St. Paul MN Dog Bite Lawyers

Victims of a dog bite incident often choose to consult with St. Paul, MN dog bite lawyers to hold the owner accountable for their dog’s actions. Despite laws varying to some degree by state, in most cases, the owner of a dog is financially responsible for your wounds. At Johnston | Martineau, PLLP, we have years of experience assisting our clients in pursuing restitution for their injuries. Countless injured victims have relied on us to represent their interests and for support during the entire legal process. The St. Paul, MN dog bite lawyers from our firm may bring you compensation and justice for an injury that now causes you impairment and/or pain.

What to Do After a Bite Occurs

1. Seek medical treatment as promptly as possible
2. Identify the animal
3. Report the bite
4. Take pictures of the injury
5. Contact dog bite lawyers in St. Paul, MN who are familiar with handling dog bite cases

Animal bites can lead to an infection quickly, so you should contact your doctor as soon as possible. Try to gather all the details about the dog that you can, including breed, approximate weight, unique characteristics, age, color, and hair length. This is important, because St. Paul, MN dog bite lawyers may be able to document and narrow down potential owners if an owner was not present during the incident.

Additionally, you could call your local animal shelter or control facility and give them information about the incident as well. If the dog is running loose, a field officer can help catch it and bring it in for a holding period. Take pictures of the injury immediately after it happens, so you have proof of the wound’s severity.

Choosing dog bite lawyers St. Paul, MN can provide who are confident in handling a dog bite case is key if you wish to file a civil suit. At Johnston | Martineau, PLLP, our lawyers have worked on countless personal injury cases, and you can trust that we are knowledgeable in this field.

Factors in a Dog Bite Case

If the owner knew, or should have known, of the dog’s aggressive tendencies.

If an owner is aware that their dog is aggressive, is triggered by certain sounds, or is unfriendly to people in public, these details matter. Regardless of what makes their dog aggressive, it is their duty to create a safe environment for others.

If the victim sustained actual harm.

It is also a vital element that a bite truly caused some sort of harm. If the wound was minimal, then the treatment will be too. However, even if the bite is small, an owner can be responsible for trauma resulting from an attack.

If the victim was trespassing or provoked the dog.

If a party was trespassing into another person’s home or yard and a bite occurred, the owner cannot be held liable. Likewise, if a person was bitten but it happened due to him or her provoking the dog, then the owner is not at fault.

Contact Your Local St. Paul, MN Dog Bite Lawyers Today

If you’ve been injured from a dog bite, please give us a call today so our attorneys may hear about your case. At Johnston | Martineau, PLLP, we’re proud to be a trusted local law firm where injured victims can work with compassionate and knowledgeable St. Paul, MN dog bite lawyers.

St. Paul, MN Dog Bite Lawyers Discuss Statistics of Dog Bites in the US

If you have been bitten by a dog, you might want to contact dog bite lawyers who handle dog bite claims. An attack by a dog can be scary and unexpected. Within seconds you might have a serious puncture wound on your leg, hand, arm, or other area of your body.

Unfortunately, these injuries can be painful and impact some part or all of your life. St. Paul, MN dog bite lawyers from our firm understand the devastation of a dog bite injury and will work hard to help victims recover with ease. Regardless of what happened, we are ready to listen to your story and let you know what your options might be. For a free consultation with one of our skilled dog bite lawyers from Johnston | Martineau, PLLP, please call our office today.

