Virginia Dog Bite Lawyer

Virginia Dog Bite Attorney

Dogs are popular pets in the state and many people regularly have enjoyable experiences with dogs. However, they are also capable of unexpected aggression, and dogs can inflict tremendous harm when they attack. If you or a family member recently suffered a dog bite, it is important that you consult a Virginia dog bite lawyer as quickly as possible. You may have grounds for legal recourse against the dog’s owner.

Representing Dog Bite Claims in Virginia

Whitlock Law, LLC, provides compassionate and detail-oriented legal counsel for all types of dog bite claims in the state. An experienced Virginia personal injury lawyer is the most important asset you can have on your side if you or a loved one recently experienced a dog attack and intend to hold the dog’s owner accountable. The state’s dog bite laws are less clear than some other states, so it is important to consult an attorney who can clarify your legal options.

Your legal representative can help you understand how the state’s dog bite laws apply to your situation. Generally, a dog owner is not liable for their dog’s first attack unless they had reason to believe the dog could be dangerous, such as incidents of past aggression or baring teeth and/or snarling for no apparent reason. However, once a dog is classified as “dangerous,” strict liability will apply to the dog owner if their pet harms anyone.

A dog bite case can be challenging to resolve, but with the right attorney handling your case, you can approach the situation with confidence and peace of mind. Whitlock Law, LLC, can work carefully to determine whether strict liability applies to your case, and if so, we can help you build a cohesive personal injury suit against the dog’s owner to seek compensation for the damages you suffered.

Proving Strict Liability in a Dog Bite Case in Virginia

One of the biggest challenges you face in any dog bite case in the state is determining whether strict liability applies. If the dog has no prior history of aggression or biting, then it is likely that the owner will avoid liability for your damages but will then be required to consider the dog as dangerous, meaning they must take appropriate steps to ensure their pet does not harm anyone else in the future.

“Negligence per se” can apply in some dog bite cases in Virginia. This issue comes into play if a dog was not legally classified as dangerous, but the dog’s owner was negligent in a manner that enabled an attack to occur. An example of this would be a violation of state leash laws or allowing a dog to remain outside in an unenclosed area. Your Virginia dog bite lawyer can assess the details of the situation and help you determine how to prove liability for your damages.

Recovering Compensation for a Dog Attack in Virginia

When the strict liability statute applies to a dog bite case, it is possible for the injured victim to claim compensation for any economic and non-economic damages they suffered from the incident. Economic damages are relatively straightforward as these are the direct financial losses resulting from a personal injury. These generally include property damage, medical expenses, and lost income.

Dog attacks may not only result in painful bites but also more serious injuries. Certain breeds are capable of inflicting traumatic crushing injuries when they bite, and if a dog bites and thrashes, it can easily cause severe lacerations, broken bones, and nerve damage. Dogs can also cause injuries when they knock victims to the ground. A serious dog attack has the potential to lead to very expensive medical bills for the victim.

When the victim of a dog attack is unable to work due to their injuries, they have the right to seek compensation for the wages they are unable to earn during this time. If the victim has been permanently disabled, they will also have the right to seek compensation for lost future earning capacity. An experienced Virginia dog bite lawyer can help them accurately assess the full potential value of these projected future damages.

Non-economic damages are likely to be a major part of a plaintiff’s case award if they succeed with their case. Dog attacks can not only involve painful physical injuries, but these are also terrifying and traumatic experiences. State law allows an injured plaintiff to claim pain and suffering compensation to reflect the intangible damages they suffered because of a defendant’s actions.

State law does not cap or limit pain and suffering compensation in most personal injury cases, meaning a plaintiff can seek the amount they believe reasonably reflects the severity of their experience. Your attorney can help you determine appropriate pain and suffering compensation to seek with your claim that reflects the overall severity of the harm you suffered, potentially enhancing your case award beyond your initial expectations.

What to Expect From Your Virginia Dog Bite Lawyer?

Your dog bite case could be more complicated than you originally expected, but the right attorney on your side is a tremendous asset that can help you make clearer sense of your legal situation, assist you in overcoming unexpected challenges you face as the case progresses, and ultimately help you reach a better result than you would have expected if you had tried to handle the case on your own.

Whitlock Law, LLC, approaches every personal injury case we accept with the intention of helping our client maximize their total compensation as much as Virginia law allows. Dog bite claims are especially challenging because it is only possible to hold a dog owner liable for damages under certain conditions. You can rely on our team to help you prove that strict liability applies, and if so, we will do everything we can to maximize your case award.

Some personal injury cases can be settled privately outside of court, while others must be resolved through litigation. There are potential advantages and drawbacks to both options, and it is important to have an attorney you can trust representing you in order to maximize your chances of reaching a positive outcome as efficiently as possible. We can help you navigate settlement effectively, but we are also prepared to represent you at trial if necessary.

Virginia Dog Bite Law FAQs

Q: How Do You Prove a Dog Is Dangerous?

A: Proving a dog is dangerous in the state can be challenging. As a general rule, once a dog has attacked someone, its owner must recognize it as a dangerous dog. However, it is also possible for a dog to be classified as dangerous even if it has not attacked anyone. An example of this would be if a dog has consistently snarled and bared its teeth to visitors near the dog owner’s property. Your attorney can help you determine if the dog that attacked you is a dangerous dog.

Q: How Much Compensation Can You Claim for a Dog Bite in Virginia?

A: The amount of compensation you can claim for a dog bite in the state will depend on whether the dog’s owner is strictly liable for the incident. If they are, they are liable for any and all damages resulting from the attack, such as your medical expenses, lost wages, and your pain and suffering. An experienced Virginia dog bite lawyer can assist you in determining the full extent of your claimable damages to help you enhance your case award as much as possible.

Q: What Happens to the Dog After It Bites Someone?

A: In the state, after a dog has bitten someone, the dog’s owner will likely be compelled to surrender the dog for a 10-day quarantine, during which time a veterinarian will assess whether the dog carries any diseases like rabies and the dog’s temperament to determine whether it is dangerously aggressive. If the court determines the dog to be a serious health and safety risk, it may order the dog to be euthanized.

Q: Why Do I Need to Hire a Virginia Dog Bite Lawyer?

A: You need to hire a Virginia dog bite lawyer because this case is likely to be more challenging to resolve than you may initially expect. The right attorney on your side ensures you have legal support when you need it most and will be more likely to achieve a positive outcome. You will also be better prepared to handle any unexpected complications that arise during your proceedings and reach a fair result in a reasonable timeframe.

Q: What Does It Cost to Hire a Dog Bite Lawyer in Virginia?

A: The cost to hire a Virginia dog bite lawyer will depend on the lawyer’s billing policy. At Whitlock Law, LLC, we accept personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means the client does not pay upfront or ongoing attorneys’ fees. Instead, we charge a percentage of the total compensation we recover for the client, but only if and when we win their case. This policy ensures that legal counsel is accessible when you need it, regardless of your financial situation.

Whitlock Law, LLC, has successfully helped many past clients navigate complex personal injury cases, including dog bite claims. We know the challenges you are likely to face in this type of civil suit and want to help you reach the optimal outcome in your recovery efforts. You need to act quickly to build and file your case, so contact us today and schedule a free consultation with a Virginia dog bite lawyer to learn how we can help.