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a man with a bandaged hand after a dog bite with dog behind gate

Let’s say you’re at a North Carolina park, and a dog approaches and bites you out of nowhere. What happens next? You may be trying to figure out what to do, especially if you aren’t familiar with local ordinances. The dog owner may offer to pay out-of-pocket for any medical costs you incur, and you might assume that you can handle the dog bite on your own without any legal help. However, dog bite incidents can quickly become complicated, and you may need the help of a North Carolina dog bite lawyer to ensure you get the compensation you need to be made whole again. 

One of the most critical steps after a dog bite is seeking medical attention and having documentation of your injuries. Along with ensuring that your dog bite injuries are recorded, a doctor will take steps to ensure the bite doesn’t get infected. You may need antibiotics to recover if a dog bite breaks the skin. You may also need a tetanus shot if you haven’t had a booster in the last ten years. Sometimes, you’ll need stitches to piece the skin back together. In the most severe instances, you might need reconstructive surgery to repair bones, muscles, and tissue damaged by the dog bite. An attorney can help you navigate the aftermath of a dog bite so that you can focus on recovery.

North Carolina One-Bite Rule

One of the reasons you should consider hiring a lawyer after a North Carolina dog bite is the “one-bite rule.” You might assume that a dog owner is automatically liable after you’re bitten, but North Carolina law states that a dog owner only owes you compensation if they knew the dog was aggressive. Dog owners are not usually considered liable the first time their dog bites someone — which is why people sometimes say that a dog gets one free bite under the rule. However, dog bite cases are complex, and you may be able to show that an owner should have known about a dog’s propensity to bite, even if they haven’t bitten someone before. 

County, city, and state ordinances also play a role in how dog bites are handled. Some cities require dogs to be leashed when in public, for example. State law requires dogs to quarantine for ten days after a bite to ensure they don’t have rabies. The quarantine can occur at an animal shelter, veterinary hospital, or owner’s home. Additionally, if a person seeks medical care after a dog bite, the doctor who treats them must report the bite to the local health director. North Carolina law also specifies what makes an animal a dangerous dog; in this case, the owner is held strictly liable for all injuries the dog causes, even if they didn’t act negligently. A potentially dangerous dog, per North Carolina General Statute § 67-4.1, has:

  • Inflicted a bite on a person that resulted in broken bones, disfiguring lacerations, or required cosmetic surgery or hospitalization
  • Killed or inflicted severe injury upon a domestic animal when not on the owner’s real property
  • Approached a person when not on the owner’s property in a vicious or terrorizing manner
  • Been owned or harbored primarily or in part for dog fighting or trained for dog fighting

Benefits Of Hiring A North Carolina Dog Bite Lawyer

Keeping track of what the law says can be tricky, but you won’t have to worry about it if you hire a North Carolina dog bite attorney. They’ll be familiar with all relevant ordinances and can advise you on which laws apply to your situation. You should be aware of other benefits to hiring a dog bite lawyer.

Gathering Evidence

After a dog bite, you should document as much as possible, taking photos of your injuries, the dog, and where the attack happened. Having documentation will strengthen your claim down the road. An attorney can gather evidence to help your case, collecting medical records, witness testimony, and other relevant materials that prove your dog bite injuries.

Establishing Liability

In North Carolina, you aren’t eligible to receive compensation as a dog bite victim if you were trespassing, committing a crime, or assaulting the dog before it bit. The dog owner may allege that you provoked the animal to bite you — it can devolve into a “he said, she said” situation. An attorney will help establish liability and prove that you weren’t at fault.

Assessing Financial Damages

Calculating how much money you’ve lost may seem straightforward, but it’s a more complex process than you may think. While your attorney will add up how much you’ve spent on medical bills and wages lost while recovering, they’ll also consider non-economic losses like pain and suffering. For example, if you’ve been disfigured due to a dog bite, you may have emotional distress that you can be compensated for. 

Negotiating Fair Compensation

An attorney’s most crucial role is advocating for you to be adequately compensated for your injuries. You might be tempted to say yes to any settlement offer, but your lawyer will make sure that you aren’t being lowballed. They’ll negotiate on your behalf and ask for you to receive a settlement that sufficiently covers your losses due to the dog bite.

Whitley Law Firm handles dog bite cases across North Carolina. We work on a contingency-fee-basis, which means that we only get paid if we win your case. If you need a dog bite attorney who will fight for you to receive the compensation you deserve, call (919) 785-5000 or contact us online to schedule your free case evaluation.

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