If you’ve been bitten by a neighbor, friend, or stranger’s dog, you’re probably dealing with a painful injury and uncertainty about how to proceed. Fortunately, you have the right to hire a Marietta personal injury lawyer and pursue damages for your pain and losses.
Jones & Swanson is a smaller firm by choice. Our size allows us to provide personalized legal counsel and put the time and effort into your case required to ensure a fair result. Our team of Marietta dog bite lawyers will build a claim that suits your unique situation and fight for the justice and settlement you deserve.
How Our Marietta Dog Bite Lawyers Will Help You
Our dog bite lawyers in Marietta have recovered over $50 million in damages for clients. We take a hands-on approach to cases like these, working directly with you to determine exactly what you need to support your recovery and compensate you for your financial losses.
Here’s what our team will do to get the results you deserve to get your life back on track:
- Listen to your story during a free case evaluation
- Conduct a thorough investigation of the incident
- Calculate the overall value of your claim
- Gather medical records, witness statements, and other forms of evidence for your claim
- Negotiate with insurers
- Take your case to court if a lawsuit is necessary
- Keep you updated throughout the legal process
Our diligent and highly responsive team will never leave you in the dark with regard to case progress. We’ll answer your calls, respond to your emails, and provide routine updates so you always know what’s going on with your claim.
We Pursue Damages for You
After a dog bite, you’ll face costly medical bills, physical pain, and even time off work if your injury is serious enough to prevent you from fulfilling your basic responsibilities at work. Fortunately, our dog bite lawyers in Marietta will calculate your claim‘s value and fight to get all the following damages for you:
- Medical expenses for proper treatment and hospital bills
- Future medical costs
- Physical therapy expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Physical pain
- Emotional distress or psychological trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If you’ve suffered a dog bite in Marietta, Georgia, contacting our dog bite lawyers is essential to protect your rights and seek fair compensation for your injuries. We will hold the dog owners responsible for the damages resulting from the attack.
Determining the responsible party and handling insurance claims is often complex, especially when dealing with coverage disputes or uncooperative insurers. Our experienced attorneys will establish liability, negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue the compensation you deserve under Georgia law.
Proving Liability After a Dog Bite Incident
Our dog bite attorneys in Marietta have over 45 years of combined experience handling injury-related matters. We have a keen understanding of Georgia laws regarding the liability placed on owners of animals who attack people. Under Georgia’s dog bite statute, a dog owner’s liability may be proven in different ways depending on the facts of the incident.
In most cases, dog owners will be liable for an attack where they knew of the animal’s propensity for attacking humans. They will also be responsible if the owner violated local ordinances like leash laws. People have a responsibility to keep their pets secured, either in a fence or on a leash.
Proving liability for dog or animal bites in Georgia is a complicated matter and should not be taken lightly. The good news is that our attorneys have the experience you need to successfully pursue a claim for injuries due to an animal bite.
Dog Bite Injuries We Will Pursue Compensation For
Our Marietta dog bite lawyers have handled countless dog bite cases. We know how to investigate these incidents, prove liability, and get insurers to pay the damages they owe. We’re also closely familiar with the types of injuries these incidents cause. We’ll draw on our experience to coordinate your care and get a fair outcome if you’ve sustained one of the following conditions:
- Puncture wounds
- Lacerations
- Abrasions
- Crush injuries
- Avulsions
- Fractures
- Nerve damage
- Tendon injuries
- Scarring
- Infections
These are just a few of the injuries we will seek damages for. If you are uninsured and can’t cover your medical bills, we will connect you with a doctor who offers treatment on a lien basis. That means you won’t have to pay for the care you receive until we resolve your case.
It’s important to note that the severity of your injuries impacts your case value. For example, if you’ve suffered serious injuries like fractures and nerve damage, your claim will be more valuable. If you’ve suffered a puncture wound or infection, your claim value will be impacted by the amount of medical care you need.
What to Do After a Dog Bite in Marietta?
If you’re an animal bite victim, taking immediate action helps protect your rights. Acting quickly will not only ensure that your injuries are treated properly, but it will also create medical documentation that our Marietta dog bite attorneys will use later on to support your claim.
Our team recommends that you take the following steps after a dog bite incident:
- Seek medical attention right away, no matter how insignificant the bite may seem.
- Obtain the animal’s owner’s name and address and file a report with your local animal control office or other law enforcement agency.
