Dog bites and other dog‑related injuries account for over one‑third of all homeowner’s insurance liability claim dollars paid out in 2015, according to the Insurance Information Institute. As a matter of fact, Americans sustain over 4 million dog bites each year. Unfortunately, many of the dogs causing such injuries are owned by the victim’s friends, neighbors or even family members. This can lead to a feeling of awkwardness, as many dog bite victims are reluctant to assert their rights to recover damages against those they care about. Nevertheless, dog bites can result in substantial damages and losses, including lost wages, expensive medical costs, pain and suffering, and even fatalities. An Easton dog bite lawyer at Drake Hileman & Davis will fight for you if you have been injured by a dog or any other domesticated animal. We’ll make sure you receive full and fair compensation for your losses.
Limited Time to Bring Your Case
If you were an adult when you were bitten, your dog bite case must be commenced within two years of the date of the attack. But if the victim was a minor when the bite occurred, the child may still bring a claim until he or she turns 20. The statute of limitations is suspended, or “tolled,” for minors.
How Our Easton Dog Bite Lawyer Will Help Win Your Case
It takes a good lawyer to prove and win a dog or animal bite case because insurance companies are reluctant to pay damages to dog bite victims. That is why you need to call the caring and capable lawyers at Drake, Hileman & Davis to handle your case. We know how to get past the legal roadblocks that stop other lawyers. For example, we know how to establish a dog’s “dangerous propensity” by proving that the dog attacked others in the past, has a bad disposition, or is classified as an “attack breed.” Even if there is no evidence of “dangerous propensity,” we can prove your right to recover damages by showing that the dog’s owner violated local “leash laws.”
Attack Breeds
Certain breeds of dog, such as Pit Bull, Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, and Husky, have often been bred as attack dogs which are potentially vicious by nature. Accordingly, the owner of such a dog must exercise a greater degree of control over the dog, and may be liable for the first bite.
Winning Dog Bite Cases in the Lehigh Valley Since 1990
Our team of aggressive attorneys has won many dog bite cases, including:
- A jury verdict of $37,469 for a dog bite in Easton;
- A $36,000 settlement for a dog attack in Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania; and
- A dog mauling in Allentown that settled for $70,000.
As a result of our numerous victories in dog bite and other animal attack cases in Easton and throughout the Lehigh Valley area, Drake Hileman & Davis attorneys have the knowledge and background to successfully settle or try your injury claim and recover the compensation you deserve.
Negotiating Settlements with Insurance Companies
Many dog owners carry homeowners or other insurance that covers claims for attacks by their dogs or other animals. Your Easton dog bite lawyer will negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company to cover your losses including medical bills and lost wages. If your losses are not fully covered by insurance, we will go the extra mile to obtain a full recovery of “non-economic” claims such as trauma and emotional distress related to an attack by an animal. We recognize that dog bites can result in severe emotional distress, anxiety, PTSD, nightmares, panic attacks, serious bodily injury, scarring, permanent disfigurement, and paralysis.
Our Attorneys Can Help After Other Kinds of Animal Attacks
Drake, Hileman & Davis attorneys have handled cases for clients injured by all sorts of animals, including domesticated animals (dogs, cats and rabbits) and wild animals (including bats) allowed to live on a homeowner’s property.
We will aggressively pursue ALL of the compensation you deserve for the losses you have suffered from a dog or other animal’s attack. We seek both economic damages measured in money (such as medical bills and lost wages) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, mental anguish, and other major life changes).
An Experienced Easton Dog Bite Lawyer on Your Side
If you live in the Easton area and have suffered injuries as a result of a dog or other animal bite, don’t delay. You have limited time to file a claim. Contact Drake, Hileman & Davis at (610) 258-9493 to get our personal injury attorneys working hard to win a cash recovery for YOU.