Our Las Vegas personal injury attorneys get asked a lot of questions during a free case evaluation. One of the most relevant, however, is whether a victim is entitled to compensation. In most cases where the negligence of an individual leads to injuries, this question is a relatively simple one to answer. Personal injury claims rely on proving liability, and this could be as straightforward as showing that someone failed to yield to oncoming traffic. Unfortunately, things aren’t so clear-cut in Las Vegas dog bite cases. That’s because Nevada recognizes the one-bite rule.

This means that an owner must have been aware of their pet’s violent tendencies in order to be held liable in most cases. For instance, perhaps they witnessed their animal attack someone in the past. Maybe animal control classified their pet as a “dangerous dog” after fielding repeat calls. This requirement creates what many people see as an unfair burden on victims of dog bites. Fortunately, there are ways around this rule. For instance, some local ordinances create strict liability for dog owners — meaning they can be held financially accountable even on a dog’s first bite. There are also some unique circumstances that could create liability for the owner.

For instance, a dog bite may occur because the owner fails to abide by pet ownership statutes. This could happen if there are leash laws in an area and a person walks their dog without a tether. This is a clear act of negligence and a violation of their duty of care to others. This means that a dog bite lawsuit can move forward even without evidence of prior vicious acts by the animal. The important thing to remember is that there is no “one-size-fits-all” answer to whether a dog bite case will lead to compensation. This is why you should reach out to High Stakes Injury Law today for a free consultation.

Dog bites can result in serious injuries, and if you’re eligible to recover compensation, you may wonder how much you’ll be able to receive. There is no single answer to this question. Potential financial recovery depends entirely on your physical injuries and other losses. However, any potential damages will typically fall into three categories — not including attorney fees you may be entitled to. Not every animal attack victim will be eligible for all of these, but the following are potential damages that a dog’s owner may have to pay:

Whether you have a Las Vegas dog bite attorney will not dictate whether you’re entitled to these damages. However, failure to seek legal representation could reduce your ability to recover damages that cover all your losses. That’s because statistics consistently show that personal injury victims with attorneys receive higher settlements and court awards than their pro se (i.e., people representing themselves) counterparts. This is one of the many reasons you should contact an attorney experienced in dog bites immediately after you seek medical attention. This single decision will likely be one of the most important you ever make

The victim of an animal attack will have a lot on their plate. In addition to worrying about medical bills and lost wages while out of work, they’re often left wondering how to hold negligent owners accountable. Even if you haven’t suffered significant dog bite injuries of a physical nature, the emotional trauma of an attack can last a lifetime. Nevada law may seem like it doesn’t take damages of any kind seriously — particularly because of the state’s one-bite laws. However, it’s important to realize that you might be entitled to compensation even if a dog has never shown any violent tendencies. Las Vegas personal injury attorneys may be able to help prove your case.

At High Stakes Injury Law, our team of legal professionals has seen the damage that a dangerous dog can do. Unfortunately, we’ve also seen victims of dog bite cases wonder how they’re going to deal with the burdensome consequences of their injuries. After all, it’s not as if the police are going to visit a negligent pet owner’s property and tell them, “Here’s the hospital bill; make sure you pay it.” Fortunately, there are other legal remedies available. The best approach to your case will depend on the underlying circumstances, so schedule a free consultation with High Stakes Injury Law today.

Contact us online or call (702) 720-2916. Our dog bite lawyers in Las Vegas are ready to assist.