Baton Rouge Dog Bite Lawyer

Baton Rouge Dog Bite Lawyer

Were you or a family member bitten by someone else’s dog in Baton Rouge, LA? Dog bites and animal attacks often leave victims struggling with serious and long-term injuries. An experienced Baton Rouge dog bite lawyer at Palmintier Law Group can help. We’ll fight to recover fair compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and more.

Our lawyers put the weight of over 80 years of experience in personal injury law to work in every case we take on. We’ve recovered over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for injured clients like you, in cases involving Baton Rouge brain injuries, workplace accidents, dog bites, Uber accidents, premises liability, Baton Rouge personal injuries, and more.

Contact our law office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, or call (225) 344 3735 to schedule a free consultation today.

Why Trust Palmintier Law Group To Handle My Baton Rouge Dog Bite Case?

Why Trust Palmintier Law Group To Handle My Baton Rouge Dog Bite Case?

When a dog bites you, you can’t hold the dog liable. It’s ultimately the dog’s owner who is responsible for the dog’s behavior. Unfortunately, not all dog owners take their responsibilities seriously–and many refuse to step up and take accountability for their failures.

An experienced Baton Rouge personal injury lawyer can help you fight to make sure the dog’s owner is held liable.

At Palmintier Law Group, our lawyers have earned an AV-Preeminent designation from Martindale Hubbell. That’s the highest rating a law firm can achieve.

When you hire our Baton Rouge personal injury attorneys, you’ll have a legal team to:

  • Gather evidence and documentation to support your case
  • Calculate the fair value of your personal injury claim
  • Defend you when you’re blamed for provoking the dog to bite
  • Handle all paperwork and administrative details
  • Negotiate aggressively with the insurance company to get a fair settlement

While the dog bite laws in Louisiana may seem relatively straightforward, dog bite cases can quickly become complicated. Hiring quality legal representation can give you time to focus on your recovery while you rest assured that your lawyer is handling the details. Give us a call today to get started.

How Common Are Dog Bites in Louisiana?

According to the American Veterinary Medicine Institution (AVMA), over 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in the United States every year. About 800,000 dog bite injury victims sustain injuries that are serious enough to require medical attention each year.

Unfortunately, children are common dog bite injury victims. They’re also the most likely to suffer severe injuries from a dog bite or animal attack.

According to a study published by the Insurance Information Institute (III), Louisiana insurance companies paid nearly $11 million to settle dog bite injury claims in a single year.

What Is My Baton Rouge Dog Bite Injury Case Worth?

The value of any personal injury case depends on the unique facts and circumstances of the case.

When our lawyers are calculating your case value, we will evaluate:

  • The nature and severity of your injuries
  • The cost of your medical treatment
  • The cost of your expected ongoing medical care and rehabilitation
  • Whether you will suffer any permanent disability or disfigurement
  • The emotional trauma you have experienced
  • How the injury impacts your earnings
  • How the injury is expected to impact your future earnings and quality of life

Most homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies cover dog bite injuries. However, the insurance company is unlikely to offer a fair settlement simply because the policy covers these types of damages. 

It’s critical to understand how much your personal claim is really worth before taking any insurance deal–and working with an experienced lawyer is the best way to protect yourself.

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

Under Louisiana personal injury laws, your settlement should cover your economic damages and non-economic damages.

Common examples of economic damages include:

  • Current medical expenses
  • Future medical bills
  • Rehabilitation 
  • Lost wages
  • Lost future earning potential
  • Counseling and mental health support
  • Property damage
  • Any miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses

Dog bite injuries can also cause serious non-economic damages, including:

  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Disfigurement 
  • Scarring 
  • Emotional distress and mental trauma
  • PTSD and fear
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Depression 
  • Loss of consortium

If you were attacked by a dog, our lawyers at Palmintier Law Group have the skills to help you recover every available dollar. Contact our Baton Rouge personal injury law firm today to learn more about your right to financial compensation.

What Is Comparative Negligence and How Can It Be Relevant to My Louisiana Dog Bite Claim?

