South Bend Dog Bite Lawyers

Dogs have been called “man’s best friend,” and Indiana seems to agree. The state has the sixth highest rate of dog ownership in the country, with at least one dog residing in almost half of all Indiana households. Whether they are frolicking in South Bend’s leash-free parks or nuzzling alongside their masters on a cold winter evening, dogs can be ideal sources of love and companionship.

Unfortunately, dogs can also be unpredictable, sometimes reacting violently to the mildest irritation. Every year, dogs attack approximately 4.5 million Americans, and Indiana ranks ninth in dog-based injury claims per capita.

If you have been hurt in a senseless dog attack, you may be able to seek financial damages from the dog’s owner, though Indiana law can make recovery frustrating. To increase your chances of success, turn to the South Bend dog bite attorneys at Hensley Legal Group. We have been getting justice for the wrongfully injured for over a quarter century, and we are eager to do the same for you.

To schedule a no-cost consultation with a South Bend dog bite lawyer, please call us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form.

Common Dog Bite Injuries

When dogs attack, the harm they inflict can be extreme, even fatal. In 2019 alone, dogs were responsible for 48 deaths nationwide. Common dog bite injuries include:

● Lacerations, punctures, and tears of the skin

● Ruptured muscles and ligaments

● Fractures

● Nerve damage

● Facial disfigurement

● Scarring

● Lost fingers and limbs

● Hematomas

● Cranial trauma

● Abscesses and infections

● Rabies

● Psychological impairment

● Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

The symptoms of some bite-related injuries might emerge only gradually, but our South Bend dog bite attorneys will ensure that the long-term consequences of an attack are taken into account.

What to Do After a Dog Bite

A serious attack can be disorienting, but there are guidelines you should remember to follow after a dog bite to protect yourself and any case you may have, such as:

● Get medical attention – Prompt treatment is crucial to restoring your health, and any delays in receiving medical attention could allow doubt to be cast on the link between the attack and your injury.

● Take down owner and eyewitness information – You need to know who a dog’s owner is and how to get in touch in order to have a case. Additionally, witnesses can provide vital independent confirmation of the event, so take down the names and numbers of anyone at the scene of a dog attack.

● Confirm the dog’s vaccination status – Verifying that the dog’s shots are up to date could allow you to avoid excruciating treatments for animal-borne diseases like rabies. If possible, confirm the dog’s vaccination status with its veterinarian, since this issue is too important to rely on the owner’s word.

● Report the attack – Inform animal control as soon as you can about the attack, taking care to convey exactly what happened so that the incident report will be accurate. Additionally, see if the agency has documentation about the dog’s history, which may be invaluable in combating challenges to your claim.

● Avoid the insurance company – Representatives from the dog owner’s insurer may reach out if there is applicable coverage (usually a homeowner policy). However, the most innocuous comment could be used against you, so avoid speaking with the insurance company, at least until you…

● Consult with a personal injury lawyer – A seasoned dog bite attorney can answer your questions and advise you of what you should expect if you are contemplating a claim.

Are You Eligible to Pursue a Dog Bite Case in Indiana?

Multiple factors may impact your eligibility to pursue a dog bite case in Indiana, including your profession, the dog’s past conduct, and the circumstances leading up to your injury.

Indiana law grants wide latitude to police officers, firefighters, postal employees, and other state or federal workers to pursue dog bite claims for on-the-job attacks. According to Title 15, Article 20, Section 3 of the Indiana Code, if an individual is bitten by a dog “without provocation” while he or she is

● acting peaceably; and

● in an area where he or she is required to be to perform a duty imposed by:

○ the laws of Indiana;

○ the laws of the United States; or

○ U.S. postal regulations

then “the owner of the dog is liable for all damages suffered by the person bitten.” This holds true even when an owner “has no knowledge of prior vicious behavior by the dog” or a dog “has not previously behaved in a vicious manner.”

In contrast to plaintiffs who were injured while on government business, most Indiana residents are held to a different standard with regard to dog bite claims. Under the “One-Bite Rule,” a dog owner may not be considered liable for an attack on a private citizen if that owner had no knowledge of earlier aggression by the dog.

Essentially, an Indiana dog owner is given a pass the first time a dog bites a civilian, but the One-Bite Rule will not apply to any subsequent attacks, which offers little consolation if you were at the front of the line.

Can the One-Bite Rule Be Overcome?

The One-Bite Rule can make litigation against Indiana dog bite owners difficult, but this defense is by no means absolute, since it could be overcome if a plaintiff can show that a dog attacked as a result of its owner’s negligence. A dog owner may be considered negligent for:

● Taking a dog off leash in a leash-only zone

● Letting a dog break out of a yard, kennel, or other confined space

● Exposing the public to direct contact with a vicious dog

● Permitting any dog to be around children without supervision

● Failing to post signs warning of a hostile dog’s presence

Hensley’s South Bend dog bite lawyers are deeply skilled at uncovering actionable misconduct on the part of dog owners.

How Our Dog Bite Attorneys Can Help

A major dog attack can turn your world upside down. Before you realize it, you could find yourself struggling to cope with skyrocketing medical bills, lost wages, and unsightly scarring that you cannot easily cover up.

You need attorneys with the compassion to support you through your troubles and the wisdom to bring them to a satisfying resolution. You need the South Bend dog bite attorneys at Hensley Legal Group. For more than 25 years, we have been helping honest Hoosiers just like you who have been hurt through no fault of their own. No adversary is too intimidating to stop us from getting you what you deserve.

If you choose to retain our firm, we will carry out a comprehensive investigation into everyone who may bear responsibility for the attack. If the dog that bit you had a pattern of violence or its owner committed misconduct that could neutralize the One-Bite Rule, our South Bend dog bite lawyers will work tirelessly to prove it.

Get Compensated for All Your Losses

After we have constructed a rock-solid case against the at-fault parties, we will attempt to negotiate a settlement that compensates you for all your losses, including:

● Medical bills

● Lost income

● Mental and emotional distress

● Pain and suffering

● Diminished activities of daily living

● Punitive damages (if applicable)

And unlike some of our competitors, we are more than willing to go to trial if we do not receive an offer that reflects the true worth of your claim.

Every dog bite case is different, but we will do everything in our power to maximize the value of yours.

What Will It Cost to Hire a Dog Bite Attorney?

You may be concerned about spending more money when you can least afford it, but our firm works on a contingency basis, so you won’t have to pay us anything until our South Bend dog bite attorneys win your case.

You have enough to worry about simply trying to become well again. Let Hensley worry about securing the resources necessary to do it.

Talk to a South Bend Dog Bite Lawyer Now

Since 1998, Hensley Legal Group has devoted its practice to fighting for the everyday people of Indiana. If you are still reeling from an unexpected attack, talk to a South Bend dog bite lawyer now to learn about your legal options.

Call us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form for a complimentary case review with one of our South Bend dog bite attorneys.