Hendersonville Dog Bite Lawyer

An animal attack is a terrifying event. Aggression from a pet often happens without warning. Because of this, you may be caught off guard by the medical costs and financial strain that follow a dog bite injury. In the United States, roughly 4.7 million dog bites happen every year. About 800,000 of those incidents are serious enough to require professional medical treatment.

If you or a relative suffered a bite, Brad H. Ferguson can talk with you about your right to seek payment for your losses through a legal claim.

How a Legal Representative Helps with Bite Injuries

Legal claims involving animals often get messy. When you speak with our Hendersonville dog bite lawyer, you can learn about your rights and the best way to keep them safe. We look over the proof to figure out who should be held accountable for the harm caused.

Brad H. Ferguson has over 15 years of family law and criminal defense experience, giving us the background to deal with insurance companies. We try to settle these matters through discussion or mediation. If an insurance provider refuses to offer a fair amount for your damages, we can talk about starting a lawsuit. Your first meeting with us is free. You get to decide whether to move forward with a claim, and we provide the support to make sure you feel confident in that choice.

Reasons Behind Animal Attacks

Dogs bite for several different reasons. Most of the time, an attack is a natural reaction to a person or a specific event, such as:

• Feeling high levels of stress
• Being startled or afraid
• Protecting their home or territory
• Feeling chased or overexcited
• Guarding their offspring, food, or a toy
• Engaging in play that becomes too rough

Injuries also happen when owners do not use a leash, a fence, or other ways to keep their animals under control. Many bites occur because of poor behavior management. This includes bothering a dog while it eats or sleeps, or forcing a dog to interact when it does not want to.

Sometimes, owners allow or even suggest behaviors that make a dog feel cornered. They might let small children play with a dog that is showing signs of discomfort. While there are many triggers, the main factor is usually a lack of care by the owner. When owners do not train or restrain their pets, they are responsible for the results.

Who Faces the Highest Risk?

Data shows that children are more likely than adults to experience a dog bite. Their injuries are also frequently more extreme. Among grown-ups, men are bitten more often than women. People who live with dogs have a higher chance of being bitten than those who do not. Over half of these incidents happen inside a home with a dog the person already knows. Those who own multiple dogs face a much higher risk than those without pets.

Severe Physical Harm from Bites

While many bites do not need a doctor, others cause major physical problems, including:

• Deep tears and puncture marks
• Heavy bleeding
• Fractured or broken bones
• Damage to the face or eyes

Bacteria in a dog’s mouth can also lead to infections in about 18 percent of cases. Bites can pass on various sicknesses, such as:

• Rabies: This is a serious concern if the animal’s shots are not up to date.
• Capnocytophaga: This bacteria is common in pets and can be very dangerous for people with weak immune systems.
• Pasteurella: This causes painful swelling and can make it hard to move your joints.
• MRSA: A type of staph infection that is hard to treat with standard medicine.
• Tetanus: A risk with deep wounds that can cause muscle stiffness.

Children and those with health issues are the most at risk for these complications. Some victims also end up with scars that require plastic surgery to fix. If you are experiencing these problems after an attack, it is vital to speak with a North Carolina lawyer to see how you can recover.

North Carolina Statutes on Animal Attacks

North Carolina follows specific rules regarding dog owner liability. In many cases, an owner is held responsible if they knew or should have known the dog was dangerous. However, the state also has strict rules for “dangerous dogs” that have already bitten someone or caused serious harm.

If an animal is being looked at as a dangerous dog, it might be taken away and held while authorities decide if it is safe. The owner has to pay for the cost of keeping the dog during this time. Dogs labeled as dangerous must be signed up with local offices, and the owner must keep their shots current.

The dog must stay in a secure spot that others cannot get into, and a warning sign must be visible. If the dog leaves that spot, it must have a muzzle and a leash and be held by an adult. The dog also needs a way to be identified, like a chip or a mark. If the owner gives the dog away, they have to tell the police the name and address of the new owner.

Seeking Compensation for Your Damages

If you are bitten by a dog in North Carolina, your first step should be to call a lawyer. We can help you ask the owner to report the event to their insurance company. Most homeowners have insurance that covers these types of accidents.

The insurance company will look into the facts. They will talk to you, the owner, and any witnesses. They then decide to pay the claim or turn it down. Your lawyer can help you fight for a settlement that covers your medical bills, missed pay, and the pain you went through.

It is not always simple to get the money you need. Some insurance companies refuse to cover certain types of dogs or exclude animal bites from their policies entirely.

Starting a Dog Bite Case

The team at Brad H. Ferguson knows how state laws and insurance rules impact your situation. You have a right to seek payment regardless of what the insurance policy says. If we cannot reach an agreement through talking, we can take the case to court. We assist by:

• Gathering proof that the owner is at fault
• Starting the lawsuit in the court system
• Working to collect the money awarded by the court

Types of Losses You Can Recover

The harm from a bite can be small or life-changing. No matter the size of the injury, your losses are calculated based on physical and emotional factors, such as:

• Current and future medical costs
• Pay you lost because you could not work
• A drop in your ability to earn money later
• Mental distress
• Physical pain
• Permanent scarring or disability
• Loss of a family member

We want to help you get the most money possible for these losses. We know how much an attack changes your life. Our goal is to handle the legal side so you can focus on getting better.

Speak with Brad H. Ferguson About Your Dog Bite Case Today

If you have been hurt by a dog and want to know what you can do, call our personal injury team. We offer a free review of your case and look for ways to help you get the money you deserve. Contact us today at (828) 660-0670 to talk about your case and start planning for what comes next. Brad H. Ferguson represents individuals and families throughout Henderson County, including Hendersonville, Fletcher, Mills River, Flat Rock, Laurel Park, Etowah, East Flat Rock, Mountain Home, Edneyville, Dana, and Horse Shoe.