Bethel Park Dog Bite Lawyer

The Montour Trail around Bethel Park is a favorite hiking path for residents, but they should beware of dogs that have slipped their collars or been taken off leash by their owner. On the trail or elsewhere in Allegheny County, any dog is capable of attacking and biting people. 

If you or someone you love is suffering from a dog bite, our personal injury lawyers will fight for the fair compensation settlement or judgment you deserve. We draw from over 40 years of experience when supporting the rights of injured Pennsylvanians. Our clients always come first, and we never lose our focus. Schedule your free case consultation today and learn how a dog bite attorney can help you.

How Our Dog Bite Injury Attorneys Will Serve You

Our dog bite lawyers have served tens of thousands of personal injury victims in Pennsylvania. We have a reputation for achieving our goals, with three of our attorneys in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

We know dog bite injuries can be severe, potentially causing infections, nerve damage, disfigurement, or even traumatic brain injury. We will come to you in your home or the hospital to discuss your case if applicable and, knowing the financial strain that comes with an injury, we will charge no fees until we win your case. If we don’t win, you don’t pay.

This personal injury client represents the feedback we get from those we serve. They are our best spokespeople:

• “I was very prepared by the law firm, Bill talked me through all of the things that were going to occur, the events that would be happening during the court hearing. It was just exactly how he had said it was going to be. I would absolutely refer Berger and Green. They worked very hard for me and my family.”

Your Compensation Hinges on the Specifics of Your Dog Bite Claim

No two dog bite claims are the same. One victim might have suffered severe damage to their eye and part of their face after being attacked by a dog wandering off-leash and unsupervised. Another could have sustained a deep bite on the arm when reaching to pet a dog that they were given permission to pet.

Per Pennsylvania’s dog bite statute, the owner or keeper of a dog must pay for any medical costs resulting from a dog bite. If your personal injury attorney can prove negligence on the part of the animal owner or keeper, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit to pursue compensation for additional losses, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Disability 
• Disfigurement
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earnings
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of quality of life
• Mental anguish
• Emotional distress

If you lost a loved one due to an animal attack, our wrongful death lawyers can also help you seek wrongful death damages, such as funeral and burial costs and loss of companionship. 

Share your story with a dog bite attorney at Berger and Green. They will help to clarify the types of compensation you may be eligible to pursue. Contact us today for your free initial consultation.

Building Your Dog Bite Claim

Your dog bite attorney will examine and collect evidence to support your personal injury claim, including:

• Eyewitness statements
• CCTV footage
• Medical records concerning the treatment and extent of your injury 
• The dog owner’s history related to animal ownership
• The dog’s history of aggression
• Police report
• Insurance policies that may provide compensation for your losses

Once we have gathered evidence indicating fault and liability, our personal injury law firm will assist you in identifying each type of loss you’ve suffered and filing a claim with the liable party’s insurance company. We will then negotiate on your behalf for the compensation settlement you need and deserve.

Establishing Negligence for a Dog Bite Claim

If we intend to file a personal injury lawsuit and seek damages for your dog bite injury, we must prove negligence. Your dog bite injury lawyer will do this by focusing on the following:

• Duty of care—Pennsylvania’s dog laws require all dogs to be “under control” and not “run at large.” 
• Breach of duty—The dog owner or keeper failed to control or restrain the dog that they knew or should have known was aggressive.
• Causation—The dog owner’s or keeper’s breach of duty was a negligent act that resulted in the dog biting you.
• Damages—You sustained losses because of your injury.

Comparative Negligence and Your Dog Bite Case

The court or the insurance company may decide that actions on your part contributed to the animal attack. Even if this happens, you may still be allowed to recover some compensation for your losses.

Per Pa. C.S.A. § 7102, Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule in personal injury cases. This means if you are more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover compensation for your losses, but if you are 50% or less at fault for your injuries, you may recover compensation. In this case, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Dog Bite

In Pennsylvania, you may file a personal injury lawsuit to seek financial compensation for your losses from a dog bite, but you must do so within two years of the date of your injury, per Pa. C.S.A. § 5524. If you miss the statute of limitations, you may not be allowed to sue for damages. 

Some exceptions could extend the deadline. Your dog bite attorney will review the possible exceptions with you to determine if any apply to your case.

Share Your Story With a Bethel Park Dog Bite Lawyer

You and your family matter to us. Berger and Green is closing in on half a century of serving those injured due to another’s negligence. Our commitment to righting such wrongs remains as strong as it was the day we opened our doors.

We want to hear your story. Call our office or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free, confidential case consultation with a legal professional. We will do everything we can for you, even if you just need some solid legal advice.