Woodbury Dog Bite Attorneys
For many families across Woodbury, dogs are more than just man’s best friends. They are family. Yet, regardless of how kind and well-behaved a dog is, man’s best friend can bite. Sadly, a dog attack can cause debilitating injuries, serious harm, and extensive medical expenses.
If you have been seriously harmed by a dog bite or a dog attack, you deserve justice for the harm you sustained. That is why you should reach out to a Woodbury dog bite lawyer, like those at Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, as soon as possible. Our Woodbury dog bite legal team has handled many of these horrific types of cases over the years, and we want you to know you do not have to go through this traumatizing ordeal on your own. At Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we are here for you, ready to take on this fight, go after the justice you need, and pursue the compensation you are entitled to.
Injured in Woodbury? Get Nicolet.
Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers-Who We Are
At Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we are passionate about representing clients facing life-altering disabilities and injuries. That is why our team is driven to create positive outcomes for those who find themselves in challenging situations.
In fact, for the past 17 years, our attorneys have been fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves, helping over 3,000 clients in the process and collecting more than $250 million in jury verdicts and settlement awards on their behalf.
Although we cannot promise you these same results, when you work with Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, you can rest assured that our legal team can fight hard to pursue the maximum damages you are entitled to and help guide you toward the right legal solution for your unique financial situation.
Dog Bites-The Gruesome Statistics
Dog bites are nothing new. In truth, they are incredibly prevalent in the United States and often pose a serious health risk to everyone involved. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), about 4.5 million people are bitten every year by a dog, and over 800,000 of these individuals require medical attention due to these bites.
In addition:
- Almost half of all the people bitten by a dog are children.
- Around one in five individuals requires medical attention after a dog bite.
- Most of these dog bites occur from a familiar dog and are often preventable.
For these reasons, if you have suffered an injury because of a Woodbury dog bite, it is time you seek justice for the damages you sustained and hold the dog’s owner accountable for your harm.
What Are the Dog Bite Laws in Woodbury?
According to Minnesota’s Statutes, a dog bite victim can hold the dog’s owner liable for their injuries, if
- The victim was lawfully in the place where they were bitten, including public property or private property, if they were there with permission.
- The victim was “acting peaceably.”
- The victim did not provoke the canine.
This law also applies to any damages caused by the dog when an individual is attacked, meaning that both dog bite injuries and harm caused by other dog-related behavior, such as when a dog jumps on another person and knocks them down, can be covered. It is also important to note that under this dog bite law, the victim does not have to show that the dog owner’s negligence caused the dog-related injury.
Dog Bites in Woodbury and "Strict Liability"
Since Minnesota has a “strict liability” rule when it comes to dog bites, a dog owner can be held liable for a victim’s injuries as long as the statute requirements are met. This means that even if the owner did not know and could not have known their dog would bite, attack, or act aggressively, they can still be held accountable for the damages.
In addition, Minnesota does not follow that one bite rule, which requires that a dog’s owner know or have reason to know that their dog was dangerous before any liability could be imposed.
Who Is Responsible for a Woodbury Dog Bite Accident?
If you were harmed because of a dog bite in Woodbury, you may hold various individuals financially liable for your damages. In Minnesota, the dog bite laws apply not only to the dog owner or handler but also to any individual who harbors or keeps the dog.
For these reasons, if you suffered a dog bite injury, you should discuss your case with a Woodbury dog bite accident lawyer, like those at Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, as soon as possible. Our attorneys can go over your case, figure out who was at fault, and go after all the parties liable for the harm you sustained to maximize your total compensation.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
Dog bites can cause injuries to virtually any part of your body and result in significant and devastating trauma.
Though the severity of these injuries will often depend on the circumstances, dog attacks may result in:
- Broken bones
- Lacerations or abrasions, typically on the face, head, and neck
- Soft tissue injuries
- Avulsions
- Nerve damage
- Paralysis
- Lost limbs
- Infections (rabies or sepsis)
- Bruising
- Sprains
- Head and neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Death
Statute of Limitations to File a Dog Bite Injury Claim in Woodbury
The statute of limitations is a law that dictates the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit by setting a deadline for bringing a claim. If you do not file the suit within this allotted time, you can be barred from pursuing compensation for your injuries and losses.
