If you were injured by a dog attack in Fall River, contact the Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd., for legal assistance. According to a study from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an estimated 4.7 million dog bites happen in the United States every year. Approximately 800,000 of these dog bites result in serious medical care for the victim. Dog bite injuries are usually bad enough to require immediate medical attention, resulting in severe injuries or even death. Unfortunately, young children represent over half of dog bite fatalities.
Dog bites can occur when a dog is protecting its owner or its territory, or when the dog is in a stressful situation and doesn’t know how to react. Whether a person intentionally or unintentionally scares a dog, if the dog feels threatened, it can cause serious damage. A dog attack can be a violent experience that may cause trauma and long-lasting injuries for the victim. In many cases, the owner can be held liable for a dog’s behavior if the dog is not properly restrained or handled.
If you are suffering from injuries after being the victim of a dog bite, you may face weeks or months of medical treatment. You may be entitled to compensation and damages for your injuries and expenses. Call the Fall River dog bite attorneys at the Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd. at (401) 751-8855 for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
How a Fall River Dog Bite Lawyer Can Help
One of the best reasons to hire a Fall River dog bite lawyer is that less than 1 percent of dog bite victims who are not properly represented receive compensation. You are likely unfamiliar with the process of filing a claim. You may escalate the situation by communicating directly with the insurance company or the dog owner with disastrous results. You may also unknowingly admit fault or miss critical deadlines in meeting the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit.
The insurance company may offer the smallest settlement amount possible if the victim is not represented by an attorney. They could also deny a dog bite claim on a technicality. Having an experienced dog bite lawyer on your side is crucial to help prove liability and negotiate a fair settlement for your case.
Why Choose Us?
At the Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd., we know the physical and emotional pain that you or a family member have gone through after suffering a dog bite injury. We have years of experience handling these types of cases, and we can hold dog owners and insurance companies responsible for your injuries and do everything in our power to help you receive the compensation and damages that are owed to you.
Ronald J. Resmini has 50 years of experience in personal injury law. He is a recipient of the Massachusetts Senior Attorney of the Year award. Other lawyers at the firm include Adam Resmini, who was named a Super Lawyer’s List “Rising Star” from 2011 to 2020, and Sam Sutter, who has received the Lawyer of the Year award.
Massachusetts’ Dog Bite Law
Massachusetts is a strict liability dog bite state. This means that dog owners are liable for injuries caused by their dogs even if the owner did not have prior knowledge that the dog would cause harm or injury to another person. A dog bite victim does not need to demonstrate fault on the part of the owner. The strict liability rule applies to both dog bites and injuries that result—even if a dog doesn’t bite the victim but injures that person in some other way. For example, if a dog knocks down a person and causes a serious injury, the law of strict liability still applies.
However, because Massachusetts is a comparative negligence state, you will need to prove that you were less than 51% responsible for your injuries. If you were tormenting or provoking the dog, or if you were trespassing on the property where you were attacked, you may be unable to collect compensation.
Types of Dog Bite Cases We Handle
Dog bite injuries may be catastrophic and last for a lifetime. The types of dog bite cases that we handle include:
- Facial injuries – While children are most at risk of suffering serious facial injuries, adults can also be susceptible to dog bites to the face, some of which may require reconstructive surgery.
- Scarring – Scars from dog bites can be painful and cause disfigurement or disability. Depending on the damage, they may require several surgeries or skin grafts.
- Amputation – If the bite significantly injuries the bones, nerves, and tendons, a victim could lose a hand, leg, arm, finger, or foot.
- Infections – An extremely common consequence of a dog bite is an infection. Symptoms, such as a fever, redness near the wound, or other side effects could indicate a severe infection.
- Nerve damage – A dog’s teeth and jaw may cause damage to the nerves, which can result in temporary loss of function or total and permanent paralysis.
- Death – Extended bleeding, infection, and/or other complications may be fatal after a serious dog attack.
If you or a loved one were injured in a dog attack that caused these or other injuries, contact the Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd., for help.
Compensation and Damages for Dog Bite Cases
It is difficult to predict the exact amount of money you might receive for a dog bite settlement, but certain factors will come into play, such as the severity of injuries sustained. A dog bite victim may receive compensation for medical expenses and treatment, loss of income, and any aftercare that is required. They may also receive damages for pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and disability or disfigurement.
Because Massachusetts is a comparative negligence state, your award will be diminished by the percentage you are found to be at fault. For example, if you are awarded $10,000 but are found to be 20% at fault, you will ultimately receive $8,000.
Contact a Fall River Dog Bite Lawyer
If you or a family member are suffering from a catastrophic dog bite injury, contact the Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd., for legal assistance. Our Fall River lawyers will handle every aspect of your case, so that you can focus on getting your bills paid and move toward a healthy recovery.
We work on a contingency fee basis, so if you do not receive a settlement, we do not get paid. You may fill out a contact form, or call us (401) 751-8855 to schedule a free consultation today.
