New Hampshire Personal Injury Lawyers

If a dog injures you or your child, you are entitled to compensation for the injury from the dog's owner. The dog's owner is liable for injuries even when the dog has never bitten anyone before, or never shown any malicious tendencies.

Compensation for your injury includes payment of all related medical bills, lost wages, the value of pain and suffering, including the loss of enjoyment for activities you participated in before the injury which you no longer do, and the value of any other costs or losses which are a result of the dog bite.

Solomon Law Firm offers free consultations to help you determine if you can recover for your injuries. We are available for consultation by telephone, and we have four office locations and handicap accessible facilities. If you can't come to us, we will visit you at your home or in the hospital. The attorneys and the staff at Solomon Professional Association have over 50 combined years of experience working on cases such as these.

For a detailed description of recovery for dog bite injuries, read "When A Dog Bites", an article published in the Manchester Union Leader by Attorney Elaine M. Kennedy.

If you or a family member are bitten or attacked by a dog, it is usually appropriate to call the local police or the local animal control officer. Depending on the circumstances (where you are and the extent of injuries), you can attempt to get the name of the dog owner's homeowner insurance company. Neither you nor any family member should ever comment on the incident or discuss fault in any way. Obviously, it is important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

If you have been injured by a dog, it is our experience that it is best to contact an attorney sooner rather than later. At Solomon Law Firm we utilize experts to help your case. Like us, they are ready to act immediately to protect your interests. For example, in the case of a dog bite injury, photographers will take photographs of the injury and, if necessary, of the site where the bite occurred. Photographs help preserve evidence and are very valuable as the case progresses. Remember the old adage " a picture speaks a thousand words".

Whether or not you decide to contact an attorney, if you have been injured and intend to seek compensation, you should never speak to the insurance company of the dog owner, nor provide them with any written statements or releases to obtain medical or employment records. You should keep track of all costs incurred as a result of the dog bite, including medical bills, prescription costs, and other costs such as childcare, home health care and other expenses you would not normally incur. It is usually a good idea to keep brief notes on the effect of the accident on your day-to-day life; or if your child has been bitten, on his or her day-to-day life and mental and physical health. Sometimes months and even years may pass before the issue of compensation is resolved, and it can be difficult to remember all that you are going through. In the case of children, they are not usually very good historians, so your notes and observations are significant.

If you have suffered injuries, you should never delay seeking medical treatment due to lack of insurance, or for fear the other party will not pay. Additionally, although it might be tempting to accept quick offers of settlement from the dog owner's insurance company, and believe us, they will call you immediately, it is best to wait until enough time has passed to allow for all the consequences of the injury to show themselves and be resolved. Scars take months to heal and sometimes can be improved by revisional cosmetic surgery. The cost of revisional surgery and any lost wages incurred as a result of that surgery, are recoverable and, if you settle a case too early and later on decide to have the surgery, you can not go back to the insurance company and be compensated. Any settlement you accept is usually final, regardless if additional effects arise after the settlement is effective. You have three years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. That period is extended for minor children.

Elaine Kennedy

WHAT TO DO AFTER YOUR INJURY

1. Seek medical treatment immediately, as most animal bites, even if not severe, are dirty and can cause an infection.
2. Report the bite to the police; if you are treated in an emergency room, most hospitals will report the biting incident to the local animal control officer, or the local police. This is so they can follow up with the dog's owner to be sure the dog's vaccinations are up to date.
3. Obtain the name of the dog's owner, and, if possible the name of the homeowner's insurance.
4. Obtain the names and telephone numbers of any witnesses; people who saw you get bit or who spoke with you immediately after the bite occurred.
5. Take pictures of your injuries, and if possible, of the animal and the site where the bite occurred.
6. Write down a detailed account of what happened.
7. Save any articles of clothing, which are damaged or torn (e.g. ripped or bloodstained clothes).
8. Keep track of all your medical bills, time lost from work and activities you are restricted from doing.
9. DO NOT accept any money or agree to any offers from the dog's owner or an insurance company. Any offer you accept is final even though your injuries may be more serious then you thought when you settled; and
10. Contact an attorney sooner rather than later to discuss your rights.