In Minnesota, most personal injury claims need to be filed within two years from the date of the injury. However, exceptions to this rule can shorten or lengthen the amount of time you have to file. For these reasons, following a dog bite incident, you should speak with a Woodbury dog bite lawyer as soon as possible. These lawyers can quickly figure out how much time you have to file your claim and ensure that your legal motions and documents are prepared correctly and filed before time runs out. Contact Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers today.
Actions to Take Following a Woodbury Dog Bite Incident
Following a dog bite incident, there are several things you should do immediately afterward. These actions cannot only protect your health and safety but your legal rights as well.
Get Medical Help Right Away
Even if you do not feel that the dog bite warrants emergency medical treatment, you still need to get your injuries examined by a medical professional. In many instances, you may require a tetanus shot or other medical intervention to help ensure that infections and serious complications are prevented. That is why meeting with your doctor shortly after the dog attack can help ensure that you get proper medical treatment before the injuries become something dangerous and hard to manage.
In addition, this medical treatment can also be valuable for your legal claim. The insurance companies may be looking for any reason to deny your case. By not getting prompt medical attention, these companies will argue that your condition is not that serious or was not the result of the dog bite incident.
When your doctor examines you after the attack, they can write down information regarding your injury in their medical report and provide you with a direct link between the harm you sustained and the dog attack.
Collect Evidence From the Scene
If you can, try to take as many pictures and videos of the accident scene as possible, including your visible injuries, the dog involved, any torn clothing due to the dog attack, property damage that occurred, and any other evidence that can show what happened.
Get Information from the Dog’s Owner
Try to get information from the dog’s owner, including their name, insurance information, contact details, and any other information about the dog, such as whether they received all their necessary shots. This information can not only help preserve your right to sue later for your injuries, but it can also help the doctor determine whether you need to undergo a series of painful and expensive vaccinations to protect you from fatal diseases such as rabies.
Obtain Witness Details
If people at the accident scene saw what happened, make sure you try to get their names and contact details. These witness statements are a great way to obtain necessary information regarding what happened and back up your claims. However, if these witnesses do not want to offer you these details, do not force them. Once you retain a Woodbury dog bite attorney, these lawyers can work on obtaining this testimony for you.
File an Incident Report with Animal Control
Once you get the medical attention you need, you must report the incident to the local authorities, including the police or the local animal control, who will investigate and document the incident.
Keep Track of Your Bills and Other Expenses
In addition, you want to make sure you keep track of all your expenses related to the dog bite incident. This evidence is the best way for your attorney to build a case against the dog owner and ensure you receive the financial recovery you are entitled to.
Watch What You Say to Others at the Scene
Following the attack, watch what you say and to whom you say it. Do not admit fault for any part of the incident, apologize for anything that happened, or make any definitive statements about the attack. These messages can come back and hurt your claim and reduce the money you receive.
Additionally, do not let yourself be interviewed or recorded by the dog owner’s insurance company before speaking with a Woodbury dog bite lawyer.
Woodbury Dog Bite FAQ
Following a dog bite incident, you will likely go through a lot—devastating injuries, excruciating pain, and extensive medical bills that keep mounting. However, you should not have to tackle these damages alone. In Woodbury, you have several legal options that you can pursue to obtain the financial recovery you need to cover the costs of the harm and losses you suffered because of a dog bite incident.
To ensure that you understand these options, we have prepared the following blog post. In it, we will answer some of the more frequently asked questions our clients often have after a dog bite or attack. We hope, with these responses, you have the information you need to seek justice and go after maximum compensation.
Why Does a Dog Bite Qualify as a Serious Injury?
A dog bite can become a significant concern for many victims of a dog attack, especially if the bite results in significant lacerations, which can not only cause devastating scarring and disfigurement but can also introduce dangerous bacteria into the body. If left untreated, these bites can lead to deadly infections. For these reasons, if a dog has bitten you, you need to treat this injury seriously and seek medical treatment immediately.
What Long-Term and Short-Term Effects May a Dog Bite Entail?
Generally, a dog will attack an individual’s arms, legs, and face.
Some of the more common dog bite injuries tend to include:
- Severe lacerations
- Bruising
- Fractured bones
- Puncture wounds
- Facial injuries, including eye trauma
- Head and neck injuries
- Infections
- Nerve damage
- Emotional trauma
If you suffered any of these injuries following a dog bite attack in Woodbury, you need to reach out to a trusted Woodbury dog bite attorney as soon as possible. These lawyers can review what happened, provide you with the legal advice you need, and figure out what legal options you should pursue.
