Rabies From a Dog Bite in Pittsburgh

Were you or someone you love bitten by a dog in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania? If the dog was not up to date on its vaccines, you could be at risk of developing rabies. According to the Mayo Clinic, rabies is a virus that is spread through an infected animal’s saliva, usually through a bite. Once the symptoms of rabies become apparent, the virus will almost always result in a fatality.

If you were bitten by a dog and cannot definitively establish that the dog is rabies-free, the treatment recommended by the Mayo Clinic is a single fast-acting shot followed by a series of injections for 14 days.

You could be entitled to financial compensation for the physical and emotional trauma of a dog bite, as well as for the medical treatments your condition required. Call Berger and Green today to find out how a Pittsburgh rabies lawyer can help you pursue compensation.

Berger and Green Can Help After a Dog Bite

A dog bite can lead to serious injuries and permanent scars. If your injury puts you at risk of developing rabies, you might also have to endure a series of vaccines. When you are ready to hold the at-fault dog owner responsible for the actions of their pet, our team will support your right to compensation.

With over 40 years of experience, we will:

• Determine if you have the basis of a personal injury case
• Keep you updated on your case’s progress
• Review possible avenues of financial recovery
• Negotiate for a fair financial settlement

We take your case seriously. We want to give your situation the time and attention to detail it deserves. Review the details of your dog bite incident with a member of our team so we can get started exploring your financial recovery options.

Pennsylvania Dog Owners Have a Duty of Care

Every dog owner in the state of Pennsylvania must abide by certain regulations that govern the details of their ownership. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture shares the legal responsibility of dog owners to maintain and manage their animals.

According to these guidelines, a dog’s owner is responsible for:

• Maintaining control of their dog
• Not allowing their dog to run loose
• Damages caused by their dog
• Vaccinating their dog against rabies and other diseases
• Licensing their dog

If the owner of the dog that bit you cannot prove that their dog was vaccinated for rabies, you will likely need preventative medical care. The dog’s owner can be held legally accountable for the cost of these treatments and the other financial expenses stemming from the incident.

Compensable Losses Following a Dog Bite

Were you or a loved one recently injured by a dog bite and forced to undergo treatment for rabies? You have the opportunity to work with a Pittsburgh rabies lawyer who can strategize a course of legal action on your behalf.

Some types of recoverable damages in your case could include:

• Medical bills, including the cost of treatment for the dog bite, preventative rabies care, and follow-up visits
• Lost wages, if your condition caused you to miss time from work
• Reduced earning capacity, if your injuries required you to work at a lower capacity than you did before the incident
• Pain and suffering
• Disability
• Physical disfigurement
• The cost of mental health counseling

If you lost a loved one due to the rabies virus, then you could be entitled to collect compensation for funeral expenses, loss of consortium, and your loved one’s final medical expenses.

Are you ready to assess the full monetary value of your compensation case?

We Can Help You Build a Case

Building a successful case means proving the cause of your injuries, the identity of the dog that bit you, and the identity of its owner. It also means proving the severity of your injuries and their financial impact.

We can use the following evidence to build a case, including:

• Your medical records
• Your medical bills
• The dog’s veterinary records
• Your income statements, if you are claiming lost wages
• The police or incident report
• Pictures of your injuries
• Witness statements

Your lawyer will get the documents, photos, and billing statements that you need to build your case. We can collect these pieces of information on your behalf while you recover from your injuries and spend time with your loved ones.

Your Lawyer Can Explain the State’s Statute of Limitations

While you are legally entitled to hold the owner of the dog that bit you financially responsible, the time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit is limited. The statute of limitations in Pennsylvania generally gives claimants two years to file a lawsuit, according to 42 Pa. CSA § 5524.

If you do not file your lawsuit on time, you will be unable to file it at all. Our team encourages you to take prompt action regarding your legal matters.

Do not let time run out on your right to financial compensation. The sooner you contact our team, the sooner we can start working on your case. With our team’s assistance, you can focus on your physical recovery while we work on filing your lawsuit within the state’s statute of limitations.

Berger and Green Is Here to Help After Developing Rabies from a Dog Bite

Were you or a member of your family bitten by an unvaccinated dog? If so, you do not need to go through the legal process without help. We encourage you to call Berger and Green today. We work on a contingency-fee-basis, meaning that you do not need to worry about paying our attorney’s fees unless your personal injury case is successful.

We can explain how a Pittsburgh rabies lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve.