Home Mathews County Dog Bite

Mathews County dog bite attorneys


Getting compensation for your dog bite injuries

Being attacked by a dog is terrifying, especially when it happens to a child. Most victims of dog attacks are children, and this distressing event can have a lasting impact on their physical and emotional health.

As a rural county, Mathews County residents own many dogs that are able to enjoy the wide open spaces and many coastal areas of the county. While dogs can be wonderful companions, they can hurt people in certain situations.

In fact, more than 4.5 million Americans are attacked by dogs every year, and more than 800,000 of these victims require medical care, according to the Center for Disease Control. A dog bite can lead to infection, scarring, and serious emotional trauma.

Dog owners have a responsibility to prevent their animal from harming others. If you or a loved one was injured in a dog attack, you can seek compensation to cover the cost of your medical bills and other expenses caused by the incident.

At GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys, we help our neighbors in Mathews when you need it most, with compassion and excellence. Call (804) 413-6777 to schedule a FREE meeting with us today. We will sit down with you and go over your best options to help you make the best decisions going forward. We are based in Gloucester, but we gladly come to you when you need help.

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What to do after a dog attack in Mathews County

Try to stay calm after a dog attack, although that isn’t easy. However, you can take immediate steps to make sure the victim gets the right care.

If the bite broke the skin, apply first aid, and get the victim to a doctor right away. Dog bites can cause serious medical consequences, including scaring rand infections. In addition to dressing the wound, your doctor may want to treat it with a tetanus shot and antibiotics.

After you are certain the victim is getting needed medical attention, you can begin taking steps to document the attack. Start by reporting the incident to the Virginia Department of Health.

Collect contact information from the dog’s owner and anyone who witnessed the attack. Use your cell phone to take pictures of the injuries to share with your attorney. Keep records of all medical care the victim receives.

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Your dog bite attorney knows what to do

The dog owner’s insurance company may try to contact you and offer you a settlement. You should at least speak with a Virginia dog bite attorney first. An insurance company representative may try to get you to say things that could damage your claim. That’s why it’s wise to let a trained lawyer represent you.

Virginia has complicated dog bite laws, and the owner’s insurance company may try to tell you don’t have a case if the dog has never bitten anyone before. But this isn’t always true particularly if the dog has displayed aggressive behavior before. However, we generally have to prove that the dog has bitten another person before and the owner was on notice of the previous attack. The dog’s owner is ultimately responsible for preventing it from hurting people, and you have the right to seek compensation if you or a loved one were hurt.

Your Mathews County injury attorney will investigate the attack by speaking with witnesses, reviewing the incident report, and going over the victim’s medical records. Your lawyer can also obtain records about the dog and its owner. Then your lawyer will prepare a claim that covers all the expenses you are facing. This may include:

  • Ambulance transport
  • Emergency room care
  • Doctor’s office visits
  • Time missed from work
  • Pain and suffering
  • Reconstructive surgery

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The true costs of a dog attack

A dog attack is likely to have lasting consequences. The physical injuries may be significant, requiring several treatments over a long period of time. Even after the wounds have healed, plastic surgery may be required to eliminate scarring. These treatments can be costly.

Ask you doctor if he or she can recommend counseling for victims of an animal attack. This can be an important part of the healing process, especially when the victim is a child.

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Compassionate, outstanding assistance in your time of need

At GisbonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys, we consider it a calling to help accident victims get the compensation you need to cover the cost of your care and put your life back together. We do everything we can to provide comfort and support for you and your family in Mathews.

Call (804) 413-6777 to schedule a FREE consultation today. We’ll tell you about our Zero Fee Guarantee: meaning we get paid when you get paid. We will always treat you like the neighbor that you are, never like a number.

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Call our Eastern Virginia office today for a free consultation
at (804) 413-6777 or toll free (855) 781-6777.

Zero Fee Guarantee

It costs you nothing for our firm to represent you. We only get paid when you do. Learn more

Community Service

Prevention, empathy, and diligence are hallmarks of everything we do at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys. Our community can see these ideals lived out in our work to prevent personal injuries from happening.

  • Safety Education
    GibsonSingleton launches “Texts=Wrecks” campaign to reduce the number of people injured or killed by distracted drivers.
  • Annual Coat Drive
    During the fall, our team works to distribute coats to people in need in our community.
  • Hands-on Service
    John and Ken join the Gloucester Point Rotary Club in cleaning up the community.
  • Supporting Local Schools
    The Gibson family participates in Gloucester’s Botetourt Elementary Shuffle fundraiser.