To Whom Should You Report a Dog Bite in Woodbury?
After a dog bite incident in Woodbury, you want to report the dog bite to either Woodbury Animal Control or the Woodbury Police Department. These officers can investigate the accident, write down their findings in the report, and take appropriate actions. More importantly, these police and animal control reports can also assist you with your legal claim by helping you to establish liability.
What Should You Ask The Dog Owner After a Dog Bit You?
After a dog attack, you should ask the dog’s owner whether the dog is up-to-date with its shots. If not, you will have to go through painful and expensive medical treatments to make sure you do not contract a deadly but preventable viral disease, such as rabies.
However, as you talk to this owner, make sure you watch what you say. This means you want to avoid making any definitive statements regarding the incident or apologizing for anything that happened. These types of comments can come back later and negatively affect your claim, affecting the amount of money you can collect from the other side.
What Types of Damages Can You Pursue After a Woodbury Dog Bite Incident?
A victim of a serious dog bite injury in Woodbury may qualify to receive financial compensation for:
- Medical bills including the past, present, and future medical expenses such as surgeries, hospital stay, doctor visits, and prescription medications
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Property damages
- Rehabilitative therapy, including occupational and physical therapy
- At-home nursing services
- Other out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of services
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of enjoyment of life
How Much Money Will You Get After a Dog Bite Incident in Woodbury?
Unfortunately, no lawyer can tell you exactly how much money you will get after a Woodbury dog bite incident. Too many different factors can impact the value of your claim.
For instance, consider:
- The extent and the severity of your dog bite injuries
- The medical treatments that you will need
- Whether you will require ongoing medical treatments
- Whether you can work following the dog bite incident
- The extend of your pain and suffering following the dog attack
- The credibility of the evidence presented
- The ability to perform everyday activities without help after the dog bite incident
Although no law firm can guarantee that you will receive money for your dog bite injuries, when you work with a skilled Woodbury dog bite attorney, these lawyers can make sure to fight hard for maximum compensation on your behalf.
What Legal Options Do You Have After a Woodbury Dog Bite Incident if the Dog’s Owner Does Not Have Insurance?
If you have suffered severe injuries in a dog bite attack in Woodbury, and the dog’s owner does not have insurance to cover your injuries, you may qualify to file a dog bite lawsuit to go after your damages. However, in these situations, even if the dog owner is held liable for the dog attack, you may still struggle to recover financial compensation for the damages you endured, especially if you suffered severe injuries. In truth, you may end up having a successful dog bite case but still struggle to recover any financial compensation.
After a dog bite attack, you should work with an experienced Woodbury dog bite attorney, who can look into whether the dog’s owner has any viable insurance or assets that you can use to get you the compensation you need.
If the Insurance Company Offers You a Settlement Following a Woodbury Dog Bite Attack, Should You Accept It?
If the insurance company offers you money following a Woodbury dog bite incident, it may seem obvious to accept this money and put it towards all the expenses you had to endure. However, even though this answer may seem like common sense, it is not always in your best interest.
You need to remember that the insurance company does not have your best interests in mind; rather, it is a business, and like other businesses, it wants to make a profit. Insurance companies do this by paying you less or denying your claim.
As a result, one of the tactics these insurance companies use to get you to accept less money than you qualify for is to offer you a meager settlement quickly after your dog attack or dog bite incident, in hopes of you not talking to an attorney about whether this represents a fair amount given your circumstances. Worse yet, those that accept this amount will not be able to ask for additional money down the line when they realize this amount barely covers their current expenses, let alone any future medical care and bills that come up.
Before you accept any settlement amount, you should first complete all of your medical treatments so that you have a better idea of what your ongoing care will look like and the full extent of your bills. You also want to talk to a knowledgeable Woodbury dog bite lawyer who can verify whether the settlement amount will provide you with the compensation you need to cover the full cost of your injuries. If not, your attorney can head back to the negotiation table and fight for increased compensation.
How Long Will It Take for a Woodbury Dog Bite Claim to Resolve?
Because each dog bite case involves unique facts and circumstances, the length of time it will take for a dog bite claim to resolve will vary. Generally, many different factors will impact your claim, including the severity of the dog bite, the nature of the dog bite injuries, and the length of time the victim will have to remain under the care of health care professionals. These, and many more factors, can impact how long a dog bite claim will take to sort out.
