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If you’ve been injured in a dog bite accident, you may have a lot of questions about how the lawsuit process works. When should you file a lawsuit? How do you file a lawsuit? Our talented attorneys here at Sand Law are here to help you every step of the way.
Section 347.22 of the Minnesota Statutes states that the injured person can hold a dog owner liable for injuries caused by the dog if:
The statute also states that dog bite laws must follow “strict liability” rules. This means that if all of the above stipulations are true, the owner is liable for the injury even if they didn’t know that the dog would attack or bite someone.
In Minnesota, there are only two defenses to dog bite cases, provocation and trespassing. If the injured provoked the dog in any way, they might be liable for their own injuries, resulting in the case’s dismissal. If the injured party trespassed onto private property where the dog was and injured, the lawsuit could be dismissed.
About 4.4 million people are bitten by a dog in the United States each year. However, only 885,000 of those bites result in injuries that require medical attention. Most injuries are sustained by children in their own homes. Most other dog bites occur on private property when a dog isn’t properly secured. These accidents can occur when someone has been invited into someone’s home, like a friend.
Dog bites can cause a variety of serious injuries. It’s important to keep a detailed record of your injuries, so you’re able to describe them to the insurance adjuster. Many believe that dog bits only cause puncture wounds or lacerations, but serious dog bite injuries can worsen. A nasty bite could cause an infection. When not treated properly, that infection could require amputation.
Dog bites can also cause rabies, which can be deadly if it’s not treated right away. No matter what, you should always seek medical attention immediately after being bitten by a dog (or any animal) to ensure that you don’t have rabies.
Injuries from dog bites include:
The statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit because of a dog bite injury is two years. That means you have two years from the date of the injury to file your lawsuit. However, you should file the lawsuit as soon as possible after the injury occurs. That way, the events are fresh in your head, making it easy to file a personal injury claim against the dog owner.
How much compensation you receive for your personal injury accident is determined by several different factors, including:
The more severe your injury is, the more likely it is to have a large impact on your life. The greater the change to your quality of life, the more compensation you’re likely to receive. In the same vein, the more severe your injury is, the more you’ll accumulate in damages from things like medical bills and lost wages.
How the liable party has handled the situation will also affect your compensation. Did they know that their dog was aggressive? Did they make reasonable attempts to keep them away from strangers?
If they were unaware of their dog’s behavior and apologetic, you’d likely receive less compensation than if they were aware and were grossly negligent in causing the accident, i.e., they did not attempt to keep their aggressive dog away from you.
While compensation varies greatly from person to person, Sand law’s average dog bite settlement for 2020 was $150,000. According to Quote Wizard, the national average for a dog bite claim payout is $43,653.
At Sand Law, our attorneys have years of experience working on dog bite cases. We’ve worked with many different insurance companies and have a firm track record and demanding a high settlement. Our proven track record and history of high settlement wins prove that we will work hard to make sure you receive the same high compensation.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a dog bite accident, please contact our talented attorneys here at Sand Law as soon as possible to have your case evaluated. Please contact us online using our chat box option or by calling us at 651-291-7263.
Any sort of accident that results in a personal injury can be devastating – especially when it involves the brain. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) will oftentimes lead to a lifetime of debilitation – or even worse. It could happen due to a slip and fall injury, an automobile wreck, or due to any number of various reasons.
The attorneys at Sand Law LLC will be ready to help if you or a loved one suffered neurological issues due to a personal injury accident caused by someone else’s negligence. If you would like to learn more, give us a call at 651-291-7263 or use our online contact form.
No matter what type of personal injury accident causes a TBI, it’s a horrible injury. You may have been riding a motorcycle and been struck by a motorist who was answering a text. You might have slipped and struck your head because a grocery store employee failed to clean a spill promptly.
Whenever someone hits their head, the results can be devastating.
Specifically, when a person’s head hits a hard surface, their brain hits the inside of the skull. This, in turn, can lead to nerve fibers tearing and starting to bleed. When an impact is hard enough, that can result in a skull fracture. Tiny pieces of the skull can also tear brain tissue.
A TBI can be mild, or it can be severe. Mild injuries will typically heal over time. However, severe injuries can result in the need for extensive – and incredibly expensive – treatment that can last for decades. These are just a few of the effects a TBI can cause.
More than a million people in the U.S. alone suffer a TBI each year. When a TBI is particularly severe, the costs can run $1,000 a day just for rehabilitation. Other expenses include initial medical treatment and hospitalization, caregivers, ongoing medical care, and many, many others. The average TBI can cost around $151,000 in the first year.
In some instances, a person will not survive a TBI. When this happens, the costs can be even higher. Expenses include ventilation, extended hospital stays, and advanced treatments used in an effort to help the brain heal.
The answer to this question is a definitive, “Yes.” However, there is a chance you or your loved one could be considered to be partly to blame for the accident. Minnesota is what is known as a “comparative fault” state.
This simply means that if both the injured victim and the other driver are both found to share responsibility, that will affect the amount of compensation the victim will be able to obtain. Say, for instance, you suffer a TBI after being in a collision with another driver.
Then say the total amount of damages are $500,000. If you are found to have been 40% responsible for the accident, then you’ll only be eligible for 60% of the damages – or $300,000. You have to be found less than 50% to blame for an accident to be able to receive any compensation.
There are two main forms of damages you can pursue if you’ve been injured due to the negligence of another party. These are known as “economic” and “non-economic” damages. Here is a brief look at each.
These are tangible expenses you incur as a direct result of the injury. They include medical bills, lost wages, property damage, replacement services, and more. Replacement services are services you have to pay for that you would typically be able to do on your own if you weren’t injured. They could include things like getting rides, taking care of your children, and others.
Non-economic damages are subjective. Many accident victims develop post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, after suffering a TBI. They relive the day of the accident over and over again, suffering severe mental anguish as a result.
Others may experience post-concussion syndrome, or PCS. This can lead to issues such as difficulty sleeping, dizziness, and anxiety. Non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, may be available to those who have to deal with these conditions.
In order to have the best possible chance of obtaining the most compensation possible, you’ll need the help of an experienced attorney. Your attorney will gather the evidence needed to strengthen your case, and will also negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.
Sand Law has a team of attorneys who have the skills needed to maximize your potential compensation. Get a free consultation today by using our online form or calling 651-291-7263.
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