If you, your child or other loved one has been bitten by a dog, you may be considering legal action against the dog owner. One common question people have is “how much does a dog bite lawyer cost?”
We answer that question below and also provide other helpful info about dog bites.
Dog Bites Are Quite Common
While most people love dogs (and for good reason), they can be dangerous animals.
In fact, it’s estimated there are around 4.5 million dog bites reported in the U.S. each year. Almost 900,000 people require medical attention each year due to dog bites. And the bites result in almost 350,000 trips to the emergency room a year.
Do I Need A Lawyer For A Dog Bite?
If the dog bite causes serious injury or disease, you may want to find a dog bite lawyer.
Common diseases due to dog bites include rabies, tetanus, MRSA (ie. Staph infection) or Pasteurella. They can also cause physical damage due to the pressure of the bite and sharp teeth. The bite may cause a puncture wound and/or cause damage to the skin, muscles, tendons and soft tissue.
The costs to take treat these injuries can be quite expensive. Plus, there are other costs if you have to miss work or have trouble with your daily tasks due to your injuries.
In many cases, you may know the dog’s owner. It is commonly a family member, friend or neighbor whose dog bites you.
While filing a lawsuit against someone you know is difficult, it may be the only way to get your expenses covered. And if you don’t file a lawsuit, you may end up having to pay $1,000s out of your pocket for medical expenses and/or other costs.
If an insurance company gets involved, they will very likely try to lowball you when it comes to a settlement. Or they may play games to try to get out of paying you anything.
An experienced dog bite lawyer will protect your interests. They know how to deal with insurance companies and can make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
How Much Does a Dog Bite Lawyer Cost?
Dog bite cases are generally handled by personal injury attorneys. And most of them work on a contingency basis. That basically means that they do not charge a fee unless you win your case.
You can usually get an initial free consultation with a personal injury lawyer to discuss your case. If you decide to hire the attorney, you will not pay any fees unless you win and get a settlement. So it will cost you nothing to file your lawsuit.
All your fees will come out of any settlement or court award you get. If you do get an award, the typical contingency fee of a personal injury attorney is between 33% and 40%.
This may be negotiable and may or may not include the costs the attorney pays to the courts, investigators and others to work on your case. Make sure you know all this before hiring a dog bite lawyer.
