Have you been bitten by a dog in Gretna, Louisiana? Don’t hesitate to contact the top-rated legal team at the Law Office of John W. Redmann, L.L.C. You may be entitled to compensation from the dog’s owner or another responsible party, which could help with medical bills, lost wages, and the emotional trauma you’ve experienced. Our Gretna dog bite lawyers are here to help you fight for a maximum recovery.
For more than three decades, the Law Office of John W. Redmann, L.L.C. has been a passionate legal advocate for dog bite victims and families in Louisiana. As nationally acclaimed civil litigators with 30+ years of collective experience, we’ve taken on insurance companies, dog owners, employers, and other parties and successfully won millions for our clients.
Don’t settle for less than your dog bite claim is worth. Fight for top results by putting our award-winning legal team in your corner. We offer a free consultation. Contact now our law offices in Gretna, Louisiana or call us today at (504) 384-8053 to discuss your dog bite claim today.
How the Law Office of John W. Redmann, L.L.C. Helps Dog Bite Victims in Gretna, LA
Few things are more terrifying than being attacked by a dog. Regardless of the breed, a dog is capable of inflicting catastrophic wounds that can change the course of your life. It can be difficult to return to your day-to-day life as the traumatic event plays over and over again in your mind. The dog’s owner has to be held accountable, but don’t expect them to take the blame or take action to make things right.
That’s where our Gretna personal injury lawyers can help.
At the Law Office of John W. Redmann, L.L.C., we’re dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of each and every person we represent. Our client-driven representation and consistent track record of success are why we’re recognized for excellence in civil litigation by Martindale-Hubbell, The National Trials, New Orleans CityBusiness, and SEOlium.
You have one shot at getting compensation from a dog’s owner or another liable party, and we’re here to help you make the most of it. Take the time you need to recover and count on our legal team to handle the rest.
We will:
- Investigate your dog bite case
- Gather and analyze medical records, veterinary records, photographs, video recordings, eyewitness accounts, and other evidence
- Consult animal behaviorists, medical professionals, forensics specialists, and other expert witnesses
- Evaluate your damages and calculate what your dog bite case is worth
- File your dog bite claim with the local Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court
- Help you make informed decisions about accepting or rejecting any settlement offers you might receive during negotiations
- Take your dog bite lawsuit to trial if the dog’s owner refuses to take responsibility for the harm and suffering you’ve endured
The Law Office of John W. Redmann, L.L.C. represents dog bite victims in Gretna on a contingent basis, so you’ll pay nothing out of your own pocket when you ask for our help. We only get paid when we recover compensation for your dog bite claim. Our fees come right out of your financial award, so there’s no added pressure to figure out how to pay for the legal representation you deserve.
We offer a complimentary case evaluation for all prospective clients. Contact our Gretna, LA, law office today to get started.
Understanding Louisiana’s Dog Bite Laws
There are different ways to hold dog owners accountable for the actions of their animals. Some states hold dog owners strictly liable for dog bites. Other states have a one-bite rule, which effectively lets the owner off the hook the first time their animal attacks someone.
Louisiana’s dog bite laws incorporate elements of each of these approaches.
Louisiana Civil Code Tit. V, Art. 2321 plainly states that “The owner of an animal…is answerable for the damage caused by the animal.”
However, it clarifies that “the owner is answerable for the damage only upon a showing that the owner knew or, in the exercise of reasonable care, should have known that his animal’s behavior would cause damage, that the damage could have been prevented by the exercise of reasonable care, and that the owner failed to exercise such reasonable care.”
Put more simply, a dog’s owner is strictly liable for a dog bite if they knew or should have known that the dog was likely to attack and cause harm.
So, if a dog with no history of aggression or signs that they’re aggressive bites someone out of nowhere, the owner might not automatically be responsible for damages. The victim would have to prove that the defendant failed to take reasonable action to prevent an attack – like keeping the dog (regardless of its history of aggression) in a fenced-in yard or on a leash.
If it can be proven that the dog’s owner could have taken reasonable steps and likely prevented the dog bite, they can be strictly liable for resulting injuries or deaths.
Can Dog Bites Be a Matter of Premises Liability?
It’s possible, yes. A dog’s owner isn’t necessarily the only one who could be liable for your dog bite injuries. If you were injured on someone else’s property, the owner of the premises might be liable, at least in part, too.
Under Louisiana law, property owners assume a duty to protect invited guests and visitors from reasonably foreseeable harm. They have to take steps to keep you safe from known threats to your safety. If a property owner – like a landlord or an employer – knows there’s a dangerous dog on the premises and does nothing to protect you from an attack, they might be considered negligent and liable for your injuries.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
An estimated 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs every year. Half of these dog bite victims are children. Many times, the resulting injuries can be devastating.
At the Law Office of John W. Redmann, L.L.C., we want to help you recover compensation for any of the injuries you suffered because you were bitten by a dog, including:
- Cuts and lacerations
- Puncture wounds
- Nerve damage
- Crushing injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Infections and disease
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
- Chest injuries
- Eye injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Get to the closest emergency room as soon as you can after a dog attack in Gretna. Prompt care can potentially mitigate your injuries and potential for complications. It can also document your injuries, which can be incredibly helpful when you decide to file a dog bite lawsuit in the future.
What Compensation Can I Recover If I’ve Been Bitten By a Dog in Gretna?
Getting bitten by a dog can take a serious toll on your health, emotional well-being, and finances. Fortunately, Louisiana state law gives you the opportunity to seek compensation from a dog’s owner or, in some cases, the owner of the premises where you were bitten.
Compensation can include two types of awards: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are awarded to make up for the monetary burdens of your dog bite, such as:
- Current medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Nursing assistance
- Rehabilitation
- Therapy
- Funeral expenses if a dog bite is fatal
Non-economic damages are awarded to help you navigate more personal and hard-to-value consequences of a dog attack, such as:
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Chronic physical pain
- Embarrassment
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Loss of consortium
- Reduced quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
The dog’s owner and other defendants will work hard to dispute the extent of your injuries, costs, and suffering. They’ll even try to say you provoked the animal and that you aren’t entitled to compensation for your losses. These tactics left unchallenged, can really hurt your ability to recover compensation that makes you whole. Our Louisiana dog bite lawyers in Gretna will be ready to stand up and fight for your best interests at every turn.
How Long Do I Have to File a Dog Bite Lawsuit in Louisiana?
It depends on how serious the dog bite injuries were. Louisiana has different statutes of limitations for different types of claims.
If you were injured by a dog bite, your personal injury claim will be subject to a two-year statute of limitations.
If you’ve experienced the loss of a family member because of a fatal dog bite in Gretna, a one-year statute of limitations will apply to a related wrongful death claim.
You have to file your dog bite lawsuit within the appropriate statute of limitations to recover compensation. If you miss the filing deadline, you’ll lose the ability to sue the dog’s owner and demand the money you need to cover your costs and help you cope with the trauma you’ve experienced.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Gretna Dog Bite Lawyer
Increase the odds of victory by trusting the Law Office of John W. Redmann, L.L.C. to fight for you after you’ve been bitten by a dog in Gretna, Louisiana.
Our Gretna dog bite lawyers have over 30 years of experience fighting for victims of catastrophic injuries and their families. As nationally acclaimed civil litigators, we’ve been instrumental in winning millions in damages.
We offer a free consultation, so call our Gretna legal team for assistance today.
