Augusta Dog Bite Lawyer

If you have injuries from a dog bite, Georgia law lets you hold the dog’s owner legally responsible for your medical care and other related losses. An Augusta dog bite lawyer from our team helps victims of these attacks develop insurance claims and lawsuits to seek monetary damages. We know how these cases work; after all, we’ve served our community since 1984.

The Hawk Firm offers free consultations so you can learn about your legal options. Call us today to discuss your next steps and get answers to your questions. We are here for you after an Augusta dog bite injury.

Table of Contents

• How Our Dog Bite Lawyers Build and Manage Injury Claims
• We Abide by All Case-Related Deadlines in Dog Bite Cases
• We Advocate for Dog Bite Accident Claimants With Serious Conditions
• Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Bite Cases in Augusta

Our Augusta Dog Bite Lawyers Represents Injury Victims

At The Hawk Firm, our firm founder, Jacque Hawk, has served personal injury claimants for almost 35 years. He and his team have one of the most recognized and successful firms in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA). As a trial lawyer, he regularly secures settlements and verdicts in personal injury cases. He litigates cases when needed and always fights for his clients’ best interests.

We dedicate ourselves to getting justice in the form of financial recovery. We work closely with each client to ensure they feel empowered and confident in our abilities to handle their case. Our goal is to provide peace of mind during this difficult and stressful time.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Dog Bite Lawyer? Nothing.

We work based on contingency. Our attorneys never charge a retainer or hourly fees. We only charge our clients after we resolve their cases, recovering compensation through a settlement or verdict. If we do not win money for our client, we do not charge attorney’s fees.

How Our Dog Bite Lawyers Build and Manage Injury Claims

We offer comprehensive legal services to injured claimants in Augusta. To guide your case to a fair conclusion, we intend to:

Apply State Law to Your injury Claim/Lawsuit

Georgia law has what some people call a “one bite” rule when it comes to dog bites. This means the dog essentially gets a “free” bite before the owner faces consequences. A dog owner in Georgia is strictly liable for their dog’s behavior if there is a documented history of biting or other aggression. When a dog has a history of viciousness, the owner must follow strict rules to keep the animal contained and ensure others’ safety.

If a dog with a history of aggression bit you, Georgia law allows you to build a case against the owner and recover damages when:

• They own the dog.
• They know the dog has a history of similar aggressive behavior.
• The dog attacked without provocation.
• You suffered injuries in the attack.

While this law supports financial recovery for some injured victims, it is not the only way—or always the best way—to pursue compensation after a dog bite. Because Augusta has strict leash laws, it is sometimes possible to show the owner acted negligently.

To show negligence, you need an Augusta dog bite lawyer who can prove:

• Duty of care. The dog’s owner had a legal obligation to protect others from their pet.
• Breach of duty. The dog’s owner failed in this obligation.
• Causation. An aggressive dog bit you, causing injuries.
• Damages. You have losses arising from the injury, such as medical bills.

Investigate Your Dog Bite

When our team takes on your Augusta dog bite claim, we must find evidence to support the factors listed above.

Building strong support for this type of insurance claim or lawsuit requires us to:

• Interview eyewitnesses
• Obtain photos or videos of the attack
• Survey the scene
• Seek documentation of previous events
• Request any official reports or documents
• Assess the liability insurance coverage available from the dog’s owner
• Review the relevant medical records
• Work with experts to understand your prognosis and future needs
• Document the damages

We need all available evidence to help us understand and document what happened. This allows us to show the owner’s negligence or prove the dog has a history of aggressive behavior. This will be necessary when we file an insurance claim or lawsuit.

File Your Insurance Claim

The liable party in your case is likely an insurance company, whether it covers someone’s home or business. Yet, not all insurance companies are eager to resolve dog bite accident claims. Some even go to extensive lengths to deny claimants what they need.

The Hawk Firm can manage everything related to your insurance claim, from its bureaucratic side to its negotiating side. We intend to seek the best possible outcome for your case, and we hope to accomplish that through a claim.

File a Dog Bite Injury Lawsuit

There are several reasons why an insurance payout may not be possible or the best option in your case. We may recommend filing a lawsuit. We handle this process and answer any questions you have.

Some reasons why we might recommend a lawsuit in your case include:

• The insurance company will not offer a fair payout.
• There are significant questions about the facts of the case.
• Time is running out to begin a lawsuit.
• Punitive damages could be available.
• Our attorneys have a case-specific reason why a lawsuit is helpful.

You don’t have to worry about litigation when our firm advocates for you. When we take a case to court, we intend to win it. All you have to focus on is recovering from your condition. The Hawk Firm takes care of everything else.

Damages Recoverable With Our Augusta Personal Injury Attorneys

When calculating how much your case might be worth, we:

• Collect bills, receipts, and other documents
• Obtain relevant medical records
• Enlist the help of medical experts
• Estimate the cost of future and ongoing care and support

Knowing how much a case is worth is essential before we file the claim or begin negotiations with the insurance company. It is the only way to know when the insurance representatives make a fair offer. Without knowing the value of our client’s expenses and losses, we do not know when to accept an offer and end negotiations.

