Were you injured in a dog bite attack in Norcross, GA?
At Schneider Williamson Car Accident & Personal Injury Attorneys, we help injured clients understand their rights after a dog attack.
If a dog has bitten you, the owner can be held liable for your medical expenses and for any permanent scarring when the attack resulted from a failure to keep the animal under control. A Norcross, GA dog bite lawyer can identify the owner and the insurance coverage that applies, and can document the dog’s prior history of aggression.
Schneider Williamson Car Accident & Personal Injury Attorneys has more than 50 years of combined experience representing injury victims in Georgia’s state and federal courts. We accept cases only from injured people and their families, and we do not take engagements from insurance carriers. Request a free consultation to learn where your claim stands.
Dog Bite Lawyer Norcross, GA
A dog bite attorney represents people who have been injured by a dog and pursues compensation from the owner or from any other person who kept or controlled the animal. The central question in most cases is whether the owner knew the dog was dangerous or failed to restrain it properly. We also document the medical treatment the injury required, which frequently includes wound care, antibiotics, and later scar revision.
Dog bite deaths in the United States rose to 81 in 2021, more than double the 2018 total, according to CDC mortality figures. Georgia treats animal bites as a reportable condition, and a bite should be reported to public health officials so that the animal can be evaluated for rabies. The resulting report also serves as an official record of the attack, which becomes evidence in the injury claim.
Types of Dog Bite Cases We Handle in Norcross
Dog attacks occur in residential neighborhoods, apartment communities, and public spaces, and the party responsible for the injury differs with the setting. Dog bite attorneys at our firm handle claims arising from each of the following situations throughout Gwinnett County.
- Attacks by loose dogs. A dog that escapes a yard or is walked without a leash can attack a pedestrian, a jogger, or a cyclist without warning. Animal control records and statements from neighbors establish whether the dog had been loose on earlier occasions, and a pattern of escapes is strong proof that the owner was careless.
- Bites at a private home. Guests, relatives, and contractors are frequently bitten while they are lawfully on the owner’s property. The owner’s homeowners or renters policy ordinarily pays these claims, which means that the compensation comes from an insurer and not from the friend or relative personally.
- Bites to children. Children are often bitten on the face and neck because of their height, and these injuries can require plastic surgery. A child’s claim must account for the additional treatment that will be needed as the child grows.
- Bites to delivery and postal workers. A worker who is bitten on a route has a workers’ compensation claim and may also have a third-party claim against the dog’s owner. The two claims compensate different losses, and both should be evaluated.
- Apartment complex attacks. A landlord or management company can share responsibility when it knew that a dangerous dog lived on the property and took no action. Prior complaints to the leasing staff are the most important evidence, and the lease terms and pet policies show what the landlord was in a position to know.
- Attacks in parks and public places. Dogs that are off leash in parks, on trails, and outside businesses injure people who had no opportunity to avoid them. The owner sometimes leaves before providing a name, so witness information and photographs taken at the scene are often necessary to identify the responsible party.
- Knockdown injuries. A large dog can cause fractures and head injuries by jumping on a person, even when no bite occurs. These claims are evaluated under the same principles that apply to bite claims.
- Dogs with a history of aggression. An earlier bite, an attack on another pet, or repeated lunging at people demonstrates that the owner had notice of the danger. Veterinary and animal control records often contain that history.
Why Choose Schneider Williamson Car Accident & Personal Injury Attorneys as my Dog Bite Lawyer in Norcross, GA?
Trial Lawyers Recognized by Their Peers
Jason Schneider is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Georgia and the Georgia Court of Appeals, and he devotes his practice exclusively to injury victims. Martindale-Hubbell has given him its AV rating, which is awarded on the recommendations of other attorneys. Campbell Williamson is a trial lawyer who has represented clients in premises liability cases in both state and federal courts. He was selected for the Order of Barristers at Emory University School of Law and was named a Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2020 through 2024. Both attorneys are members of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. We handle dog bite claims within a broader practice as a personal injury lawyer in Norcross, GA, and the same trial preparation applies to each case.
