Phoenix Dog Bite Lawyer

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Were you or a loved one bitten by a dog in Phoenix, AZ? You may be entitled to recover compensation from the dog owner to help with medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. Contact our experienced Phoenix dog bite lawyer from Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers at (602) 595-5559 to help you get full compensation.

Our lawyers have over 55 years of experience helping clients recover full financial compensation for their injuries. In fact, we’ve recovered over $30 million since we opened our doors. Our team has a 98% percent success rate when it comes to personal injury cases like catastrophic injuries, workplace accidents, premises liability, assault injuries in Phoenix, brain injuries, Phoenix construction accidents, and many more

If you suffered injuries, call our law offices in Phoenix, Arizona, and schedule a free consultation at any time.

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How Can Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers Help After a Dog Bite in Phoenix, AZ?

Dogs can bring a lot of joy to life. Unfortunately, when dog owners are irresponsible, they can also cause serious injuries. If you were bitten by a dog, the animal’s owner should be responsible for paying your damages.

An experienced Phoenix personal injury attorney can help you recover every dollar you deserve.

When you trust Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers to protect your rights, you will have a skilled attorney to:

Help you understand your rights under Arizona law
Gather evidence to support your case
Hire experts to help with particularly complex aspects of your case
Calculate the fair value of your personal injury claim
Negotiate with the insurance companies for the fair settlement you deserve
Advocate for you in court if the insurance company refuses to offer an acceptable deal

Settling for less than you deserve can come back to haunt you in the future. Our Phoenix personal injury attorneys will do everything we can to recover the maximum compensation possible in your case. To get started, call for a free case review today.

How Common Are Dog Bites in Arizona?

According to the CDC, about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in the United States each year. Roughly 800,000 of those dog bite injuries are serious enough that the victim requires medical care.

The Arizona Department of Health also publishes data on dog bites in the state. That data shows that severe dog bite injuries are on the rise.

Over a five-year period, 34,151 dog bite victims in Arizona visited the emergency room for treatment. A total of 2,358 dog bite victims were hospitalized. Treatment for dog bite injuries in Arizona cost about $55,000,000 over the same five-year period.

What Is My Phoenix Dog Bite Injury Case Worth?

No two injuries are exactly alike. Many different factors are important when assessing your case value, so it’s important to speak with an experienced attorney for help determining how much your case is worth.

When we calculate how much your personal injury case is worth, our lawyers will consider:

The type and severity of your injuries
The cost of your medical treatment
Your anticipated need for future medical attention
Whether you lose income during recovery
How the dog bite and injury will impact your future, including your quality of life and emotional wellbeing
The circumstances of the dog bite

Most homeowners’ insurance policies cover dog bite claims. That said, insurance companies do not simply hand over the fair compensation victims deserve. Instead, they’ll look for ways to downplay your injuries or even blame you for provoking the dog to bite.

When you’re facing a large insurance company with virtually unlimited resources, it’s important to have a skilled attorney by your side. At Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers, our lawyers in Phoenix have years of experience helping clients like you. We’re prepared to stand up and fight to protect you.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Dog Bite Victims in Phoenix?

Under Arizona personal injury laws, you can seek compensation for both financial and non-financial losses. These losses are called “damages.”

Examples of your financial, or economic damages include:

Past and future medical expenses
Lost wages
Reduced earning potential
Physical therapy
Rehabilitation
Nursing care
Counseling

Examples of your non-financial, or non-economic damages include:

Pain and suffering
Mental anguish
Diminished quality of life
Disfigurement
Scarring
Fear and anxiety
Depression
PTSD
Loss of consortium

As the victim, you must identify the specific damages you have suffered due to the dog bite injury. Our lawyers can help you document all of the losses you’ve sustained. Just give us a call for a free initial consultation today.

Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Dog Bite Injury in Arizona?

Dog owners often defend themselves by claiming that the victim provoked the dog. If the owner can prove that you did something that would reasonably provoke the animal to bite, you may lose your right to recover damages under Arizona’s strict liability dog bite law.

Arizona is a pure comparative negligence state. Generally speaking, injured parties who are partly responsible for their own injuries are also partly liable for their own damages. In cases based on negligence, your compensation can be reduced in proportion to your own percentage of fault.

Our Lawyers Will Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Dog Bite Injuries

Dog bites and animal attacks can cause shockingly severe injuries–especially when the victim is knocked to the ground by the force of the attack.

At Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers, our lawyers represent injured clients who have suffered:

Puncture wounds
Broken bones
Nerve damage
Soft tissue damage
Traumatic brain injuries
Spinal cord injuries
Head and neck injuries
Concussions
Back injuries
Organ damage
Permanent scarring and disfigurement
Amputations due to infection
Sepsis

In the most severe cases, dog bite injuries can be catastrophic and lead to wrongful death. If you or a loved one were injured by a dog, please contact our law firm in Phoenix to learn more about your legal options today.

How Do I Prove I Deserve Compensation After a Dog Bite in Arizona?

Every state follows a different type of dog bite law. Some states are “one bite” states. In these states, dog owners are only liable if the dog has bitten at least once before.

Arizona isn’t a one bite state. Instead, a strict liability dog bite law applies.

Dog owners can be held liable for all damages if:

The dog bites another person
While that person was on public property or lawfully on private property

The dog owner can even be held liable if the dog bites the person on the dog owner’s own property. To recover damages, you won’t have to prove that the dog owner knew about the dog’s vicious propensities.

Are There Any Defenses to a Dog Owner’s Liability for Dog Bites?

Dog owners have two primary defenses to avoid liability under the strict liability law:

You were trespassing at the time of the dog bite
You provoked the dog, and that’s why it bit you

So, if the dog owner can prove that you were on the property illegally or did something that a reasonable person would believe would provoke the dog, they can avoid paying your damages.

Can Negligence Play a Role in My Dog Bite Case?

Yes. Arizona’s strict liability dog bite law only applies if the injuries were caused by a dog bite. If the dog attacks and injures you but does not bite, the owner is not strictly liable, and you will have to prove negligence to recover damages.

To prove negligence, you must prove four separate elements, including:

The dog owner’s legal duty of care
A breach of duty occurred
The breach allowed the dog bite to happen
The damages you suffered

In other words, you’ll have to prove that the dog bite occurred because the dog owner failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the animal attack.

Our lawyers at Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers have been helping clients prove negligence for years.

We’ll gather the evidence you need to prove your case, including:

Evidence that the dog owner violated Phoenix leash laws
Statements from eyewitnesses
Statements from neighbors
Video surveillance footage
Medical records
And more

If the dog owner fails to keep a dangerous dog secured, our Phoenix dog bite attorneys can help you prove it. Just call our law firm to schedule a free consultation today.

How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Dog Bite in Arizona?

After sustaining an injury, things can be hectic. Still, it’s important to take legal action relatively soon after being bitten by a dog. Under Arizona’s statute of limitations, you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Wait any longer, and you lose your right to sue for damages.

Contact a Phoenix Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Consultation

Dogs can be unpredictable. It’s up to the dog’s owner to take precautions to keep others safe. If you were bitten by a dog, a Phoenix dog bite attorney can help you fight for the fair compensation you deserve. Call Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers, to learn more about this area of law today.

Phoenix Dog Bite Client Review

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Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Phoenix, AZ

Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers
1221 E Osborn Rd., Suite 201
Phoenix, AZ 85014
(602) 595-5559

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