must be secured on the owner’s property and not allowed to roam freely. When dogs are off their owner’s property, they must be kept on a leash or under the control of a competent person.

Georgia’s Dangerous Dog Laws

In Georgia, dogs can be classified as “dangerous” or “vicious” if the dog has already attacked or bitten someone in the past. If the dog has formally been classified as dangerous or vicious, the law presumes that the owner knew about the dog’s vicious propensities.

Owners of dangerous dogs must:

• Post “dangerous dog” signs to warn others
• Keep the dog confined securely
• Restrain and muzzle the dog
• Carry extra liability insurance
• Register the dog with the city

If you were bitten by a dog in Georgia, it’s important to seek legal representation. Proving that the owner is liable isn’t always easy. Our attorney at Lawson Personal Injury Attorneys has years of experience handling complicated cases, and we’d be happy to discuss your case in a free consultation.

What is My Georgia Dog Bite Case Worth?

The value of any personal injury case depends on a few different factors. The severity of the victim’s injury is typically the controlling factor.

However, the following issues must be considered when assessing your case value:

• Whether you will recover fully or suffer a long-term impairment
• The cost of your medical treatment
• Whether the injury prevents you from earning income during recovery
• How the injury will impact your future earnings
• The emotional trauma you have experienced
• Your physical pain and suffering
• The victim’s age

Because every personal injury claim is different, it’s important to consult an experienced attorney. The insurance company has seen cases like yours before. They’ll compare your injuries to those suffered by other victims. That doesn’t always give a fair picture of the suffering you have experienced.

Our lawyer gives each client the personal attention they deserve. Once we understand the details, we can work on assessing the value of the damages you’ve suffered.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Dog Bite Victims in Georgia?

As a dog bite victim, you should be entitled to compensation for economic damages and non-economic damages.

Some common examples of damages sustained by dog bite victims include:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Physical therapy
• Rehabilitation
• Reconstructive surgeries
• Psychological counseling
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and mental trauma
• Physical disfigurement and scarring
• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• PTSD and fear
• Diminished quality of life

If there is evidence that the dog owner acted maliciously or with reckless disregard for your safety, it’s possible that punitive damages may be available. Punitive damages are rare. They’re reserved for cases where it can clearly be shown that the dog’s owner should be punished.

Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for Provoking an Animal Attack in Georgia?

Contributory negligence is a factor in many personal injury cases. Typically, Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence law where the victim loses their right to compensation once their share of fault reaches 50%.

In dog bite injury cases, the owner will often claim that the victim provoked the animal in some way. Provocation as a defense is built into the dog bite law. When someone taunts, teases, or abuses an animal, they can’t recover compensation if that animal reacts to the provocation and injures them.

What Are Some Common Dog Bite Injuries?

Dog bite injuries can have lasting consequences. Dog bite victims’ injuries are often much more extensive than the puncture wounds themselves. When a dog bites, it often tears the skin in jagged ways that make it difficult for the wound to heal. Dog attacks can also knock the victim to the ground, causing additional injuries.

At Lawson Personal Injury Attorneys, we often handle dog injury cases involving:

• Broken bones
• Eye and facial injuries
• Nerve damage
• Broken hips and other joint injuries
• Soft tissue damage
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Head and neck injuries
• Concussions
• Back injuries
• Infection
• Sepsis and shock
• Amputations caused by infection
• Vision loss
• Catastrophic injuries
• Wrongful death of a loved one

Don’t let the insurance companies downplay the extent of your injuries. If you were hurt, contact our Georgia dog bite attorney to learn more about your legal options. Your case review is always free of charge, so there’s no reason to wait.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After Sustaining a Dog Bite Injury in Georgia?

In Georgia, the statute of limitations in most personal injury cases is only two years. The two-year period starts to run on the date of the animal attack. After two years pass, you lose your right to compensation entirely.

Exceptions exist if the victim was a minor. In those cases, the statute of limitations starts to run on the date the child turns 18. However, parents also have the right to take legal action on behalf of a child.

Contact a Skilled Georgia Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today

If you were injured because a dog’s owner was negligent, contact Lawson Personal Injury Attorneys today. An experienced Georgia dog bite lawyer can help you fight for the compensation you need and deserve.