Were you or a child bitten by someone else’s dog in York, PA? You may be entitled to recover compensation from the dog’s owner. An experienced York dog bite lawyer at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can help you fight to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and your personal pain and suffering.
Between us, our lawyers have over 120 years of experience fighting to protect accident victims’ rights. We’ve successfully recovered tens of millions of dollars to help our injured clients recover from serious injuries.
Dog bite injuries can be severe. Contact our law offices in York, Pennsylvania, at (717) 995-8998 to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how a lawyer can help.
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How Marzzacco Niven & Associates Can Help After a Dog Bite in York, PA
After a traumatic dog attack leaves you with painful injuries, you deserve an experienced advocate who will help you recover fair compensation. We all know that dealing with insurance companies can be difficult. An experienced York personal injury attorney can help you navigate the process.
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our lawyers have been recognized as Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers of America. If you were bitten while working, we even have a certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist on our staff to help with your claim.
We’ll put our experience to work for you by:
- Providing sound legal advice and guidance
- Determining which legal theories apply in your case
- Searching for evidence to establish liability
- Analyzing the facts to determine how much your case is worth
- Hiring experts and specialists who can strengthen your claim
- Negotiating with the insurance companies for a fair settlement offer
- Representing you in court if the insurance company won’t offer an acceptable settlement
Dealing with an injury is difficult enough. Our experienced York personal injury lawyers can handle the insurance claim and legal battle. You can learn more about the benefits of getting legal representation by calling our team for a free consultation today.
Dog Bite Statistics in Pennsylvania and the United States
Studies conducted by the CDC show that dogs bite about 4.5 million people in the United States each year. Approximately 800,000 of those injuries are serious enough that the victim requires some type of medical care.
A new study shows that Pennsylvania residents are at high risk of suffering a dog bite injury. Pennsylvania ranked fifth in the nation for dog bite claims. Dog bite victims filed 787 insurance claims for dog bite injuries in 2020. The average cost of each claim was $45,143.
Unfortunately, many dog bite victims are young children. Children can suffer particularly serious injuries in an animal attack due to their smaller size.
How Much Money Is My York Dog Bite Case Worth?
Every personal injury case is different. If you were attacked by a dog, our lawyers will review the facts to determine how much your case is worth.
Important factors in dog bite cases include:
- The nature of your injuries
- The cost of your medical treatment to date
- Whether you will need ongoing medical care, surgeries, or rehabilitation
- The emotional trauma of the animal attack
- Whether you’ll suffer a permanent impairment, scarring, or disfigurement
- Whether the injury causes you to lose income during recovery or impacts your future earnings
- Whether the dog owner was negligent
- The amount of insurance coverage available
Most homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies cover dog bite injuries. That doesn’t mean the insurance company will make the process easy. They may downplay your injuries, challenge your losses or even blame you for causing the dog to attack.
Our lawyers are here to help you understand your case value and fight for every dollar you deserve. When you’re ready to learn more, call our team for a free initial consultation.
What Kinds of Damages Can Dog Bite Victims Collect?
All dog bite victims are entitled to recover compensation to cover their past and future medical expenses under Pennsylvania dog bite laws.
Depending on the facts, you may be entitled to additional damages. If the dog owner was negligent or the dog was classified as a dangerous dog, you may be entitled to pursue compensation for:
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Counseling
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Mental anguish as well as emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- PTSD
- Anxiety or depression
- Loss of consortium
You can count on our team at Marzzacco Niven & Associates to fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Is It Possible To Recover Damages Even If I’m Being Blamed After a Dog Bite in Pennsylvania?
Dog owners often blame victims for provoking the animal. You can recover compensation to cover your medical bills regardless of whether you were partly responsible for provoking the attack.
State comparative negligence laws can become important if you’re attempting to recover compensation based on negligence theories. Under Pennsylvania law, injured parties can recover compensation if they share some percentage of fault. However, once their percentage of fault reaches 51%, they’re barred from seeking compensation entirely.
We’ll Work Hard To Pursue Compensation for Each of Your York Dog Bite Injuries
Dog bites and animal attacks can cause serious injuries. The severity often depends on the dog’s size, breed, and the circumstances of the attack.
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our York dog bite attorneys often represent dog bite victims who have suffered:
- Puncture wounds
- Avulsion injuries
- Nerve damage
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Amputations caused by infection
- Organ damage
- Crushing injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Facial injuries
- Disfigurement
Unfortunately, these injuries have the potential to be most serious for young children. If you or a child were bitten by someone else’s dog, contact us to learn more about your right to compensation.
How Is Liability Established After a Dog Bite in Pennsylvania?
Every state has different dog bite laws on the books. Some states follow a one-bite rule. In these states, each dog basically gets one “free” bite before the owner can be liable for injuries.
In other states, dog owners are held strictly liable for damages. In these states, victims can recover damages even if the dog had never bitten before and the property owner had no knowledge of the dog’s vicious propensities.
Pennsylvania adopts a mixed approach with the state’s dog bite law. Dogs don’t get one free bite. Dog owners can be held strictly liable for the victim’s medical bills even if the dog had never behaved aggressively in the past. However, strict liability laws only apply with respect to medical bills.
Owners can only be held liable for additional damages if:
- The dog is classified as a dangerous dog, or
- The dog owner was negligent
Medical bills can quickly become expensive. However, you may suffer additional losses. Our lawyers in York will help you find the evidence you need to prove your case and recover fair compensation. Call our law firm today to discuss your case today.
What Is a Dangerous Dog?
Under Pennsylvania law, victims can seek compensation for all of their losses if they’re injured by a “dangerous dog”.
A dangerous dog is one who has:
- Inflicted severe injury on a person without provocation on public or private property
- Killed or inflicted severe injury on a domestic animal, dog, or cat without provocation while off the owner’s property
- Attacked a person without provocation
- Been used in the commission of any type of crime
Further, you must prove that the dog has a history of attacking people, dogs, or cats without provocation or a propensity to attack. Proof that the dog has bitten or attacked someone in the past is enough to establish a propensity to attack.
How Do I Prove the Dog Owner Was Negligent After a Dog Bite in Pennsylvania?
Dog owners are strictly liable for paying your medical expenses. Dog owners can also be held liable for your non-medical losses if the dog owner was negligent.
There are many different ways to prove the dog owner was negligent. For example, the dog owner may be considered negligent if the owner:
- Allowed the dog to wander the neighborhood freely
- Violated local leash laws
- Failed to keep the dog restrained
- Failed to confine a dangerous dog
While you recover, our lawyers will search for evidence to prove you were injured because the dog owner was negligent. We’ll interview neighbors, search for past complaints and locate additional evidence to support your claim. All you have to do is call our law firm to get started.
How Much Time Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Dog Bite in Pennsylvania?
The statute of limitations provides a deadline for taking legal action after an injury. In Pennsylvania, dog bite victims have two years from the date of the dog bite to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Contact a York Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Case Review
Do you have questions about recovering compensation after a dog bite? Contact a York dog bite lawyer at Marzzacco Niven & Associates for answers. As always, your initial consultation is free of charge, so reach out for legal guidance today.