In most cases, a dog bite isn’t the result of a strange dog jumping out at you from a dark alley. It’s almost always the result of a friend, neighbor, or relative with a dog that bites you. At Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we’ve handled enough dog bite personal injury cases to understand that it can be difficult to decide if you should sue someone that you’re close to.
We don’t believe that every cause should go to a lawsuit. That said, some should. Following are some of the factors we recommend that you consider. If you need a legal opinion, feel free to call us at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
Consider where the money will come from
As long as the person whose dog bit you has either homeowners or renters insurance, the money isn’t coming from them – it’s coming from their insurance company. In fact, accidents like this are the exact reason they got insurance in the first place. It’s true that their insurance premium is going to go up, but it will likely be by much less than the cost of your medical bills.
Imagine that it was your dog that bit someone. Would you rather your insurance premiums go up and they got treatment or that they stayed the same but the victim had to pay for their own medical bills, counseling, surgeries, lost wages, etc. The reality is that your loved one is likely to want you to get the help you need.
Consider how the lawsuit will affect your relationship
The truth is that a personal injury case doesn’t need to affect your relationship. The case should be handled entirely by their lawyer and your attorney. If they do care about you, then they’re likely to want you to be compensated. If you worry that they won’t understand, reach out to them and make it clear that you’ve had medical costs, have lost time at work, etc. and they’re likely to realize that the lawsuit is what makes sense.
You deserve to be compensated for your losses
The reality is that if you’ve been injured by someone’s dog, then you deserve to be compensated. Whether it’s immediate medical costs, reconstructive surgeries over time, lost time at work, or even counseling to deal with the trauma, someone has to pay. Why should it be you? Remember that you did nothing wrong and you shouldn’t be held financially responsible for an accident you had no part in.
Call today to get a free legal consultation
It’s likely that you want to speak to an attorney before you bring up the subject with your family. After all, why cause any harm if your case is likely to go nowhere anyway? For example, it may be that your injuries were minor enough that a lawsuit doesn’t make sense, or it may be that you weren’t legally on their property. To find out if you have a case, and what your options are, reach out to Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
