Scarborough Dog Bite Lawyer

Too often, dog owners do not maintain adequate control over their dogs, and innocent humans become the victims of unprovoked aggression. These victims span all age groups, and often, their physical and mental trauma is deep and long-lasting.

If someone else’s dog has bitten you or a loved one, a dog bite lawyer serving Scarborough may be able to help you pursue damages. Call our team at Preszler Injury Lawyers today to discuss your case. The initial consultation is free.

If a Dog Bit You, Do Not Wait to Contact a Lawyer

If you or a loved one were bitten by another’s dog and want to pursue damages, it is important that you do not wait to contact us.

Ontario’s Limitations Act may limit the time you have to initiate legal action against the liable party in pursuit of compensation for your injuries. We may be able to help you get your personal injury suit filed before any statute of limitations comes into effect. Do not hesitate to call counsel if you or a loved one were bitten by a dog and want to pursue damages.

The Dog’s Owner May Have Acted Negligently

It is often the owner’s responsibility when a dog bite occurs. There are several ways that an owner can fail to act appropriately, including:

• Failing to secure their property when leaving their dog off the leash
• Failing to prevent the dog from attacking, whether they are on or off-leash
• Violating the victim’s personal space when in control of the dog/failing to maintain a safe distance from the victim
• Knowingly bringing a potentially aggressive dog around others, especially those who do not consent

Several additional circumstances could qualify as negligence on behalf of a dog’s owner. Ontario’s Dog Owner’s Liability Act details many of these behaviours and obligations that a dog owner must abide by or be held legally liable for their irresponsibility.

Proving Liability in a Dog Bite Personal Injury Case

When a dog bites somebody who is not its owner, that owner is generally liable for any injuries and resulting damages that arise from the bite. Each case is different, but dog bite-related injury cases can be pretty straightforward: if your dog bites someone, you can expect to be held liable by a court.

That said, there are a few important considerations that may arise at trial or settlement negotiations, which could impact the damages that you may be entitled to receive. These considerations include:

• If the dog has more than one owner, both owners can be held liable for your injuries and resulting damages.
• If you acted in some way that contributed to the attack taking place or exacerbating the damages, such acts might be considered when it comes time to award damages. That said, under Canada’s contributory negligence statutes, you may still be entitled to collect damages.

These are just two of the legal considerations that a dog bite lawyer serving Scarborough may account for when helping you pursue damages. Call our team at Preszler Injury Lawyers today to discuss how a lawyer may be able to help.

Potential Injuries From Dog Bites

A dog bite lawyer understands the ins and outs of a dog bite-related personal injury case, and they may be able to rely on experience to pursue damages on your behalf. There is a range of concerns when a dog bite occurs, but your injuries can serve as the primary focus in the pursuit of compensation. Injuries we often see associated with dog bites include but are not limited to:

• Nerve damage
• Bite wounds to extremities (hands, typically)
• Bite wounds to the face
• Cuts and lacerations on various parts of the body

If a dog was not up to date on its shots, it might be determined that you were put at additional risk of serious injury and/or infection. We may be able to account for such concerns in pursuing damages.

How a Dog Bite Lawyer Serving Scarborough May Be Able to Assist You

You have enough on your plate coping with what has occurred, so let us handle the legal responsibility of pursuing damages on your behalf. Our team at Preszler Injury Lawyers may be able to:

• Come to you to discuss the attack, and how your injuries have impacted you
• Speak with your medical caregivers to document the nature and extent of your injuries
• Collect any video and photographic evidence of the attack for use at trial and/or in settlement negotiations
• Speak to witnesses and document their accounts of the attack
• Correspond with the defendant’s counsel when necessary
• Handle your legal needs from the first meeting through the completion of a judgement or settlement
• Ensure that your rights are protected throughout the entirety of the legal process

While all dog bite cases are different, we see a common array of damages awarded in dog bite-related personal injury cases.

Potential Damages Awarded in a Dog Bite Injury Case

If you or a loved one were bitten by a dog and the owner is found liable, you may be eligible to receive compensation for:

• The cost of emergency transportation
• Any emergency care you required immediately after the accident
• The cost of any extended hospital stay
• The cost of surgery
• Any long-term rehabilitation appointments, and the cost of transportation to those appointments
• Psychological counseling stemming from the attack
• And more

Often, injuries incurred from a dog bite have a lasting impact. You may be eligible to receive compensation for:

• Lost wages due to time off of work
• Diminished earning capacity
• Any permanent scarring
• Any disability caused by your injuries
• And more

Call a Dog Bite Lawyer Serving Scarborough Today

We want to help you pursue the damages you are eligible to receive. Call our team at Preszler Injury lawyers today for a free initial consultation of your case.