In the wake of a Virginia dog attack, it’s often hard to know where to start. After seeking medical attention, it may be in your best interest to discuss your legal options with an attorney.
With zero obligation to work with an attorney beyond the free consultation, there’s no reason not to explore all possibilities. The insurance company will work hard to minimize or deny claims whenever possible. If you’re not willing to go head to head with them yourself, you’ll want a lawyer representing your best interests.
ATTORNEY RICHARD SERPE
Richard Serpe has dedicated his legal career to helping people who have been hurt due to the negligence or recklessness of another person, a dangerous product, or company. He has a tremendous track record of success in obtaining favorable jury verdicts and settlements for his clients. A large portion of his 35-year legal career has been devoted to the representation of injured children.
His dog bite clients include: children, mail carriers, delivery drivers, neighbors, joggers, pedestrians, and many others across Virginia. If you’d like to discuss your options after an attack, give us a call 877-544-5323 to speak with our legal team.
WHAT TO DO AFTER A FAIRFAX DOG ATTACK
Here are a few steps you can take to protect yourself and your right to compensation:
- Get medical attention. First and foremost, if you’ve been injured, it is always a good idea to seek medical attention from a professional to protect your health. If you plan to make a personal injury claim, your medical records will document the serious nature of your injuries. If you do not seek medical treatment for your injuries, the defendant and his/her insurance company may try to claim 1) that your injuries were not serious, or 2) that you were not injured in the attack.
- Report the incident to the police, fire, or animal control department. When an animal attacks a person, that animal has become a potential threat to the health and safety of the public and should be reported to authorities. Further, animal control will need to conduct an investigation into the incident as well as quarantine the animal for rabies. The animal control investigative findings will become crucial evidence in your personal injury case.
- Fairfax Animal Control 703-691-2131
- [email protected]
- Consider contacting a lawyer. While hiring a lawyer is not required, having an experienced professional to advocate for your needs could mean a larger settlement for you and your family. A successful settlement can cover your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement, plastic surgery, permanent injuries and disabilities, a wrongful death, as well as the loss of earning capacity.
COMPENSATION FOR DOG ATTACKS
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your situation, you may be entitled to one or more of the following types of damages:
- Medical Expenses: Damages include any sort of medical expenses that a victim has had to pay for at a hospital, clinic, or to a pharmacy. This may also include any future medical care that you may require for your injuries.
- Pain and suffering: This is the right to compensation for physical pain and suffering and mental anguish you have suffered and could possibly endure in the future.
- Loss of Earnings: You are entitled to recover for the loss of earnings which you suffered from your injuries. If your injuries have affected your ability to earn income in the future, you can recover damages for the value of the reduction in earning capacity.
- Disfigurement: If the injury causes scarring or other unsightly marks, the victim is entitled to recovery for the disfigurement. Because these injuries are often in very visible places, victims are often very self-conscious of their appearance.
- Children are frequently bitten in the facial region and require plastic surgery.
- Wrongful Death of a Loved One
VIRGINIA DOG BITE SETTLEMENTS
- $100,000.00 – Mail carrier injured knee
- $100,000.00 – FedEx driver arm injuries
- $100,000.00 – Child attacked by neighbor’s dog
- $150,000.00 – Client sustained facial wounds
VIRGINIA DOG BITE LAWS
Virginia’s “One Bite” Rule
If a dog owner knows that their pet has bitten at least one time in the past, they can be held liable for the damages caused in subsequent attacks. In other words, if Fido got into trouble for biting a neighbor last year, his owner must take necessary precautions to prevent additional attacks from occurring. Should Fido bite again, his owner will likely be held responsible for the victim’s financial losses. This is because the owner knew of the dog’s violent tendencies but did not take action to prevent additional attacks.
Negligence Per Se
Even if the dog does not have a violent past, negligent owners can still be held liable if a law was broken at the time of the attack. Victims may sue for compensation so long as they have evidence that the owner failed to control their pet and follow the law. For instance, if you’re at the park and are attacked by a dog whose owner has let it roam off the leash, you may have a viable claim. The decision to allow the dog off the leash in a place with strict leash requirements demonstrates the owner’s negligence.
STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS (DEADLINES)
In Virginia, there are strict deadlines for filing a lawsuit. In many cases, Virginia provides a two-year deadline also known as a Statute of Limitations. However, sometimes special circumstances apply and can alter that deadline. It is important to contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible after the accident to protect your rights.
VIRGINIA DOG BITE LAWYER
If you or your loved one was attacked by someone else’s dog, contact our Virginia Dog Bite Lawyers for a free consultation. Call or text us anytime at 757-233-0009. We offer a No Fee Promise, which means that you don’t owe us any legal fees unless we settle or win your case. We will work on your behalf to get a fair settlement, and only charge legal fees if you receive a settlement or verdict.
We are able to assist residents throughout Fairfax County including: Clifton, Herndon, Vienna, Annadale, Bailey’s Crossroads, Belle Haven, Burke, Burke Centre, Centreville, Chantilly, Crosspointe, Dranesville, Dunn Loring, Fair Lakes, Fair Oaks, Fairfax Station, Floris, Fort Belvoir, Fort Hunt, Franconia, Franklin Farm, George Mason, Great Falls, Greenbriar, Groveton, Hayfield, Huntington, Hybla Valley, Idylwood, Jefferson, Kings Park, Kings Park West, Kingstowne, Lake Barcroft, Laurel Hill, Lincolnia, Long Branch, Lorton, Mantua, Mason Neck, McLean, McNair, Merrifield, Mount Vernon, Newington, Newington Forest, North Springfield, Oakton, Pimmit Hills, Ravensworth, Reston, Rose Hill, Saratoga, Seven Corners, South Run, Springfield, Tysons Corner, Wakefield, West Falls Church, West Springfield, Wolf Trap, Woodburn, Woodlawn, Accotink, Arcturus, Barkers Crossroads, Blevinstown, Browns Mill, Butts Corner, Cobbs Corner, Colchester, Colchester Hunt, Comptons Corner, Cooktown, Crowells Corner, Culmore, Donovans Corner, Doveville, Farrs Corner, Five Forks, Four Corners, Hattontown, Hollindale, Jermantown, Langley, Lees Corner, Lewinsville, Lewis Park, Makleys Corner, Matildaville New Alexandria, Oak Hill, Odricks Corner, Pohick, Schneider Crossroads, Shady Oak, Strathmeade Springs, Sunset Hills, Uniontown, Virginia Hills, and Westhampton.