Dog Bite Statistics

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in 2017, there were 4.5 million dog bites in the U.S. Of these, around 900,000 became infected. Other statistics include:

• 80% of dog bites cause only minor injuries and do not require medical treatment
• The chances of dying from a dog bite are 1 in 112,400 compared to 1 in 66,335 from a storm or 1 in 3,461 from choking on food
• Most dog bites involve a dog who has not been neutered or spayed
• 25% of fatal dog bites occur from a dog who was chained up
• In 2014, insurance companies paid over $530 million in settlements to dog bite victims

The Most Common Breeds of Dogs that Have Been Reported to Bite

Dogs that were reported to have bitten the most were:

• Chihuahua
• Bulldog
• Pit Bull
• German Shepherd
• Australian Shepherd
• Lhasa Apso
• Jack Russell Terrier
• Cocker Spaniel
• Bull Terrier
• Pekingese
• Papillion

Primary Reasons Why Dogs Bite

Many people profile certain breeds of dogs, but it is often not so much of the dog’s breed that causes it to bite, but its upbringing and your behavior. The following are the main reasons that could make a dog more prone to biting a person:

• Reaction to a stressful situation or event
• He or she might feel threatened or scared
• As a means of protecting themselves, puppies, or owners
• They may be startled or sick
• They might be playing or overly excited

By being aware of these potential triggers you may be able to recognize a risky situation and prevent a dog bite from happening.

Repercussions of a Dog Bite

Dog bite injuries can be broad and range from mild to moderate tears to severe lacerations. Common injuries that are seen in dog bite claims include:

• Severe tears and cuts
• Tissue damage
• Broken or cracked bones
• Extreme bruising
• Loss of limb
• Head, neck, or spine damage
• Blood loss
• Infection
• Scarring

FAQs on Dog Bites or Attacks That Happen to Innocent People

Not all dogs are friendly. Some may be too shy to greet a stranger and growl or bark in response to being approached. However, other dogs may even go as far as attacking innocent people without being provoked. If such an incident were to happen, the victim may suffer from painful soft tissue damage and emotional scars. It can be challenging to figure out if the owner is actually liable for medical bills and other damages associated with the attack. It can help to hire the St. Paul, Minnesota dog bite lawyers for advice on how to receive compensation for injuries.

Q: How do I know whether I need to hire an attorney for help?

A: A respectful dog owner may offer to pay for the victim’s medical bills without second thought. In other cases, the situation cannot be worked out amicably between owner and victim. The owner may not have even been present when the attack happened, or may defend their dog instead of being compassionate towards the victim. It may be time to meet with an attorney if:

• The dog bite or attack caused long-term or permanent health changes.
• The dog bite or attack occurred and he/she was not provoked.
• The owner of the dog violated a leash law or other ordinance.
• The dog that bit or attacked has a history of such behavior.

Q: What should I do after the dog bite/attack?

A: Victims of a dog bite or attack must gather the owner’s information. Exchange name and contact details with the owner, and take pictures of the dog and visible injuries. If you are worried the owner may try to give you false information or something feels suspicious, call the police for help. If there were witnesses nearby, ask if they are willing to provide a statement to your attorney about how the attack transpired. The more evidence you gather, the stronger your case can be when presented in court.

Q: Do I need to report what happened to animal control?

A: An attack or bite that led to injuries must be reported to animal control right away. The dog may have to be put on a rabies quarantine to ensure the victim doesn’t need any additional medical attention. It is especially important to call animal control if the dog was alone, didn’t have tags, or you weren’t able to find the owner. Animal control may be able to come out and retrieve the dog until the owner can be identified.

Q: What is a key component of a dog bite/attack lawsuit?

A: Evidence is vital to whether or not the victim of a dog bite or attack receives compensation through a civil lawsuit against the owner. The victim must show the extent of his or her injuries by providing medical documents related to exams, treatments, prescribed medication, and receipts. Maintaining an organized record of everything useful to the lawsuit can be helpful as the process is moving forward.

Get Help From Dog Bite Lawyers in St. Paul, MN

It is also possible to suffer an indirect injury from falling to the ground after being bitten. Furthermore many victims of dog bites experience psychological issues including PTSD and anxiety. If you have been bitten by a dog and have suffered from serious injuries, please call Johnston | Martineau, PLLP for a free consultation with one of our St. Paul, MN dog bite lawyers.