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Victims of dog bites have legal recourse for such an attack through a personal injury lawsuit. This type of case allows a victim to seek and recover a form of justice through financial compensation for things such as medical expenses and the horrific pain and suffering endured. Unfortunately, this type of lawsuit can take many years to culminate. During the interim, the affected individual or family can be left with financial hardships due to mounting medical bills, lost wages, and ongoing household expenses.
However, there is a way for victims of dog attacks to receive help with their financial obligations as the case makes its way through the court system. With The Legal Funding Group’s assistance, many injured parties have been able to find financial stability. Our legal funding company provides risk-free dog bite pre-settlement funding that is unlike a traditional loan. Clients are not required to repay the funds they’ve received if they don’t win their case. The specific facts of your dog bite lawsuit help determine whether approval is granted. Applying for dog bite legal funding only takes minutes, and cash will be available within 48 hours.
Dog Bite Lawsuits
Surprisingly, dog bite lawsuits are among the most common where personal injury is concerned. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports more than 4.5 million dog bites cases every year in the U.S., and over 800,000 of the victims require medical attention.
Laws are in place that allows accident victims to legally pursue compensation for injuries they sustained because of someone else’s negligence. This includes individuals who have been bitten by a dog. Recoverable damages are intended to provide compensation to the victim. Injured victims can claim the following damages in their lawsuit.
- Past, current, and future medical expenses necessary for treating dog bite injuries
- Repairing or replacing property damaged at the time of the bite
- Wages lost from missing work due to hospitalization, doctor visits, physical therapy, etc.
- Expenses for getting household chores done by someone else due to injury
- Permanent disfigurement and disability arising from the dog bite
- Emotional trauma and distress caused by the dog bite
- Additional costs incurred due to the injury
Reasons Why Dogs Bite
Most dogs, regardless of size or gender, will bite if provoked. This is a normal reaction to stress, defense of territory, or while attempting to protect the owner. Additional reasons a dog may bite include:
- Protecting valuables
- Dominance aggression
- Maternal aggression
- Fear aggression
- Pain-induced aggression
Some breeds of canines are considered more likely than others to bite an individual. The most common breeds involved in dog bite attacks are, in no particular order:
- Rottweilers
- Pit Bulls
- German Shepherds
- Labs
- Mixed Breed
- Wolf Hybrids
- Doberman Pinschers
- St. Bernards
- Great Danes
- Malamutes
- Huskies
Knowing why dogs attack and bite can help individuals avoid situations that could lead to a dog bite incident.
What to Do If Bitten by a Dog
Whether or not the injury seems minor, when bitten by a dog, immediately seek medical care through 911 or a nearby emergency room. If at all possible, first take pictures of the scene, the injuries, and the dog. Get the owner’s contact information and follow up with authorities to make a report. Seek counsel from an experienced attorney to protect legal rights.
Physical, Emotional, and Financial Effects of Dog Bites
The types and degrees of injury and suffering experienced by a dog bite victim can range from mild to extremely severe. The powerful jaws and extremely sharp teeth some dogs possess can lead to dangerous bone fractures and horrific lacerations that produce lifetime scars. As a result, a permanent body disfigurement a victim sustains can create lifelong mental and physical implications.
When someone is left with a disfigured limb, this deformity can prohibit the ability to continue working at a job. Additionally, the emotional toll taken on an individual when life’s enjoyment is robbed in this manner cannot be adequately calculated. Sadly, if a victim’s face is disfigured permanently, there is likely no way for this person to return to the former level of happiness once enjoyed.
One aspect of a dog bite attack that can be overlooked is the area of disease. As painful as the bite and attack itself are, there is a possibility that severe, life-threatening, and painful diseases could be passed to the victim. Among these are:
- MRSA
- Rabies
- Tetanus
- Pasteurella
- Capnocytophaga bacteria
Studies show that between 10 and 15 percent of dog bites become infected. There is a high chance that injuries involving any of these diseases will need professional medical care. They may require expensive hospitalization or corrective surgery.
In addition to the above consequences of a dog bite, the lasting mental effect a victim may experience can lead to a lifetime fear of being around any dog. The injured person may choose to avoid places where dogs are around or places that remotely resemble the area where the bite attack occurred. The victim may find that it’s impossible to stop reliving the horrible event.
In some cases, the attack victim knows the dog’s owner, making the ordeal even harder to handle. It is important to note here, though, that the owner did not correctly and safely have control over the dog when the attack occurred. This constitutes negligence, and the responsibility likely lies with the owner.
A victim of someone else’s negligence that produced injury deserves to be compensated for the damages incurred. The emotional toll that this type of injury and the ensuing lawsuit can take is sometimes quite heavy. When added to the possibility that the case could drag on for quite a while, some victims find it difficult to cope with this stress and mounting financial pressure. Here’s where dog bite legal funding can become just the lifeline that an injury victim needs.
Dog Bite Lawsuit Loan Options
At any phase of a dog bite lawsuit, our funding company can provide cash advances. Whether a plaintiff needs cash to maintain financial stability before a settlement is reached or afterward while waiting for disbursement of funds, we can help. Regardless of the timing, we want to help victims fight for the best outcome in their case. The following are common types of funding available:
Pre-Settlement Funding
While it may seem unconscionable, some lawsuits can take years to either reach a settlement or be decided in court. This scenario can be devastating financially for a victim who is waiting for a payout. At The Legal Funding Group, we fully understand this dilemma and offer clients dog bite pre-settlement funding to help with household living expenses, legal costs, and medical bills during the lengthy legal process.
Post-Settlement Funding
Even after a case has been resolved, plaintiffs can still receive a dog bite post-settlement funding. Lawsuits that have been settled and resolved can take some time to process before receiving any payment in your bank account. Defendants can also appeal the ruling, which could further delay the process. Post-settlement loans are offered through The Legal Funding Group for individuals struggling with their bills while waiting for their settlement to be processed.
Cash Advances
With a dog bite cash advance, a plaintiff can acquire cash in the total amount anticipated from the lawsuit settlement.
None of these options require a credit check. We make our determination based on the lawsuit’s strength and not on the plaintiff’s financial history or income.
Funding Amount for Dog Bite Cases
Liability – How apparent is the fault element in the case? If it is well established through witness statements, videos or pictures, an emergency medical provider’s documentation, and an incident report, the determination process is made easier.
Damages – What level of injury resulted from the accident? If the injury caused time away from work and created substantial medical bills, a premises liability lawsuit may settle at a high amount.
Insurance Coverage – Does the dog owner have insurance? Homeowners and renters insurance policies typically cover dog bite liability legal expenses.
Apply for Dog Bite Legal Funding Today
To qualify for a dog bite lawsuit loan, the following requirements must be met:
- The plaintiff has hired a lawyer on a contingency basis.
- The plaintiff has a claim with merit against an insured party or a self-insured entity.
- The plaintiff is over 18 years old
To help alleviate emotional and financial stress during the lengthy process of a dog bite lawsuit, our funding options at The Legal Funding Group can help allow you to proceed through the case without rushing to accept a lower settlement amount.