Whitby Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog bites can range in seriousness from a simple nip that does not even bruise or break the skin to a brutal attack with severe and even fatal injuries. The victims in these devastating attacks often experience immense pain, tissue damage, and disfigurement. Dog bites can also become infected, leading to other potential complications. Dog attack victims can also suffer emotional distress and post-traumatic stress disorder.

If a dog bit you in the Whitby area, you may be entitled to compensation to cover the cost of your medical expenses, time away from work, and the pain and suffering you have endured.

A dog bite lawyer serving Whitby may be able to evaluate your case and help you pursue compensation to the fullest extent of your injuries if you qualify. For a free initial consultation, contact Preszler Injury Lawyers today at 1-800-JUSTICE.

Injuries We Have Seen After a Dog Bite or Dog Attack

In our time as injury lawyers, we have seen all types of injuries from dog bites:

• Puncture wounds and tearing of the skin
• Cuts and lacerations
• Bruises and abrasions
• Eye injuries
• Injuries to nerves
• Amputation or partial amputation
• Crushing injuries, particularly in small children with delicate bones
• Fractures from falling
• Scarring
• Tetanus
• Rabies
• Meningitis

Proving Liability in a Dog Attack

The Ontario Dog Owners’ Liability Act establishes that an owner is automatically liable for damages that his or her dog inflicts on another person or domestic animal.

The dog owner does not have to be aware if their dog experienced any prior acts of aggression. Also, the plaintiff (you) does not need to prove the owner behaved negligently to hold the owner liable. For example, if the dog owner had the dog leashed and had no knowledge of any prior aggressive behaviour, the owner is still liable if the dog bites and injures you.

A dog bite lawyer serving Whitby may be able to help you pursue compensation to the fullest extent of your injuries, holding the dog owner liable for the damages their animal caused.

Contact Preszler Injury Lawyers today at 1-800-JUSTICE for a free, no-risk initial consultation.

Damages That Might Be Available

Every case is different, and the amount that you can recover is contingent on the details of the case and severity of your injuries. We cannot estimate how much your claim is worth without first reviewing your case and investigating the attack. However, if you qualify, you may be entitled to some or all of the following:

• Medical costs related to your injuries: This could include ambulance transportation, surgical procedures, doctors’ examinations, prescription medications, and any required therapies.
• Lost income: This could include compensation to repay you for income lost because of time away from work or future income if you experienced diminished earning potential.
• Pain and suffering: This type of damage is designed to compensate you for physical discomfort you have experienced (and may still be experiencing), as well as emotional distress.
• Other non-economic damages: These could include compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or disfigurement. These are not easily calculable damages because they are experienced differently by everyone.

These are just a few of the possible types of damages you may be entitled to after a dog bite or attack. You may be able to recover these damages as well as others.

How the Statute of Limitations May Impact Your Claim

Ontario has a limit to the amount of time that you have to file a personal injury claim after a dog bite attack under the Limitations Act. Generally, the deadline is two years from the date of a dog bite or attack. In most cases, if you do not file a claim within that 24-month timeframe, you are barred from recovering compensation for your injuries.

There are some exceptions to this, such as if the victim is a minor or suffers from disabilities that affect his or her cognitive function.

The two-year period also applies to wrongful death claims. If your family member died as a result of the severity of their injuries, you must pursue compensation for your damages within two years of their death.

How a Dog Bite Lawyer Serving Whitby May Be Able to Help

While the dog owner is automatically held liable for your injuries under the Ontario Dog Bite Owners’ Liability Act, that does not automatically guarantee you will receive fair and just compensation for the attack.

If you are eligible to pursue a civil claim, our dog bite lawyers may be able to and gather the evidence required to build a strong case to justify your claim.

Some types of evidence that might be beneficial to your case include:

• Medical records that show the amount of medication you have had to take because of your accident and the treatment you were prescribed
• Medical bills that show the economic losses you have suffered
• Employment records that show any time you have had to miss work because of your injuries
• Eyewitness statements
• Police reports
• Expert statements from physicians who can testify to how your injuries will impact your future quality of life
• Surveillance video of your attack, if it exists

To take advantage of our free, no-risk initial consultation, contact us today at 1-800-JUSTICE. We work on a contingency basis which means you pay us nothing unless and until we win your case. If you do not recover compensation, you do not pay us. There is no risk to using our services.