If you have been bitten by a dog and have suffered from any kind of injury, there is a chance that you are eligible to receive compensation for the medical expenses you have endured, as well as pain and suffering. In order to determine eligibility for compensation, you will want to consider the following things:
1. You Have Two Years to File: From the time of injury, you have two years to file a claim against the owner of the dog who has bitten you. If you wait longer than this, then you won't be eligible for compensation. Once you file, it's best to hire a dog-bite attorney, like those at http://www.trammellandmills.com, who can help you to determine what the next steps would be.
2. You Must Have Proof of Two Things: When you file a claim against a dog owner, you have to have proof of two things. This would be having proof that you did not provoke the dog to bite you. If the owner can prove that you were getting in the dog's face or you were advised not to pet the dog, but did anyway, then you probably won't receive any compensation. You must also have proof that you were lawfully on the property where you were bitten. If you were on the dog owner's property without permission, for example, then you won't be eligible for compensation.
3. Save the Evidence: In order to help your case, you will want to save evidence of the viciousness of the attack. By the time you reach court, your injury may either be fully healed or healed well enough that it can be difficult to tell how bad the bite really was. So, be sure that you save doctor notes, as well as the clothing that has been ripped or that has blood stains.
4. Determine Insurance Type: Finally, you want to be sure that you know what type of insurance you will be receiving compensation from. If the bite happened on the dog owner's property, for example, then the file would be against the homeowners or renters insurance policy. If you have been bitten at work, then it would be a workers compensation claim. Your attorney can help determine this.
By considering these four things about your dog bite situation, you can determine whether or not filing would be worth it in the end. Of course, a dog-bite attorney can also help you determine if the case is worth resolving for compensation, as well.