Comparative negligence is a system that divides liability between a victim and other at-fault parties when a victim shares some fault for their injuries. Louisiana has pure comparative negligence laws. When a victim shares blame, their compensation is reduced by their percentage of fault–even if the victim is 99% liable.

However, these laws only apply when your case is based on negligence. In dog bite injury cases, a common defense is provocation. If you provoke the dog, your compensation can be reduced. It’s possible that you may lose your right to compensation entirely.

Blaming the victim is a common insurance tactic. Call our Baton Rouge dog bite attorneys for help fighting back.

We’ll Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Dog Bite Injuries in Louisiana

Dog bites and dog attacks can cause severe injuries. That’s especially true if the dog pushes the victim to the ground or if the victim is a young child. Many dog bite victims suffer multiple injuries–some caused by the bite itself and others caused by being thrown to the ground.

At Palmintier Law Group, we can represent injured clients who have suffered:

  • Puncture wounds and torn skin
  • Broken bones
  • Nerve damage
  • Facial injuries
  • Eye injuries 
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Joint injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Head and neck injuries
  • Concussions
  • Infections, which can lead to amputations in severe cases
  • Back injuries
  • Internal injuries and bleeding
  • Paralysis
  • Catastrophic injuries
  • Wrongful death of a loved one

Dog bite injuries can become even more severe if the dog isn’t properly vaccinated. Regardless of the circumstances, our lawyers will work tirelessly to recover the maximum compensation possible. Give us a call today to schedule a free case review.

How Do I Prove I Deserve Compensation After a Dog Bit Me in Louisiana? 

Under Louisiana dog bite laws, dog owners can be held responsible for injuries caused by their animals. Whether the dog bit you, knocked you down, or otherwise injured you, you may be entitled to hold the dog’s owner responsible for your damages.

The dog’s owner can be held strictly liable for damages if:

  • You were injured by that individual’s dog
  • The dog’s owner could have prevented the injuries or property damage by using reasonable care
  • You did not provoke the dog

If you can prove these elements, you won’t have to prove that the dog’s owner knew about the dog’s vicious tendencies. In other words, there is no “one bite rule” in Louisiana.

However, you may also be entitled to file a lawsuit for damages if:

  • The owner knew, or reasonably should have known, that the dog’s behavior would cause damage
  • The damage could have been prevented by the exercise of reasonable care
  • The dog’s owner failed to exercise reasonable care

For example, when a dog is classified as a dangerous dog under Louisiana law, owners must take additional precautions. Generally speaking, “dangerous dogs” are dogs who have bitten and injured someone in the past. 

Even if the dog wasn’t formally classified as a dangerous dog, there are many ways to prove that the dog’s owner failed to take reasonable precautions to keep you safe, including:

  • The owner violated Baton Rouge’s local leash laws
  • The owner failed to keep the dog confined on their property
  • The dog was roaming the neighborhood freely and unsupervised
  • Neighbors had made prior complaints about the dog’s behavior

If you were bitten by someone else’s dog, report the dog bite to Animal Control within 24 hours. The authorities will take the dog and observe the animal for rabies for 10 days. 

It’s also important to seek medical attention quickly to prevent infection and other complications. Once you have received medical care, call our lawyers in Baton Rouge to schedule a free case review.

How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After Suffering a Dog Bite Injury in Louisiana?

Under Louisiana law, effective 7/1/2024, the statute of limitations in most personal injury cases is two years. If your injury occurred prior to 7/1/2024, you may only have one year to bring a claim. If you don’t take legal action within the applicable deadline after your injury, you lose your right to seek compensation entirely.

While there are some exceptions to the statute of limitations, the exceptions are rare. For example, if the victim was a child, they may have additional time to take legal action once they turn 18. Speaking with a lawyer sooner rather than later is always the best way to protect yourself.

Contact a Baton Rouge Dog Bite Lawyer To Schedule a Free Consultation Today

If you were a victim of a dog bite in Baton Rouge, call Palmintier Law Group today. An experienced Baton Rouge dog bite lawyer can help you stand up to the insurance companies and fight for a full settlement. As always, your initial consultation is completely free of charge.

Our personal injury law firm in Baton Rouge, LA also handles: