Delaware Dog Bite Lawyer
Protecting the rights of dog bite victims across Delaware
Dog bites and animal attacks can result in serious physical injuries and long-term emotional distress. You should not be responsible for the costs another person’s dangerous animal has caused you to incur. At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, our Delaware dog bite lawyers take these cases very seriously. We can help you recover fair compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, and other damages.
If you or someone you love has been hurt by a dog bite or attack, we can help you through the process and advise you of your rights.
Table of contents
- Why choose our Delaware dog bite injury lawyers?
- Types of cases our Delaware dog bite injury lawyers handle
- Common dog bite injuries
- What are the dog bite laws in Delaware?
- Are owners liable for bites and attacks in Delaware’s off-leash dog parks?
- Compensation available in Delaware dog bite cases
- Find a Delaware dog bite lawyer near me
- Delaware dog bite injury FAQs
Why choose our Delaware dog bite injury lawyers?
The consequences of a dog bite extend far beyond your initial injuries. You may face expensive medical bills, lost wages if you cannot return to work, and permanent scarring and disfigurement. It is also common for dog bite victims to experience significant emotional trauma and feel uncertain about what will happen next.
Our Delaware dog bite lawyers bring a thorough understanding of state law to every case and will approach your case with a strong strategy. We can investigate the facts surrounding the incident, determine who is liable for paying damages, evaluate the full scope of your losses, and identify every source of compensation available under the law. We know that insurance companies try to minimize these claims and how to overcome their tactics.
Our attorneys aggressively advocate for your interests, whether through strong negotiations or, when necessary, litigation. We provide the straightforward guidance and personal attention you need every step of the way throughout the process.
Our lawyers have received numerous professional honors, including recognition by The National Trial Lawyers as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer, and belong to the Delaware Trial Lawyers Association, as well as other professional organizations. We have recovered over $60 million for our clients, and we’re prepared to put that experience to work for you.
Types of cases our Delaware dog bite injury lawyers handle
From minor attacks to serious attacks, our Delaware dog bite lawyer handles many different types of cases. The most common of these include:
- Unprovoked dog bites: When dog owners fail to properly restrain their dog or allow an animal to run loose, they may bite even though they have not been provoked.
- Teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog: Dog owners often raise this defense. This can make it more difficult for victims, as the law does not hold dog owners strictly liable when the person was teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog.
- Bites involving children: Children are among the most vulnerable dog bite victims. Personal injury cases involving children are also inherently more complex, as they are governed by different rules and procedures.
- Catastrophic injuries: Dog bites can result in catastrophic injuries that often result in more serious damages. The possibility of a large amount of damages makes it even more likely that insurance companies will dispute these claims.
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding your case, our Delaware dog bite lawyers can help you hold the liable party responsible.
Common dog bite injuries
Dog bite injuries range from physical and psychological trauma to complications such as infections. The most common injuries are as follows:
- Lacerations and puncture wounds: A dog’s teeth can leave behind large puncture wounds and deep tears in the tissue and skin. Treatment for these injuries often involves surgical cleaning and stitches.
- Broken bones: Dogs can push people to the ground during an attack, and their bites have an enormous amount of force. Bones in the arms, legs, wrists, hands, and ankles can break when someone falls or when they become crushed by an animal’s mouth.
- Damage to nerves and tissues: The muscles, tendons, and nerves can become damaged when they are torn during a dog bite. This damage is quite common in the arms, as people use them to shield their face and body from an attack. Nerve and tissue damage can result in numbness or a loss of function in the area.
- Face, head, and neck injuries: Injuries to the face, head, and neck are particularly common among children who are hurt by dog bites, due to their relative height to the animal.
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement: Permanent scarring and disfigurement are very common in dog bite cases. These injuries may require reconstructive surgery, limit mobility, and cause embarrassment for dog bite victims.
- Infections: A dog’s mouth is full of bacteria that can enter the body when an animal’s teeth break a victim’s skin. This can result in a number of different infections. Rabies, a viral disease transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, is another serious concern, and medical attention is necessary to determine the appropriate treatment.
- Psychological trauma: Even when a person was a dog lover before the attack, they may experience anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sleep disturbances, severe anxiety, emotional distress, and panic attacks are common symptoms of psychological trauma after a dog bite.