In addition, victims must ensure that they follow a doctor’s treatment plans until they have reached their maximum recovery. As mentioned previously, if an individual pursues legal action too early, it can result in a settlement offer that is too low, causing the individual to miss out on a significant amount of money. An experienced attorney can help you determine your best course of action.
Due to these numerous factors, these dog bite claims can take anywhere from a few months to even years to resolve, especially if the case heads to trial.
Will I Lose a Woodbury Dog Bite Claim if the Owner Posted a “Beware of Dog” Sign?
According to the laws in Minnesota, a dog’s owner is automatically responsible for the harm and losses that result when their dog injures or attacks another person, as long as that individual bit was not provoking the dog or trespassing on another person’s property. As a result, even if the dog’s owner has a “beware of sign” posted, the owner can still bear liability for a dog bite. If, however, you trespassed into the owner’s yard and provoked the dog, you will likely not qualify for compensation.
If Your Loved One Died in a Dog Attack, What Legal Options Do You Have?
If you lost a loved one in a dog attack in Minnesota, you may qualify to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit. These legal claims come about when an individual’s death results from the wrongful actions or negligence of another and are filed on behalf of the members of the deceased’s family who suffered non-economic and economic losses as a result of the death.
Typically, in a wrongful death claim, the family of the deceased can recover pecuniary damages. These damages refer to the reasonable value of guidance, counsel, advice, and protection the decedent would have otherwise provided the family had the decedent not passed away. In addition, these damages also include monetary losses, such as the loss of financial support, as well as expenses incurred by the family because of the family member’s death, such as funeral and burial expenses.
However, to determine if you qualify to file a wrongful death claim after losing a loved one in a dog attack, you should reach out to an experienced Woodbury dog bite attorney as soon as possible. These lawyers can review what happened, determine if you qualify to bring a wrongful death claim, and help you go after the compensation that your family needs to cover the expenses of your loved one’s death.
Why Do You Need to Contact a Woodbury Dog Bite Attorney Following Your Dog Bite Incident?
If you suffered injuries because of a dog bite or attack, you already have enough on your plate. The last thing you want to worry about is the legal process involved in a dog bite claim. Fortunately, with an experienced Woodbury dog bite lawyer on your side, you will not have to stress about tackling this complex legal battle on your own. Instead, you can focus on what matters most—your healing and recovery—while these lawyers take on this fight on your behalf.
In fact, once you retain our lawyers at Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we can:
- Review every detail of your dog bite case and ensure you have a viable claim.
- Go over any questions you have about the case, and provide you the guidance you need to ensure you understand what is going on every step of the way.
- Investigate the incidence and secure the evidence required to show what happened and who was at fault.
- Ensure that legal motions and documents are submitted before time expires.
- Obtain the necessary experts to substantiate your claim.
- Handle all the discussions with the insurance company, making sure to fight for a fair settlement amount.
- Take your case to trial, if needed, and pursue maximum damages.
For these reasons, if you or a family member has sustained injuries because of a dog bite incident in Woodbury, it is time to reach out to an experienced Woodbury dog bite attorney at Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers for a free case evaluation. Don’t delay reaching out to an attorney, as your case will stand a better chance of success the earlier you get started on it.
Get the Legal Help You Need-Contact Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers Today
For a dog bite victim to have a successful injury claim, they not only need to have a solid understanding of Minnesota’s dog bite laws, but they also need to provide detailed evidence and sound legal arguments that can show what happened and who was at fault.
However, as a victim of a Woodbury dog bite or attack, you do not have to take on this complicated legal battle on your own. With help from a Woodbury dog bite lawyer, like those at Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, you can get the legal help you need to pursue the compensation you deserve.
Once retained, these lawyers can:
- Go over your case in detail, evaluate your potential legal claims, and provide you with the legal advice you require during this challenging time.
- Answer all of your questions and concerns and discuss the legal options you can pursue.
- Investigate your dog bite incident thoroughly and secure the evidence needed to prove liability and damages.
- Work to hold all those at fault for your injuries accountable and build the strongest legal case possible on your behalf.
- Handle all the negotiations with the defense and the insurance company and go after a just settlement.
- Take your case to trial, if needed, and fight for maximum damages.
If a dog bite injury has disrupted your life or the life of a loved one, do not wait any longer to seek the legal help you require. Instead, contact Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers today at (651) 358-2531 for your free case review, and let our legal team show you how we can fight for the justice and damages you deserve.