Dog owners in Washington, D.C. can be held legally responsible if their dog bites another person. Dog bite victims can rack up huge expenses related to emergency treatment, ongoing rehabilitation, and lost wages. Unfortunately, in addition to the financial impact of injuries, victims also must cope with serious physical and emotional trauma following the event. When someone else’s carelessness endangers you, an injury lawyer can help you fight for the compensation you need
The lawyers at CHASENBOSCOLO have been helping injury victims in the Washington, D.C. area for over 30 years. For this reason, we understand firsthand the serious physical, financial, and emotional challenges that you’re up against when you reach out to us. We are committed to standing beside you and fighting for the compensation that you need to move forward. Over our years in practice, we have won hundreds of millions of dollars for those who have needed it most. To learn how a member of our team can help you, call us today at (301) 220-0050.
Why Do I Need a Dog Bite Lawyer?
When you are suffering from dog bite injuries, you have a couple of different options. If you choose to take legal action, you have the option to file a claim independently or you have the option to hire an injury lawyer. Having a lawyer manage your case frees you up to focus on your recovery. While making the decision to reach out to an attorney can seem like an ordeal in and of itself, understand that the lawyers at CHASENBOSCOLO are committed to making the process as simple for you as possible.
The responsible party will likely be motivated to settle out of court if they have insurance. While a settlement can be the most expedient option, the amount of your settlement needs to reflect the full and fair amount that you are owed. If you don’t understand how much your claim is worth, and you don’t have a lawyer to direct you otherwise, you may be moved to accept a settlement that doesn’t adequately compensate you for your present and future costs. Worse, without a lawyer, insurance may trick you into making statements that damage your claim, preventing you from recovering any compensation.
By entrusting your case to a capable lawyer, you can be confident that you will achieve the best possible legal outcome. It is important to understand that the experience and skill of your lawyer matters. If you are going to the trouble of hiring a lawyer in the first place, make sure that they have what it takes to advocate for you.
Why Choose CHASENBOSCOLO to Handle My Case?
At CHASENBOSCOLO, we always put clients first. Our lawyers work closely with you to best understand what you need and how we can best support you. While we certainly understand that injury victims in Washington, D.C. have plenty of choices when looking for reliable legal representation, through our commitment and proven legal success, we aim to continually show our clients that choosing CHASENBOSCOLO is the right choice.
Our lawyers have been named to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates forum for our success in recovering large verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients. Fewer than 1% of lawyers in the United States are members of this distinguished group. We also have an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell, which is the highest recognition given by our peers and colleagues.
Though we are proud of our accolades, we are most proud of the results that we achieve for our clients. We have recovered over $750 million in compensation for our clients in the past, and are ready to do the same for you. If you’ve been hurt because of someone else’s carelessness, you should not be left holding the bill for your injuries and CHASENBOSCOLO fights to make sure that you don’t. If concerns about the cost of a lawyer are holding you back from getting in touch with us, our No Fee Guarantee® ensures that you don’t pay us unless we win.
Washington, D.C. Dog Bite Cases We Handle
The severity of dog bite injuries can range from minor scrapes to severe wounds. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 4.5 million people in the United States are victims of dog bites each year. While only a small fraction of these victims suffer fatal injuries, the severity of injuries coupled with the high cost of medical treatment can easily put victims in a financially compromised situation. The following are some commonly-reported injuries caused by dog bites:
- Lacerations
- Sprains
- Soft tissue damage
- Fractures
- Puncture wounds
- Disfigurement
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
If the carelessness of the dog owner ultimately led to your injuries, you should not be left to shoulder the burden of your medical expenses alone. While some dog owners are perfectly cooperative throughout the legal process, this is not the case for everyone. The responsible party may use several defenses in attempts to shift the blame for your injuries onto you or to devalue your claim entirely. One such defense is comparative fault. The responsible party may argue that you provoked the dog to act aggressively and are thus partially responsible for your injuries.
Washington, D.C. observes a specific type of comparative fault referred to as contributory negligence. Whereas most comparative fault arguments may devalue your claim by a certain percentage, under the contributory negligence rule, if the victim is proven to have contributed to their injury in any way, they are unable to collect compensation entirely. Since this defense can cause so much damage to the outcome of your case, it is extremely helpful to have a lawyer advocating for you.
Another defense that the responsible party may attempt to use against you is trespassing. If you were trespassing on the dog owner’s property at the time of your injury, they do not have the same legal duty to protect you from their animal as they would if you were in a common public space. However, if you had either explicit or implicit permission to be on the property at the time of your injury, your lawyer can help you fight against this defense.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering hiring an injury lawyer to help with your claim, the lawyers at CHASENBOSCOLO know you have questions. Read over our frequently asked questions to get some initial answers and then reach out to us at (301) 220-0050 or set up a consultation through our site to discuss your specific situation with a member of our team.
How Soon Should I File?
D.C. Code § 12-301 allows injury victims three years to file an injury claim. Though this time allowance may seem somewhat generous, it is always better to take action sooner rather than later. The truth is, each case has its own timeline and the sooner you begin the process, the sooner you will reach a resolution. Additionally, reaching out to a lawyer quickly after you are injured will make it easier to collect necessary records, establish important details of your case, and speak with witnesses. Waiting to begin your claim make allow crucial evidence to disappear.
How Long Will My Case Take?
Once you discuss your situation with a lawyer they will be able to give you a better idea of when you can expect for your claim to be resolved. Though no two cases are exactly alike, the following factors can impact how smoothly your injury claim progresses:
- If the defendant is cooperative
- If there was a witness to the accident
- If the defendant is insured
- If you have an attorney handling your claim
When you hire CHASENBOSCOLO, you can be confident that we will be accessible to you and provide you with important updates about the progression of your claim.
How Much Compensation Can I Collect?
The amount of compensation you are able to collect will depend on the severity of your injuries, your related medical expenses, how your injuries will impact your quality of life, and your ability to work in the future. In addition to the financial impact of your injuries, our lawyers also think about non-monetary damages such as pain and suffering. It is no secret that injuries can have a negative impact on the victims’ quality of life and we take this fact into consideration when calculating what you deserve.
Contact a Washington, D.C. Injury Lawyer Today
The recovery period for a dog bite injury can be lengthy, frustrating, and certainly does not happen overnight. The Washington, D.C. lawyers at CHASENBOSCOLO are here to offer you the experienced legal support that you deserve at this time. If you’ve been attacked, bitten, and injured by a dog, you have the right to hold the owner responsible. The financial impact of your injuries can disrupt your life even further than the pain of your injury itself. We want to step in and make sure that you have the resources you need to recover. To speak with one of our Washington, D.C. dog bite lawyers today, give us a call at (301) 220-0050 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
