Being bitten by a dog can be incredibly frustrating. Not only do you need to deal with physical pain, but you might also have some serious financial burdens as well. Medical bills can rapidly add up, as can the possibility of lost wages. If you want to get some of that money back, then a lawsuit is a great idea.
Unfortunately, lawsuits can be just as complicated as they are helpful. Laws can be very different between different states, so you will need to firmly grasp how the law works in your specific state. Here are some of the laws that you will need to consider when planning a dog bite lawsuit in Georgia:
How easy is it to prove liability in Georgia?
Relative to other states, Georgia can be pretty unsympathetic to your plight. The standards are pretty high for proving liability, so you will not be able to easily point the finger at the defendant. In order to actually prove that the defendant should pay your damages, you will need to prove that the animal was dangerous and that the owner didn't try to reasonably prevent the attack.
This can be extremely difficult, since it is very easy to imagine a scenario where the dog bit you without provocation or warning, which would generally be enough to absolve the owner of liability. In other words, you won't be able to get any money if the owner can prove that they had no idea that the dog would act aggressively and bite you.
Were you trespassing at the time?
You also need to worry about whether or not you were trespassing. If you were illegally on the owner's property at the time, then your lawsuit just got a lot harder to win. In fact, it will be practically impossible to prove that the owner was liable for the bite if you were trespassing, especially if the dog was startled or provoked.
Did you provoke the dog in any way?
On top of that, you need to be very mindful about whether or not you actually provoked the dog. If you did provoke the dog, then a lawsuit will be extraordinarily difficult to win. The defense may try to insinuate or prove that you provoked the dog, in which case you will need to have a solid defense prepared. Due to the subjective nature of this topic, much of the outcome will depend on the court's perception of you and the defendant, so you will want to make an effort to endear yourself to the court. Contact a personal injury attorney for more information.
Share
