Archive for the ‘Personal Injury’ Category

The Facts on Dog Bite Lawsuits

While dogs may be our best friends, some dogs can become aggressive and bite someone. Dogs that bite can do it for a number of reasons. Perhaps the dog has always had an aggressive nature and perceives you as an unwanted stranger. Historically, there are certain breeds that have been known to harbor aggression. The Pit Bull breed is a common example.

The dog’s breed is only one factor and doesn’t always mean the dog will be aggressive and prone to biting. You might encounter a dog that has been healthy in the past and free from offensive behavior. However, now the dog has suffered from a health illness such as rabies. Rabies can cause dogs to become disoriented and lash out by biting people. A classic sign of rabies is drooling and foaming of the mouth.

If you are bitten it is imperative that you have your bite checked out at the hospital as soon as possible. Dogs can be a host to several bacterial and viral infections that you can contract such as ring worm. Make sure however, that you remember the type of breed to help a doctor assess the injury and proper treatment. Write down the contact information of the dog’s owner should you need to make a claim later.

The owner is liable for their dog’s actions whether they knew the dog was dangerous or not. Anytime their dog bites someone they are held liable no matter the situation or circumstances.

On the flip side of the coin is to view this from the dog owner’s perspective. Let’s say the dog owner had prior knowledge that their dog may be dangerous or may bite someone. The owner then took protective measures to keep his dog in a secure area. He also had placed “Beware of Dog” signs on his property and has warned others not to approach his dog as the dog may attack. The owner had done all this, but someone didn’t listen or even provoked the dog on purpose.

If the owner has provided these safety precautions they are sometimes not liable due to “contributory negligence”. “Contributory negligence” means that the person who was bitten understood the dangerousness of the animal, but proceeded to place themselves in the dog’s environment anyway. This type of dog bite lawsuit often ends in favor of the dog owner.

If you do file a dog bite lawsuit you can sue for compensation of medical costs incurred,  any permanent scarring, pain and suffering, property damage, and affected wages. A vicious dog bite can leave you unable to work for some time and you need a way to recoup your losses.

How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You

If you’ve been involved in an accident, or have been injured in some way, you can often be struck with a feeling of isolation. You don’t know who to turn to for help, and this can leave you feeling very helpless.

To make matters worse, your car may be totaled, you may not be able to work and you probably have medical bills piling up. No vehicle, absence from work and no money coming in can quickly make even the sanest person feel like going crazy.

If you find yourself in this type of situation, you should call a personal injury lawyer at Petersen Johnson. Your lawyer will be there for you when nobody else will, and he will fight to get you every dime you deserve to help pay for medical bills, vehicle repairs and any other expenses you may have incurred because of your injuries.

It’s a good idea to have a personal injury lawyer’s contact information handy in case you ever need it. Of course nobody thinks about that until they’ve actually been injured. But whether or not you have a lawyer’s number on speed dial, you should always remember to contact an attorney at Petersen Johnson, (602) 650-1200 as soon as you’re injured.

If you wait, you may lose the opportunity to find evidence that will help you win your case. When you contact the lawyer, tell him or her you’ve just been injured and you need some help. The lawyer will walk you through every step.

The personal injury lawyers at Petersen Johnson know of medical personnel they can suggest to you so that you can get a full examination. If you have broken bones, these are going to have to be x-rayed.

You need a full checkup from a doctor because you may not know the extent of your injuries for some time after the accident. This is because of the adrenaline pumping through your body that masks any pain you should be feeling. These doctors will assess your injuries and will then submit a report that will be used as documentation for your personal injury case. Sometimes the doctor will even be called to the stand, if the case goes to trial.

A lawyer can suggest a doctor to you to ensure proper care for your injuries.  The lawyer will then compile your medical information in order to build a rock solid case. If the case is solid enough, the case may never see a courtroom. That’s because insurance companies often like to settle; especially if they feel as though they don’t stand a chance of winning against you and your lawyer.

Hiring a personal injury lawyer at Petersen Johnson isn’t something you do to become rich; the goal is to obtain proper compensation for your injuries.  The money you get can be used to pay off all that debt that’s been piling up since your accident.

Don’t suffer through your injuries alone. Instead, call Petersen Johnson, which will fight for you every step of the way so that you can win your case and get every dime you’re entitled to.