Our firm wants to recover what you need. By knowing the full cost of your injury-related losses, we can pursue a figure that represents your situation.

We Seek Damages for Dog Bite Injury Survivors

Some recoverable damages in non-fatal dog bite cases include:

• Medical bills, including mental health care costs
• Ongoing and future medical needs
• Rehabilitation and related expenses
• Loss of income, wages, tips, and other job revenue
• Reduced earning ability due to permanent injuries
• Related out-of-pocket expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Other intangible losses, such as disfigurement

While they are difficult to quantify, we must not underestimate the value of your non-economic damages. Even though they don’t have monetary values, they lead to significant losses in your everyday life. This is often the most difficult part of injuries to overcome. Wounds heal, but the scars remind you, and any limitations left can affect almost every aspect of your life.

Our attorneys know how to put a price on your intangible losses, including pain and suffering, reduced quality of life, scarring and disfigurement, and more. We fight to help our clients recover fair damages—economic and non-economic.

We Advocate for Wrongful Death Claimants

We handle wrongful death compensation cases, too. If your child, parent, or spouse passed away due to dog bite injuries in Augusta, we can review the possible solutions for justice. We provide free case reviews and often help grieving families secure compensation for their out-of-pocket expenses, loss of income, intangible damages, and other losses.

We understand this is a difficult time for you and your family. You can expect our team to treat your case with compassion and dignity. We believe your loved one deserves justice.

We Advocate for Dog Bite Accident Claimants With Serious Conditions

While some dog bites cause superficial injuries, others lead to serious or even permanent conditions. According to a study published in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, an average of 19 deaths occur annually in the United States because of dog attacks. This number could go up as the number of dogs as the interaction with dogs increases.

Most people who suffer dog bites—more than four million each year—survive their injuries. However, this does not mean they do not have significant medical bills and other expenses related to the ordeal.

We manage legal cases for those who have suffered:

• Puncture wounds
• Lacerations
• Injuries to muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues
• Broken bones

Serious bite injuries can lead to lasting damage. This could affect the victim for years to come.

These conditions include:

• Scarring and disfigurement
• Amputations
• Nerve damage

You Could Sustain Mental Health Complications From a Dog Bite

It is also common for victims of dog bites to have lasting psychological effects. These could require counseling or other mental health care to combat. Civil courts and insurance companies handle the cost of this care the same way they do physical treatment and care, as long as the physician documents the diagnosis properly. ‘

Mental health complications after a dog bite include:

• Fear of dogs
• Anxiety
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Dog bite injuries can be devastating, both physically and emotionally. Getting care and improving as much as your injuries allow should be your top priority after an attack. However, you also need to consider how to pay for this treatment, support, and other losses. This is where our team comes in. We can handle your insurance claim or lawsuit while you focus on healing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Bite Cases in Augusta

The Hawk Firm wants to provide the answers you need to make decisions moving forward. Some questions you may have include:

Does It Matter What Dog Breed Bit Me?

Augusta does not have any laws banning certain dog breeds. So, it doesn’t matter what dog bit you; you can still seek damages from the animal’s owner.

How Much Can I Seek for My Injury-Related Losses?

How much you can seek depends on:

• Your estimated recovery period
• The severity of your condition
• The cost of your financial losses
• Your missed time from work
• Your overall well-being

Our team aims to resolve your case with the best possible outcome.

What Should I Do After an Aggressive Dog Bites Me?

You should seek medical attention immediately following a dog bite. Even something seemingly minor, like a puncture wound, could open your body up to nasty infections. These infections could cause you more pain than the physical injury itself.

In addition to seeking medical care, you should keep the area around the wound clean. This may involve regularly changing bandages or applying antibiotic creams. This way, you prevent your condition from worsening, and you combat any allegations that you made the condition worse.

What if the Dog’s Owner Rehomes the Dog?

Just because the dog owner rehomed the animal doesn’t free them from liability. You still have injury-related losses, and they still have an obligation to pay them. Our attorneys can protect you from any tactics designed to dispute or delay your case. We aim to hold the dog owner accountable for their pet’s aggression.

Talk to Our Augusta Dog Bite Injury Team Today

The Hawk Firm offers free case reviews for victims of Augusta dog bites and their families. Our team can discuss your injuries, legal rights, and possible solutions during this initial consultation. We address questions and give the answers you need about our services. For more information, reach out to an Augusta personal injury lawyer.

Contact us now to get started. Call us today at (706) 724-8537 for your free case assessment.

Client Testimonials

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Star Review

“Best Law Firm in the CSRA! Thank you Hawk Firm for handling all of my legal needs with outstanding professionalism! Highly recommend The Hawk Firm to anyone in need of legal services!” -Rob W.