Does an Adult Need a Lawyer for a Dog Bite Claim?
Being bitten by a neighborhood or family dog can have a devastating emotional impact that takes weeks, months or even years to overcome. Dealing with physical impairment or disfigurement resulting from the dog bite further compounds the emotional and psychological effects. While an adult dog bite victim may bounce back from his or her ordeal more readily and quickly, initially he or she may not be thinking clearly enough to ponder legal action against the dog owner. They may even consider legal action downright unthinkable if the dog owner is a family member or close friend. If you’re a victim of a dog bite in Denver, talking to a Denver personal injury attorney may help you put things in perspective.
Is a Lawsuit Really Necessary?
Speaking to an attorney doesn’t necessarily have to result in a lawsuit. However, Colorado law allows dog bite victims to recover damages for serious bodily injuries, provided the attack was not provoked, the victim was not trespassing or committing a crime on private or public property when the incident occurred, or the victim did not ignore clearly marked “Beware of Dog” or “No Trespassing” signs on the dog owner’s property. Most dog bite victims incur medical costs for treatment of their injuries. The more serious the injury, the greater the medical expenses will be. You owe it to yourself to seek compensation for your medical expenses, any loss of wages due to not being able to work or any other economic hardship caused by your injuries sustained from a dog bite.
Other reasons why having a Denver personal injury attorney is beneficial:
- You get peace of mind knowing you’re going to get all the compensation you’re entitled to and not one penny less. Most insurance companies will give you 10-20% and keep the remaining 80-90%. If your attorney works on a contingency basis and takes only 33%, leaving 66% for you–much more than you would get from the insurance company if you had no attorney.
- If your attorney works on a contingency basis, you don’t have to worry about coming up with a huge chunk of money. He will begin working your case, and you pay nothing until the attorney wins a settlement–no fees, no attorney costs, not one dime.
- You have someone who can speak for you. Your attorney knows how to effectively communicate to the right people in order settle your claim as quickly and smoothly as possible. Your attorney can handle all questions and concerns pertaining to your case, so you can focus solely on healing from your ordeal.
- A qualified Denver personal injury attorney can ensure you recover all lost wages. Claiming lost wages requires information from your employer. Your attorney can obtain necessary information other than the number of hours and days lost, such as work reviews, fringe benefits and causation, which will be required to process your claim.
- If you were disfigured as a result of a dog bite, having an attorney is especially crucial. You could get substantial damages for loss of future earnings, and having an attorney who specializes in proving earning capacity losses improves your chances of winning a settlement.
Where Can I Find a Qualified Denver Personal Injury Attorney?
The Denver personal injury attorneys at the O’Connell law firm will work hard to get you nothing less than the fair compensation you’re entitled to. These attorney have the experience, background and access to professional resources to make sure you are compensated for your pain and suffering. Contact their offices for a free initial consultation.
