Woodbridge Dog Bite Lawyer

As a former attorney for large insurance companies, our founder, Jim Parrish, has an in-depth understanding of how dog bite cases unfold. He also knows how the insurance companies will fight to deny your claim. If you need help covering your expenses related to a dog bite, you want a Woodbridge dog bite lawyer with knowledge from inside the insurance industry to handle this situation.

Our Woodbridge dog bite attorneys can help you. Find out why the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC has been recognized with the Client’s Choice Award by Avvo and the Client Satisfaction Award.

You Have a Limited Time to File Your Dog Bite Injury Lawsuit

In Virginia, dog bite claimants have the right to pursue compensation for their injuries, but they need to act quickly to protect their rights. Per Va. Code § 8.01-243, you generally have two years to file your lawsuit. Neglecting to act within this period could jeopardize your right to financial recovery.

What Types of Damages Can You Recover After a Dog Bite?

Our legal team will explore every avenue of compensation when handling your dog bite injury case. Depending on your situation, you could recover:

• Payment for medical bills, including future medical expenses related to the dog bite
• Lost wages if you had to miss time from work, as well as future lost wages
• Compensation for the “pain and suffering” and inconvenience you experienced
• Reimbursement for any alterations to your appearance, like scarring or disfigurement

The liable insurer will look for any sliver of evidence to deny your case. That’s why you might decide you want a Woodbridge dog attack attorney to manage the legal process.

How Our Woodbridge Dog Bite Attorney Can Help You?

We understand the complications that can arise from dog bite injury cases. The dog’s owner might argue that you provoked the animal. The insurance company might deny your perfectly valid claim. You don’t have to manage communications with these entities, though.

The Parrish Law Firm, PLLC can:

Determine Fault and Liability for Your Injury-Related Expenses

To pursue fair compensation for your injuries, our team will need to prove fault, negligence, and liability. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, the at-fault party may be:

• The owner of the dog
• A dog sitter or someone responsible for watching the dog
• A dog walker who was negligent in their duties
• The owner of a kennel
• A landlord

In a majority of cases, the at-fault party has insurance that is designed to cover this sort of accident. For instance, you could recoup damages through the at-fault party’s homeowner’s insurance.

Most dog bite injury cases don’t go to court. With that in mind, do not hesitate to retain our attorney to help you file a dog bite insurance claim.

Investigate Your Accident’s Details

In Virginia, when it comes to recovering compensation for dog bites, we can prove fault by showing that:

• The dog has bitten another person or animal in the past.
• It has a history of unprovoked aggression
• The dog’s owner or handler knew that the dog could be aggressive and did not employ preventative measures.

We can examine the dog’s veterinary records, interview witnesses, and consult with experts to build your case.

Prove Negligence in Your Accident Case

In some cases, the dog may have no history of dangerous behavior, but negligence on the part of the owner led to the attack. Proving negligence will require showing:

• The dog’s owner had a duty of care to keep their animal from harming others.
• The dog’s owner failed in this obligation.
• You were bitten by the dog.
• You suffered physical, emotional, and financial losses.

Our dog bite attorney in Woodbridge will negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance company to secure a fair settlement offer. However, if your case does require a dog bite lawsuit, you can trust that our team will prepare an argument on your behalf.

Commonly Asked Questions in Dog Bite Injury Cases

Attorney Parrish has been practicing law for years. In that time, he has realized that clients come to him with similar questions. Here are some inquiries that we can answer right now:

Does it Matter what Type of Dog Bit Me?

It does not matter whether you were bitten by a chihuahua or a pit bull; if you were injured due to an aggressive animal, you have the right to seek damages. Woodbridge does not have any limitations on what dog breeds can be owned.

What if the Owner Says Their Dog Wasn’t Aggressive?

We will investigate your case and gather evidence to prove that the dog in question was dangerous. We can also check with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to see if the dog was previously deemed dangerous by a judge.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Dog Bite Injury Lawyer in Woodbridge?

It costs you nothing upfront to partner with our firm. You only pay our attorney’s fees if we resolve your case. We finance all of the services required to complete your case. At your case’s successful conclusion, we will draw payment from the funds we secure for you.

Will Your Case go to Court?

Probably not. Per the American Bar Association (ABA), most injury claims are settled through insurance negotiations. However, if the insurer denies your claim, offers a low settlement, or employs “bad faith” insurance practices, we can file a lawsuit against the at-fault party.

Once your case is filed in court, there is no telling how long the process will take. Oftentimes, once the insurer learns that we filed a lawsuit, they come forth with a fair offer.

What is the Average Settlement for Dog Bite Injury Cases?

The outcomes of most personal injury cases are confidential, so there is no way to estimate the value of these claims. However, your settlement amount will depend on the nature of your condition, your prognosis, missed time from work, and other factors. You can trust that we will seek the best possible recovery in your case – regardless of what it takes.

Call the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC to Learn More

Our Woodbridge dog bite lawyer is ready to hear from you. To begin your free case review, dial (571) 229-1800.

What Dogs or Breeds Are Considered Dangerous in Virginia?

Virginia does not have any laws declaring specific breeds, such as pit bulls, to be dangerous. However, Virginia does classify dogs as dangerous or vicious if they have a history of certain behaviors.

Dangerous dogs include those that have:

• Bitten or attacked a person
• Inflicted injury on a person or another companion animal
• Killed a companion animal (such as another dog or cat)

If a dog is found to be dangerous, its owner must follow strict rules to prevent it from harming other people and animals. It also must be listed in the Virginia Dangerous Dog Registry.

Vicious dogs include those that have:

• Killed a person
• Inflicted serious injury such as severe disfigurement or serious impairment of health
• Continued to exhibit the same dangerous behavior that had led to a court previously finding that it was a dangerous dog

Talk to a Dedicated Dog Bite Attorney Today

If you or a loved one is suffering from injuries caused by a dog bite accident in Manassas, Fairfax, Warrenton, or elsewhere in Virginia, don’t wait to seek legal advice. Virginia law limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit after an injury like this, so it’s imperative that you talk to an experienced dog bite lawyer as soon as possible.

At Parrish Law Firm, PLLC, we know how disrupting and disabling a dog bite can be. That’s why we are dedicated to working closely with each of our clients to pursue maximum compensation for your injuries. Contact our office today to schedule a free, confidential consultation.