Animal attack attorneys play an essential role in ensuring survivors recover the compensation they deserve by leveraging their knowledge and experience during the personal injury claims process.
Summary
- Animal attack attorneys have in-depth knowledge of Minnesota laws, enabling them to hold pet owners liable for a victim’s damages.
- Experienced animal attack attorneys can negotiate with insurance companies to secure fair compensation for both economic and non-economic damages, such as medical bills and emotional trauma.
- Dog bite lawyers are skilled in collecting evidence, including photos, videos, and records of previous aggression, to strengthen the victim’s case.
- Animal attack attorneys have access to experts like animal behaviorists, as well as the administrative support required to manage the complexities of personal injury claims.
- Victims of animal attacks can rely on attorneys to provide legal representation, protect their rights, and present effective arguments in court.
An animal attack of any kind is obviously a horrible experience for the victim. Not only are they facing extreme pain, they’re also facing mounting medical bills. They’re also very likely to lose money because they can’t work. Hiring a skilled, experienced attorney will be their best chance of obtaining the money they deserve.
If you or someone you love has suffered severe injuries in an animal attack caused by the owner’s negligence, Sand Law is here for you. We have a great deal of experience in this area of the law, and a long record of success. Please give us a call at 651-291-7263 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation as soon as possible.
Just in case you’re still on the fence regarding whether or not to get legal help, here are five of the many reasons why hiring an animal attack attorney should be one of your first steps after an animal attack.
1. For Their Knowledge of Animal Attack Laws
Animal attack attorneys have a deep understanding of Minnesota law. For example, they know the law views animal attacks differently from other types of personal injury cases, such as slip and fall accidents and car wrecks. In most cases, an injury victim will have to prove that someone else’s negligence led to the accident.
That doesn’t apply to animal attacks. According to Minnesota Statute 347.22, an animal attack victim can hold the owner liable if the victim was acting in a peaceful manner, was lawfully in the place where the attack occurred, and did nothing to provoke the animal.
If these stipulations are true, then the owner will face liability even if they weren’t aware the animal would attack. A skilled attorney will also know there are only two defenses an animal owner can claim: trespassing and provocation.
If the victim was unlawfully on someone else’s property when the attack occurred, or the victim provoked the animal, then the victim may be liable for the injuries they suffer. An attorney will work to gather the evidence needed to prove the victim was in no way at fault.
2. They Can Negotiate on Your Behalf
The medical bills and lost wages mentioned above are examples of damages or monetary losses. Your attorney will work to help you recover those damages. Animal attacks can lead to severe injuries that can, in some instances, result in permanent debilitation.
But no matter how badly you’ve been hurt, the insurance company that covers the owner of the animal won’t offer to pay you fair compensation just because it feels sorry for you. That company is actually going to do everything it can to deny you compensation entirely, or pay as little as possible.
This is where having strong legal representation will be a must. An experienced attorney will know how much your claim will be worth. This includes tangible, economic damages like doctor’s visits, hospital stays, future medical expenses, or present and future lost wages.
Additionally, it includes intangible, non-economic damages like pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and others. Armed with this knowledge, your animal attack attorney will work with the insurance company to obtain a fair settlement amount on your behalf.
However, insurance companies are notorious for offering low-ball amounts that won’t come close to covering an injury victim’s damages. Your legal representative will work to convince the insurer that it will be much less costly to make you a fair offer. Otherwise, the insurer will risk losing much more by taking the case to court.
3. Their Wealth of Experience
As you already know, having hard evidence will be key to winning your case. You’ll need the help of an attorney who knows how to gather the proof you need. These are just a couple of examples of the kinds of evidence in an animal attack case.
Videos and/or photos. Pictures of bite marks, a video of the animal that attacked you, and other evidence will be critically important to the success of your case. There could, for instance, be a hole in a fence where the animal escaped. A picture of that hole could go a long way toward proving the negligence of the owner. Videos showing the animal is aggressive could also help.
Previous instances of aggressiveness. Your animal attack attorney will also work to find any proof that the animal was previously aggressive toward others. This could mean obtaining video of a dog barking at people walking past, or other proof that the animal acted unpredictably.
4. They Have Access to Resources
Skilled animal attack attorneys also have access to expert witness who could testify on your behalf should your case go to court. An animal behaviorist, for example, could show the court that the animal that attacked you was dangerous. And therefore, the owner should have known an attack was possible.
Additionally, they have the administrative resources to keep up with your claim. Animal attack attorneys and their trained staff have the time and knowledge necessary to gather evidence, review relevant laws, complete paperwork, and meet key deadlines throughout the personal injury claims process.
5. Your Animal Attack Attorney Will Advocate for You
When you have a consultation with a personal injury lawyer, you might find the experience to be intimidating. However, a seasoned animal attack attorney will do everything they can to make you feel completely at ease. Once they learn the details and agree to represent you, their role is to protect your rights at all times.
They’ll work to help you obtain a fair settlement, of course, but insurance companies will often play hardball. A strong animal attack attorney will be ready to play hardball as well, preparing the most effective argument they can to help you win your case should it find its way into a courtroom.
Call Sand Law Today to Talk to a Minnesota Animal Attack Attorney
Animal attacks can be traumatic events that create a number of expensive and inconvenient consequences for the injured party. At Sand Law LLC, we are committed to helping survivors of animal attacks reclaim their lives by securing financial compensation for their economic and non-economic damages.
We are proud to lend our expertise to injured Minnesotans who find themselves struggling financially, physically, and emotionally in the aftermath of an animal attack. The Minnesota dog bite attorneys with Sand Law have the knowledge, skill, and resources to help you get every penny you deserve for the suffering you have endured. If you would like to learn more about how we can assist you, please use our online form or call 651-291-7263 for a free case review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Minnesota statute of limitations for dog bite claims?
Animal attack victims have six years to file a personal injury claim under the Minnesota statute of limitations. If you fail to file your personal injury claim within this timeframe, you have likely forfeited your right to pursue compensation for your damages in the situation.
Does it still count as an animal attack if I wasn’t bitten?
Not all animal attack injuries come from bites. Minnesotans can file an animal attack claim for any injuries that directly resulted from the assault. That covers puncture wounds from bites and lacerations from claw scratches, but it can also include other injuries like broken arms or Traumatic Brain Injuries.
For example, if a dog knocked someone over and they struck their head on the ground or their arm broke their fall, the injury is still considered a direct result of the animal attack. Therefore, the animal’s owner would still be strictly liable for the injured party’s damages in a personal injury lawsuit.
Does Minnesota have a “one-bite rule” for animal attacks?
No, Minnesota does not have a “one-bite” rule for dog bite cases. This is a key thing to know about Minnesota dog bite law. A one-bite rule is a legal provision that says if a dog does not have a history of aggressive behavior that would indicate they are likely to attack someone, their owner is not liable for an unprecedented attack under the state’s dog bite laws.
However, this does not preclude victims from seeking compensation if the dog owner’s negligent behavior caused the animal to attack. Instead of a one-bite rule, Minnesota operates under the principle of strict liability for dog bite cases.
What is an animal attack claim worth?
The value of your Minnesota animal attack claim is largely dictated by the severity of your injuries and the extent of your damages. Your settlement is also influenced by the quality of your personal injury attorney and how hard they are willing to fight for you.
Animal attack survivors with serious injuries, like broken bones, head injuries, disfiguring scars, or permanent damage will likely see higher settlements as compared to those with minor scrapes and scratches. These types of severe injuries tend to elicit higher medical bills, interfere with work, and carry emotional trauma, which translates into a larger settlement value.