Seven-Figure Results for Injured Clients
Injury cases we have handled account for millions of dollars recovered through settlements and verdicts. Those results include a $1,250,000 personal injury settlement and a $1,000,000 premises liability settlement. We also obtained an $840,000 verdict at trial in a premises liability case.
Our fees are contingent upon a recovery, so you pay no attorney fee unless we obtain compensation on your behalf. The initial consultation is free.
Understanding Dog Bite Cases
What Are Important Aspects of a Dog Bite Case?
The outcome of a dog bite claim depends on what the owner knew about the dog and how the owner managed it. Evidence that the dog had shown aggression on an earlier occasion is the strongest proof available, and evidence that the dog was loose in violation of a local leash requirement also supports the claim. Owners commonly respond that the injured person provoked the dog or was trespassing, which is why the specific facts of the encounter should be recorded as early as possible.
- Identify the owner and the address where the dog is kept.
- Photograph the wounds before treatment and again as they heal.
- Obtain medical care on the day of the attack, because bites carry a risk of infection and of rabies exposure.
- File a report with animal control, which will confirm the dog’s vaccination status.
- Keep the clothing you were wearing, and save any messages you receive from the owner.
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Dog Bite Cases
Liability ordinarily rests with the dog’s owner. A person who was keeping the dog at the time of the attack can also be liable, as can a landlord who knew of the danger and allowed it to continue. Georgia reduces compensation when the injured person shares responsibility for the incident. A jury determines each party’s fault as a percentage, and a person found to be 50 percent or more at fault recovers nothing.
Compensation in a dog bite case covers emergency treatment, surgery, medication, and lost income, and wage records together with a physician’s note establish the income lost during recovery. Compensation also extends to physical pain, scarring, and the emotional effects of the attack, which can include a lasting fear of dogs. A child’s claim often includes the anticipated cost of future scar revision. Punitive damages are reserved for cases involving intentional or reckless conduct.
Most claims are paid through the owner’s homeowners insurance or renters insurance. Insurers tend to evaluate scarring conservatively. Thorough medical documentation and dated photographs increase the value the insurer assigns to the claim.
What Should You Bring to Your Dog Bite Consultation?
Please bring whatever information you have about the dog, the owner, and your medical treatment. We will obtain the records that are missing.
- The owner’s name and address, if they are known to you
- The animal control or police report number
- Photographs of your injuries taken over time
- Emergency room and follow-up treatment records
- Any messages exchanged with the owner or the insurer
During the consultation, a dog bite attorney will ask how the attack occurred and will review your records with you. We tell you who can be held responsible and whether insurance is likely to cover the claim, and we explain how our fees and case costs are handled.
What Is The Dog Bite Case Timeline?
Most dog bite claims are resolved with the owner’s insurer, and the schedule depends largely on how the wounds heal. Because scars can take a year or longer to mature, a dog bite lawyer in Norcross will usually wait for a physician’s opinion on permanent scarring before presenting a demand.
- Report and treatment. The bite is reported to the authorities, the dog is quarantined or its vaccination status is confirmed, and you receive medical care.
- Investigation. We collect animal control records, witness statements, and proof of the dog’s history. We also confirm who owned the dog and who was keeping it when the attack occurred.
- Insurance claim. We notify the owner’s insurer of the claim in writing. An insurer that is slow to respond receives written follow-up until it does.
- Demand and negotiation. We present the medical records, bills, and photographs once your treatment plan is established. An offer that does not amount to fair compensation is declined with a written explanation.
- Lawsuit. A lawsuit must be filed within two years of the bite under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. We file suit when the insurer will not resolve the claim on fair terms.
Reach Out to Schneider Williamson Car Accident & Personal Injury Attorneys to Schedule a Consultation
In most cases a dog bite claim is made against an insurance policy, and pursuing it does not require a personal dispute with a neighbor or an acquaintance. Schneider Williamson Car Accident & Personal Injury Attorneys offers a free consultation, and you pay no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. During that meeting we review the circumstances of the attack, the injuries you sustained, and the insurance coverage that applies. We respond to new inquiries promptly. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a dog bite lawyer in Norcross, GA.
