Delaware Dog Bite Lawyer

If you’ve been attacked by a canine and need help recovering compensation for your injuries, get in touch with an experienced Delaware dog bite attorney who can help you with your personal injury claim.

The injuries in a dog attack can be devastating. Some animals are unpredictable, which is why dog owners are required to keep their pets on a leash at all times unless they are on their own property.

You’ll be able to recover your costs for injuries caused not only by dog bites, but any injury you endure due to a dog’s behavior—whether it was a vicious attack or an accident like being knocked over by an overexcited pet.

Your knowledgeable Delaware dog bite lawyer at Barros, McNamara, Malkiewicz & Taylor will stop at nothing to obtain the compensation you’re entitled to.

Negligence in a Delaware Canine Attack

Delaware has one of the more victim-friendly dog bite laws. It allows injury victims who have had any type of violent encounter with a dog the opportunity to bring a personal injury claim against the owner of the dog or anyone who had an obligation to protect you from the dog, such as a day care provider who should have ensured the safety of your child.

The dog’s propensity for violent behavior is largely irrelevant, although you could expect an owner whose dog previously showed signs of aggression to face additional liability if he or she didn’t take proper care to protect others.

A dog bite lawyer in Delaware can help you build a strong case to show why you deserve compensation for your canine attack.

Did You Play a Part?

Delaware’s strict liability law against dog owners is one of the most robust in the country. There are, however, certain situations in which the dog’s owner cannot and will not be held accountable for the actions of his or her pet.

If you provoked the dog in any way by teasing, taunting, harming, or tormenting it, you cannot expect the dog owner to cover your costs. You will be responsible for all of your damages if you did anything intentional to cause the dog to act the way it did.

You may also be unable to file a lawsuit against the dog’s owner in Delaware if you were trespassing on his or her property or committing a crime when the dog attacked you. You cannot reasonably expect an animal to not protect itself or its owner from uninvited or unwanted guests.

Apart from these two specific circumstances, the dog’s owner will almost always be required to compensate an injury victim for the damage caused by a pet. Your Delaware dog bite claim lawyer will examine the details of your case and give you a better idea of what you can expect to come from your claim.

Recovering Compensation

When you suffer injuries due to a run-in with a dog, the costs can quickly climb. Your medical expenses alone are likely to exceed tens of thousands of dollars if your injuries are serious. Every single medical bill, as well as costs that pertain to the care and treatment of your injuries, should be accounted for in your claim for compensation.

We will also calculate a combination of the wages you might have lost while unable to work and the damage to your future earning potential, which could include increases in your salary, professional promotions, contributions to your retirement savings account, and even bonuses you could have earned if you hadn’t been injured.

The psychological damages and their effects on your lifestyle can often be much more detrimental to you than the financial impact and should be considered as carefully as your economic losses. Some of these non-economic damages could be your pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of household services, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment of life.

In cases where the dog’s owner, or someone else who had a responsibility to protect you or a loved one from the dog, was malicious or had the intention of causing harm, a judge could determine that an award of punitive damages is appropriate. This award will hopefully deter future owners from making similar decisions, and it can greatly increase the value of your claim.

Talk to a Delaware Dog Bite Attorney

Being attacked by a dog is one of the most traumatizing accidents you can suffer through. But you can recover compensation for all of your damages by holding the liable party accountable for his or her negligent actions.

You can maximize your chance of success by working with a qualified Delaware dog bite lawyer at Barros, McNamara, Malkiewicz & Taylor. We are proud to provide free case assessments to prospective clients. You can schedule yours by filling out the contact form below or giving our office a call at 302-734-8400.