A dog owner is supposed to be responsible for their pet and supposed to keep it under control at all times; unfortunately, there are times when a person is attacked because of a dog who is not under the owner’s control. Although some of these attacks can just lead to a few scrapes, they can also be incredibly serious, and the person could end up with significant and permanent injuries. When the person needs to go to the hospital for care, they may be entitled to compensation for the injuries.
Often, the dog owner’s insurance company will cover the person’s injuries. They should receive compensation for their medical bills and, if they needed to miss time at work to recover, they might be able to receive compensation for their lost wages. In some cases, there may be other types of compensation they’re entitled to. If the insurance company doesn’t want to offer an adequate settlement or the person isn’t sure whether the settlement is adequate, they can contact a dog bite attorney in Bremerton for help. The attorney will negotiate with the insurance company to ensure the settlement will cover the person’s expenses, including their legal fees.
If the dog owner doesn’t have homeowner’s insurance, they may still be able to recover compensation for their injuries. In these cases, the attorney will help the person recover a settlement from the dog owner themselves instead of going through insurance. This can be a long process, but the attorney can take the case to court to have a judgement for compensation for the victim. When this happens, if the dog owner refuses to pay the compensation or cannot afford to pay it at once, the attorney can explain to the victim what their options are.
Anyone who has suffered from significant injuries due to a dog attack should contact a dog bite attorney in Bremerton as quickly as possible. This gives them the chance to find out if they are entitled to compensation and, if so, can allow them to get the help they need to obtain the compensation. For more information on dog attacks and what options you might have, contact Anthony Otto today.