What are the dog bite laws in Delaware?
In the majority of cases, the law in Delaware holds dog owners strictly liable for injuries, death, or loss to property or a person caused by their animals, although the statute does outline specific exceptions. Under the strict liability law, dog owners are responsible for injuries caused by their dogs. Victims do not have to prove the owner was negligent or that they had knowledge of a dog’s propensity to bite. Dog owners in the state are required to retain control of their pets, whether that means keeping them within the limits of their property or keeping them on a leash.
There are some exceptions to the strict liability laws. One of the exceptions applies when a person was teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog. For example, if a person was bitten after they hit or taunted the dog, the strict-liability statute may not apply. Additionally, people who were committing or attempting to commit trespass on the owner’s property at the time of the bite are typically barred from recovering under the strict-liability statute.
Are owners liable for bites and attacks in Delaware’s off-leash dog parks?
Delaware has many off-leash dog parks that give these animals space to run, play, and in some, even take a quick splash. Elsmere Dog Park, Milford Dog Park, and Charles E. Price Memorial Park are just a few of these. Dogs in these parks, and the others found throughout the state, do not have to be on a leash, as required in other public areas under the law. Still, dog owners must supervise their animals and keep them reasonably controlled.
Dog owners are not automatically shielded from liability simply because they were inside a dog park at the time of an attack. In these areas, owners can still be liable for paying damages. Our Delaware dog bite injury lawyers can help if you were injured and the other side is raising this argument as a defense.
Compensation available in Delaware dog bite cases
Filing a dog bite claim or lawsuit can allow you to recover monetary damages after being injured by someone else’s animal. No two cases are exactly alike, but there are some types of compensation that are common. These include:
- Medical expenses such as emergency treatment, hospitalizations, surgery, physical therapy, and medications necessary to treat the bite
- Lost wages if you cannot return to work right away, as well as loss of future earning capacity if permanent scarring and disfigurement or other catastrophic injuries prevent you from returning to the same line of work
- Pain and suffering damages for the physical and emotional trauma suffered due to the bite
Find a Delaware dog bite lawyer near me
Our Delaware dog bite injury lawyers help clients in many different counties throughout the state, including Sussex, Kent, and New Castle. If you have been hurt by a dog or an animal attack in Georgetown, Seaford, Dover, Smyrna, Middletown, Newark, Wilmington, or the Delaware Beaches, call us today for a consultation.
Delaware dog bite injury FAQs
What steps should you take after a dog bite?
The first step to take after any dog bite is to seek medical attention. This is not only for your safety, but it will also document the nature and severity of your injuries, as well as how they occurred. Dog bites require medical attention right away so they do not lead to complications such as infections and unnecessary scarring.
It is also important to obtain details regarding the dog and its owner. Ask the owner for their name and contact information and the vaccination records of the dog. Also take note of whether the dog was provoked or properly restrained at the time of the attack. If possible, take pictures of your injuries immediately after the bite and during your recovery.
Last but certainly not least, contact a Delaware dog bite lawyer who can advise you of your next steps, such as reporting the incident to Delaware Animal Services.
Are specific dog breeds illegal in Delaware?
No. Municipalities in Delaware are prohibited from placing restrictions on dogs based on their breed, or from deeming an animal as dangerous based solely on their breed.
What if I feel uncomfortable filing a lawsuit against my friend or relative?
It is not uncommon for people to be bitten or attacked by a dog when they are visiting a friend or relative’s house. It is natural to feel uncomfortable about filing a lawsuit against loved ones. In many cases, dog owners carry renters’ or homeowners insurance that will provide the coverage you need for a dog bite. Many of these cases are resolved during negotiations with the insurance company, so you may not have to file a lawsuit against your loved one.
Are there other liable parties in dog bite cases?
Someone other than the dog owner may be liable for a bite or attack. For example, if a landlord was aware of a dangerous dog on the premises and had the ability to remove or confine it, they may also carry some degree of liability.
Our dog bite lawyers in Delaware provide strong, compassionate legal advice
At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, our Delaware dog bite lawyers can provide the compassionate and knowledgeable legal guidance you need during this difficult time. We take the time to review all facts in your case, listen to your experience, and clearly explain your legal options. Call us now or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. There is no fee unless we successfully recover for you.