Mississauga Dog Bite Lawyer
Dog bites can cause a wide variety of injuries, including the bites and scratches themselves and the infections that can follow. Many victims also experience extreme emotional trauma as a result of a dog attack.
If this sounds familiar, know that you are not alone. A dog bite lawyer serving Mississauga from Preszler Injury Lawyers is ready to lend you guidance. If you were injured because of the carelessness of a dog owner, or a dog’s insufficient training, you may have the right to hold the owner responsible for your injuries, even if the dog had no prior acts of aggression.
To learn about your rights to fair compensation after a serious dog bite attack, contact Preszler Injury Lawyers at 1-800-JUSTICE for a free initial consultation.
Types of Injuries That Can Result From Dog Bites
Some of the more common types of injuries that can result from dog bites include:
Cuts, Lacerations and Puncture Wounds
The jaw muscles and canine teeth can puncture and tear the victim’s flesh.
Scarring
Scarring is common in dog bites, but immediate medical care can prevent it.
Broken Bones
Even when clothing protects the skin, some large dog breeds have strong jaws that can break bones. Bones can also break as a result of falling during the attack.
Rabies
Rabies is a disease that spreads from animals to humans, infecting nerves inside the brain. For dogs, the incubation period generally ranges between 14 and 60 days from the time of a bite or scratch. Though uncommon, there has been a rise in the number of rabies cases across Canada since 2012, according to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.
Tetanus
Tetanus is a toxin that can transfer via deep bite wounds. It can cause rigid paralysis, though this is uncommon.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
After being attacked or bitten by a dog, many victims suffer from PTSD, a mental health problem that can arise after a traumatic event. Victims may re-live the event over and over in flashbacks or suffer extreme anxiety. Even self-proclaimed animal lovers may be afraid of dogs because of the emotional trauma linked to the attack.
Other injuries can include:
- Muscular damage
- Endocarditis
- Sepsis
If you are suffering because of injuries you sustained in a dog attack, call Preszler Injury Lawyers at 1-800-JUSTICE for a free initial, no-risk consultation.
What You Need to Know About the Dog Owners
According to Canadian law, a dog owner is liable for dog bites to another person or domestic animal. The dog does not have to have a history of biting or any prior acts of aggression, nor does the plaintiff have to prove that the dog owner was behaving negligently at the time of the attack. There are some situations in which the charges can be reduced, such as if the plaintiff was trespassing on the dog owner’s property at the time of the attack.
The statute of limitations may also impact your claim. Ontario’s Limitations Act is a standard deadline for filing personal injury claims and imposes a two-year deadline on personal injury accidents like dog bites.
The basic limitation period generally begins the day the injury occurs and runs for 24 months. If you do not file a claim pursuing compensation in your case within this time, you typically are barred from doing so.
Types of Damages You May Recover After a Dog Bite Attack
There are two different types of damages that a dog bite lawyer serving Mississauga may be able to fight for on behalf of the plaintiff after a dog bite attack: special damages and general damages. Here are some examples of both.
Special Damages
Special damages refer to monetary losses you experienced as a result of your injuries, such as:
- Medical expenses, including hospital stays, surgical procedures, doctor’s examinations, and medication
- Lost wages
- Out-of-pocket expenses
General Damages
These types of damages deal with pain and suffering, and can also include:
- Disfigurement
- Emotional distress and trauma
Wrongful Death
If the victim dies as a result of the seriousness of his or her injuries, the family may also be able to recover damages such as:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of consortium
How a Dog Bite Lawyer Serving Mississauga May Be Able to Help
At Preszler Injury Lawyers, we understand that you are in pain and suffering because of the injuries sustained in your attack. While we cannot turn back the clock on your injuries, our goal is to help you recover compensation to the fullest extent of your injuries. We may do this by:
- Conducting an extensive investigation into your case and gathering all relevant evidence, including medical records and police reports, surveillance video, and witness statements
- Dealing with the insurance company on your behalf
- Calculating the value of your losses and using the total value of your claim to negotiate a fair settlement
- Making sure that we take the necessary legal steps and avoid what could potentially be costly mistakes
While you do have up to two years to pursue compensation in a personal injury case, the sooner a lawyer gets to work on your case, the easier it may be to gather the evidence to build a strong case. Sometimes when dogs bite, victims do not even know who the owner of the dog is. Contacting the police and animal services as quickly as possible after your accident can make it easier to locate the dog owner. It also makes it easier for your lawyer to contact any eyewitnesses, especially since facts can go cold after time passes.
If you are ready to schedule your free initial consultation, contact us at 1-800-JUSTICE. We may be able to help explore your options for pursuing any compensation for your injuries for which you are eligible.