- If you know anyone who may have witnessed the incident, be sure to obtain their contact information.
- Take photographs of your injuries immediately following the incident and in the following days as the wounds begin to heal.
Once you’ve taken these important actions, make sure to hire our skilled Marietta dog bite attorneys. We will handle your case from there, using the information you’ve gathered and evidence from our own investigation to build a strong claim.
Statute of Limitations for Dog Bite Accident Lawsuits in Marietta, Georgia
If you’re pursuing damages after a dog bite incident, several laws may apply to your case. One of the most important rules to familiarize yourself with is Georgia’s statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits. Under Georgia Code § 9-3-33, you have two years from the day of the dog attack to settle your claim or file a civil suit.
If you don’t take action within the two-year timeframe, you won’t get the damages you need to cover your medical care, support yourself while you’re out of work, and overcome the other obstacles you’re facing due to the incident.
Luckily, our team will act quickly to meet deadlines and other important legal requirements. As long as you hire our dog bite attorneys from Marietta soon, our team will have the time required to investigate your dog bite, build a strong case, and submit the necessary documents to the insurance company.
No Fee Unless We Win
At our Marietta dog bite law firm, we understand how financially stressful it is to recuperate from a dog bite. Between medical bills, income losses, and future care costs, you’re probably worried about your financial standing and unsure whether spending money on our attorneys is in your best interest.
Fortunately, our team works on a contingency fee basis. That means we won’t charge you any upfront costs or out-of-pocket fees. Instead, we’ll take a percentage of the money you recover from your settlement or lawsuit. If we don’t recover damages for you, you won’t owe us anything.
This policy will relieve the financial burden during your recovery process, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to focus on getting better without the worry of expensive legal fees and retainers. Schedule a free consultation with our firm today to learn more about our contingency fee policy and what we will do to get the best results possible for you.
Why Choose Our Firm?
We are different from the big firms that advertise on TV and treat clients like just another number—and we’re proud of what sets us apart. Our attorneys believe every client deserves compassion, attention, and the highest level of personal service.
When you work with us, you will always know who is handling your case and have peace of mind knowing our legal team is by your side.
Our Attorneys
Andrew W. Jones, M. Chase Swanson, and Rutledge W. Jones have been representing injured people in Georgia for decades. We are deeply rooted in the Marietta community and are recognized as leaders in the local and state bar associations.
Our leadership reflects not only our professional skills but also our commitment to improving the legal profession and advocating for injured individuals across Georgia. When you work with our Marietta dog bite lawyers, you will rest assured knowing that trusted and respected advocates are handling your case.
We Treat Our Clients Like Family
Unlike large settlement mills, we take a relationship–driven approach to your personal injury case. We return your calls and provide honest, straightforward advice throughout the legal process. Our clients know that they will receive the advocacy they deserve because our team cares about their future, not just the outcome of their case.
We Will Handle Even the Most Serious Cases
At our Marietta dog bite law firm, we draw on our experience and resources to handle even the most difficult personal injury cases. With a long history of impressive results in catastrophic injury cases, our attorneys will fight for the damages you’re owed, no matter how serious your injuries and losses are.
Tips for Preventing Dog Bites
Once you’ve hired our dog bite lawyers from Marietta and begun the legal process, it can be helpful to familiarize yourself with steps to take to avoid dog bites or attacks in the future. For starters, you should never attempt to pet a dog without letting it become familiar with your scent first. This can be done by allowing it to sniff the back of your hand.
You should also be wary of dogs tethered or tied up, as this could be a sign of aggressive tendencies. If a dog attacks you, do not run. It is natural for dogs to chase things that are running. Simply remain immobile with your arms to your sides if a dog advances. If a dog knocks you over, roll into a ball and stay still.
These safety tips should be observed in addition to the obvious ones, such as not interrupting a dog that is eating, sleeping, or near its puppies. While these tips will help you reduce the likelihood of an attack, they aren’t foolproof. If you are bitten by a dog again in the future, make sure to seek medical treatment and discuss your legal options with our skilled lawyers.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Knowledgeable Dog Bite Lawyers
If a dog or animal bites you or a family member, you may have a claim against the dog’s owner for your injuries. Victims of animal bites may be compensated for medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, physical pain, and several other damages.
At Jones & Swanson, we’re here to provide the compassionate assistance you deserve after a dog bite leaves you in pain and unsure of where to turn. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our Marietta dog bite lawyers and get started on your case.