Any dog can bite. While many people believe only dogs labeled as aggressive breeds can be problematic, a post by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) says otherwise.
A Marietta personal injury lawyer works to ensure victims can get compensation, pay medical bills, and reduce the stress of negotiating with insurance companies.
There are several key facts to understand about dog bites and how to prevent injury in Marietta, Georgia.
If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog, you may be wondering if you need a personal injury lawyer to help you file a claim for your dog bite. Some people prefer to handle the legalities on their own and may not wish to engage legal counsel.
How Severe is the Dog Bite?
Dog bites can be a tiny nip or a major injury. If you have been injured in a dog bite, it is important to assess the severity of the injury.
A recent Fox News report detailed a serious injury of an unbelted passenger in a head-on collision in Cobb County. In the Peachtree State, “click it or ticket” signs are familiar sights. These signs are powerful reminders to wear seat belts to avoid tickets and help prevent serious injuries.
Buckle Up is the Law in Georgia
The Georgia seat belt law, O.C.G.A. § 40-8-76.1, requires every person in the front of a passenger vehicle to wear seat belts. In Georgia, the law distinguishes who must wear a seat belt in the back seat. Passengers over 18 years old are not required to wear a seat belt in the back seat. Children between the ages of 8 and 15 are required to wear a seat belt in the front or back seat of the vehicle.
According to a report by the American Veterinary Medical Association, nearly 85 million dogs are living in the United States. Each year, approximately 4.5 million people, mostly children, are bitten.
A Marietta Personal injury lawyer works to ensure victims can get compensation, pay medical bills, and reduce the stress of negotiating with insurance companies.
There are several key measures to take in the event of a dog bite.
Georgia uses a traditional “fault-based system” system for car insurance. What is this term? It means that the person at fault for the accident is financially responsible for injuries, vehicle damage, and other losses.
In approximately 12 other states, a “no-fault” system is followed. This means that the driver’s insurance covers certain losses after a crash.
In Georgia, a simple way to understand it is: the at-fault driver’s insurance covers other people’s losses up to the limits of the driver’s liability coverage.
According to a May 2023 post from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 4714 people died in large truck crashes in 2021. This number represents a 17% increase over the previous year.
In a longer timeframe, the number of deaths has risen dramatically. IIHS notes that the number of people who died in large truck crashes was 50% higher in 2021 than in 2009.
Who was killed in these crashes? IIHS reports that 16% of the deaths were occupants of the truck, 68% were occupants of cars and other vehicles, and 15% were bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians.
Every year, dog bites seem to be filling the news. A Fox News report described that a Cobb County police officer was bitten and shot during a dog attack. The injured officer was taken to the hospital for treatment for both the dog bite and the gunshot wound and is expected to survive.
Dog bite incidents in Cobb County are increasingly common. A dog bite can injure people, regardless of age or occupation. If you have noticed an increase in dog bites, as a Marietta personal injury lawyer, the data supports this insight.
According to a report from the Insurance Information Institute (III), in 2022, insurance companies paid $853.7 million for dog bite and injury claims. The average claim amount reported was $64,555, up from $49,025 in 2021. The III reports that the average cost per claim increased by 31.7% from 2013 to 2022. The III notes that this increase may be due to the upward trends of jury awards, as well as increased medical costs.
Drownings are the most common kind of swimming pool injury. In fact, drowning is the leading cause of death among children under 4 and the second-leading cause of injury-related death among children under 14. A young child can drown in as little as a few inches of water, meaning that not even the kiddie pool is entirely safe.
Young children have still-developing brains and bodies, making them unusually vulnerable to serious injury. When such a tragedy strikes, no one can turn back the clock and change what happened. A Marietta personal injury lawyer does the next best thing, which is to obtain the financial compensation these families need and deserve.
Drownings
A high-speed pursuit in Acworth ended badly when a motorcyclist, allegedly racing another motorcyclist, struck a Honda Accord. The rider died at the scene.
Prior to the crash, Georgia State Patrol troopers were assisting the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office in pursuing two motorcycle drivers who were racing on GA-3 near Mockingbird Road. Troopers began chasing one of the riders, who continued driving “in a reckless manner” into Cobb County.
According to investigators, the motorcyclist was approaching the intersection at high speed and struck a Honda Accord that was making a left turn. The motorcycle driver, a male, died at the scene. The driver of the Honda was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
In 2021, insurance companies paid almost $900 million to settle dog bite cases in the United States. The overall figure, as well as the per-claim average settlement figure, has increased significantly since 2010. Rising medical bills, as well as a better medical understanding of dog bite injuries, have contributed much to this increase. More on these injuries below.
A personal injury settlement is not just a matter of adding numbers together. Instead, a Marietta personal injury lawyer must build a strong, evidence-based claim. Only such a claim can establish all the elements in a complicated dog bite claim and refute the inevitable insurance company defenses. The result of all this hard work is maximum compensation for your serious injuries.
Dog Bite Injuries
Marietta Injury Lawyer Blog