Middlesex County dog bite lawyers

Was someone you love attacked by a dog in Middlesex County?

It’s terrifying to see someone attacked by a dog. But it happens a lot more often than most people realize. In fact, nearly 800,000 people require medical attention for dog bites every year in the United States. Middlesex County definitely sees its share of these horrible cases.

The saddest thing about dog bites is that children are most likely to suffer an attack. When someone is mauled by a dangerous dog, Virginia law allows you to seek compensation to cover the costs of your injury and more.

At GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys, we’re dog lovers, but we’re also parents. And when a negligent dog owner allows their animal to attack someone, we know how to use the law to protect our friends and neighbors in Middlesex County.

Call (804) 413-6777 to schedule a FREE consultation with one of our Middlesex County dog bite attorneys today.

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What to do when a dog attacks

It isn’t easy, but try to remain as calm as possible. Once the victim has been separated from the dangerous animal, apply first aid, and seek medical attention immediately.

Any bite that breaks the skin should be examined by a doctor. Your doctor will treat the wound and may prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.

Once you’ve made sure the victim has gotten medical attention, it’s time to report the incident to animal control. The dog needs to be checked to make sure its rabies vaccination is up-to-date, and if it is not, the dog needs to be quarantined.

Next, you can begin collecting information about the attack. This will be very helpful for your dog bite attorney’s investigation. You can start by gathering the names and contact information from anyone who witnessed the attack. An experienced dog bite attorney will also know how to obtain other relevant records.

Avoid discussing the incident with the dog’s owner or their insurance company. Insurance company agents may try to get you to accept a lowball offer, or they may even try to trick you into saying something that could hurt your claim. When it comes to dealing with insurance companies, let your lawyer do the talking.

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Dog bite laws in Virginia

You may have heard that Virginia’s “one bite” law means you can’t collect a settlement if your loved one is the first person a dog has bitten. But this simply isn’t true. Although Virginia’s dog bite laws aren’t as stringent as some other states’, a dog owner still has a responsibility to prevent harm.

In Virginia, every dog owner must:

1. Know if their dog is aggressive or is an aggressive breed.
2. Follow local leash laws.
3. Know where the dog is allowed to roam free and where it isn’t.
4. Have the dog wear its license tag.

When dog owners don’t consider the risks involved and fail to restrain an animal, their actions may harm children and others. There is no excuse for irresponsible behavior.

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It’s time to contact a Middlesex County dog bite injury attorney

A dog bite can be a serious medical issue. The victim may require extensive treatment to fully recover. Your Middlesex County personal injury attorney may use the following types of information to calculate the true cost of the victim’s injuries.

• The incident report
• Photographs and video evidence
• Ambulance fees
• Emergency room care
• Doctor’s office visits
• Surgery
• Skin grafting treatments

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Putting your life back together

Nobody should have to watch someone they love experience a dog attack. But when bad things happen, good people are supposed to look out for one another. At GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys, we consider it a calling to help accident victims in their time of need. We bring excellence, compassion, and decades of experience to every client.

We work on a contingency basis. That means we get paid when you get paid. Call (804) 413-6777 today and ask about our Zero Fee Guarantee. We will sit down and meet with you for free to help you determine your best course of action.

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