Gastonia Dog Bite Lawyer

Gastonia Dog Bite Attorney

Suffering a dog bite in North Carolina can be extremely traumatic, especially when a young child is bitten. Thousands of people suffer dog bite injuries every year, and some may even die as a result. If you or someone you know is bitten by a dog owned by another individual, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation against the negligent or reckless dog owner. At Roberts Law Firm, P.A., our Gastonia dog bite lawyers can provide you with legal support and guidance.

Defining Dog Bite Personal Injuries in North Carolina

In North Carolina, liability is imposed on the owner of a dangerous dog if that animal causes injuries to another individual. A dangerous dog is defined as an animal that:

• Without being provoked, has killed or caused severe injury to be suffered by another person.
• Is determined by the person or county municipal board with animal control duties to be potentially dangerous or harmful because the animal has engaged in one or more of the following aggressive behaviors:
  • Approaching an individual when not on the owner’s own property in a particularly vicious or terrorizing way in a clear attitude of attack.
  • Biting another person that results in broken bones or other disfiguring lacerations or causes injuries that require cosmetic surgery or hospitalization.
  • Killed or inflicted serious injury onto another domestic animal, be that pet or livestock, when not on the owner’s real property.

There are a few exceptions to these rules in which conditions would arise where the dog’s owner could be released from liability. These include dog bite scenarios where the bite victim provoked the animal to take such action or in cases where the bite victim was trespassing on the dog owner’s real property.

Dog Bite Injuries and Available Compensation

In North Carolina, dog bite victims are allowed to seek compensation for their injuries from the liable owner of the dangerous animal. In most cases, these injuries can include the following:

• Lacerations, including deep cuts or tears in the flesh, muscles, or other soft tissues, and puncture wounds.
• Broken bones from the crushing jaw of a large dog or from being hurled to the ground when the animal attacked.
• Additional injuries because of the impact of being knocked down, such as head injuries, concussions, and even severe traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries.
• Infections or other diseases that may result from the bite itself such as rabies, bacterial sepsis, or tetanus.

If you suffered any of these injuries as the result of a dog bite, you may be entitled to seek various forms of monetary compensation, including that for medical expenses, lost income during injury recovery, property damage, such as damage to eyeglasses or hearing aids; pain and suffering, such as physical pain or emotional trauma; and wrongful death damages.

Contact Our Dog Bite Lawyer Team to Discuss Your Case

If you suffered a dog bite injury in Gastonia, the team at Roberts Law Firm, P.A., is here to help. Our personal injury lawyers have over 40 years of experience helping injured individuals and are ready to put that experience to the task of assisting you in holding a dangerous dog’s owner liable for compensation. Contact our offices today to schedule an initial consultation and learn more about our services.