Dog Bite Injury Attorneys in Topeka, Kansas

Dog bites can result in severe physical and emotional injury or even death, for which the dog owner may be liable.

Recovering fair compensation may not be as straightforward as it should be, however. Kansas laws regarding dog bite injury cases are complex and insurance companies are skilled at denying liability and/or pressurizing claimants into settling for less than they deserve.

To advance your claim with confidence, it helps to have a seasoned dog bite injury lawyer fighting your corner and prepared to file a lawsuit.

The personal injury lawyers at Irigonegaray & Revenaugh, LLP, in Topeka, Kansas will target the maximum compensation for your dog bite injuries and not settle for less from the insurance company of the at-fault party — even if it requires litigation.

After an attack by a dog, many victims feel vulnerable and emotionally distraught as they nurse their physical injuries.

This is no time to have to handle loss adjusters at insurance companies, many of which are notoriously difficult to deal with. They are out to minimize the insurance company’s losses, which is in direct competition with what you want.

How our dog bite injury lawyers advance your claim

We understand the tricks and strategies used by insurance companies and will be ready for them. We handle all communications with the negligent party’s insurance company and use our experience in these cases to prove liability and advance your claim as quickly as possible.

Our policy is to negotiate forcefully with insurance companies because few cases end up going to trial in Topeka. Most liable parties want to avoid a judge making a decision that could end up more expensive than a fair out-of-court settlement.

After initial discussions, we can get to work on your case immediately, gathering the facts of the dog bite attack and evidence to build a strong claim. We will evaluate police and medical reports and assess the extent of your injuries.

Based on our prior experience with other cases, we will develop a good estimate of the level of compensation you deserve. If the expected amount is not forthcoming, we will not hesitate to take the matter to court.

The more evidence we can gather to prove liability, the stronger our negotiating position will be with the insurance company of the dog owner.

The Kansas laws on dog bite claims mean that anyone injured by a dog bite must prove one of the following to recover damages:

• The dog’s owner knew the dog would bite, or
• The owner failed to use reasonable care to prevent the injuries

The first element is known as the “one bite rule”: to hold the owner liable for injuries caused. you must prove that he/she knew (or had reason to know) that the dog would bite. This can be extremely challenging without the assistance of a personal injury lawyer.

Generally speaking, if the same dog had bitten someone before and caused injuries or was acting aggressively, this should demonstrate that the owner knew or should have known that the dog might attack and bite you.

The other way to prove liability is to show that the dog’s owner failed to use reasonable care, leading to the victim’s dog bite or another dog-related injury.

Our lawyers will fully investigate the case and gather as much evidence as possible. This may include photographs and surveillance video, as well as interviews with witnesses/first responders and checking police reports.

We may also require evidence and testimony from animal control and medical experts as we build your case, demonstrating the extent of your injuries and the level of care you need now and (if applicable) in the future.

Some victims of serious dog attacks need not only multiple surgeries and long-term rehabilitation but they are emotionally traumatized too. Some can even suffer from PTSD.

The consequences of permanent scarring or disfigurement extend well beyond the immediate days and weeks after the attack too. Mental anguish can last long after the physical injuries have healed.

Expensive plastic surgery may also be required. Recovering from injuries can impact your work as well as your social and family life.

If you’re injured in a dog attack where you can prove liability, you may be entitled to compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. A summary of potential damages that our Topeka dog bite injury lawyers may recover for you includes:

• All costs of medical care
• Surgery and plastic surgery costs
• Rehabilitation costs
• Lost income from time off work
• Property damage
• Scarring/disfigurement
• Physical, mental and emotional pain and suffering

If you suffer permanent impairments and disabilities, you can also claim for future losses, care and rehabilitation.

If you’re claiming damages after a dog attack in Topeka, it’s good to be prepared for what the defendant might claim as a defense. If our lawyers file a lawsuit against a dog owner on your behalf, we might expect one of the following two defenses to be raised:

In most cases with dog bite injuries, it will help to speak to a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. During a free consultation at Irigonegaray & Revenaugh, LLP, we will advise you of your legal options and the recommended next steps.