Dog bites
Dog bites, handled kindly and plainly
A bite can leave scars, and fear, long after the stitches come out.
Dog bite cases are often between neighbors, friends or a landlord and a tenant, which makes them hard to bring up. I handle them with care. Most are paid by the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance, not out of anyone's pocket, so making a claim doesn't mean taking your neighbor's house. I help you get the treatment you need, including for a child who is now afraid of dogs, and I deal with the insurer.
What a dog bite claim can cover
For children and adults alike, these are the costs I look at.
Treatment and scars
Emergency care, stitches, infections, and scar revision a doctor recommends.
Counseling
Help for the fear and nightmares that can follow, especially for children.
Missed work
Time off for your own care, or to care for a bitten child.
Where it happened
Whether the owner, a landlord or a property manager is responsible.
Questions after a bite
The dog belongs to a neighbor I like. Will this ruin things?
It doesn't have to. Most claims are paid by insurance, and I keep the tone respectful. Many neighbors are relieved their policy is there for this.
What should I do right after a bite?
Get medical care, photograph the wound as it heals, and write down the dog's owner, address and vaccination status if you can. Report the bite to animal services.
My child was bitten. Is the deadline different?
It can be. Rules for children's claims differ from state to state, so call and I'll check which deadlines apply.
Tell me what happened, at whatever pace you need
The first conversation is free. You pay no attorney's fee unless money is recovered for you. Case costs, like medical records, filing fees and expert reports, are paid back from the recovery after the fee; if nothing is recovered, you owe neither.