Allentown Dog Bite Lawyer

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Contact an Allentown Dog Bite Lawyer at Munley Law for a Free Case Review

Owning a dog comes with a serious responsibility to keep your pet from harming someone else. If a dog bites someone, the dog's owner can be held accountable for the damages. A dog bite can cause serious damage. For the most vulnerable victims, including young children and elderly adults, a dog attack can be permanently disfiguring or even fatal. These injuries can have long-lasting effects and significant medical costs. Irresponsible dog owners should be held accountable.

An experienced Allentown dog bite lawyer at Munley Law can help you. Our Allentown personal injury attorneys are prepared to bring your case to a jury trial if that's what it takes to get you the compensation you deserve. If you or your child suffered a dog attack in Allentown or anywhere in the Lehigh Valley, reach out to a dog bite lawyer in Allentown at Munley Law for a free case review. Our experienced dog bite attorneys will answer your questions and carefully review your case to help you determine next steps.

The help you need is only a phone call away. Get started today with a zero-risk consultation. We don't collect a fee for our services unless we win your case.

What to Do After a Dog Bite in Allentown

A dog bite is a frightening experience. It can be difficult to know the right steps to take after experiencing such a shock. But, there are some important things you can do to protect yourself and give yourself the best chance at a favorable outcome.

Seek Medical Attention for the Dog Bite

After any sort of injury, it's important to seek medical attention right away. Even if you're unsure how serious your wounds are, it is crucial to get checked out by a medical professional. Animal bites in particular can become infected if not cleaned and treated properly. Dogs can also carry diseases like rabies that can be passed to humans. Early intervention is often the key to preventing an injury from becoming worse.

If you do decide to pursue a dog bite injury lawsuit, your medical records and treatment will be a critical aspect of your case.

Report the Dog Bite Incident

Likewise, don't wait to report the incident to the police or your local animal control unit and make an official record of the event. If your injuries prove not to be serious, then you don't have to pursue further action after making the report. But, if you do need to pursue a lawsuit at a later time, the incident report will be a vital piece of evidence.

Also, if the dog attacks someone else in the future, your report may serve as evidence that the dog has a history of aggressive behavior and the owner should have taken more steps to restrain their pet.

When reporting the dog bite, take note of the responding officer's name and contact information, as well as any witnesses who were present at the time of the attack.

Take Photos of the Accident Scene and Your Injuries

Take photos of your injuries and any other relevant aspects of the scene. These might include any property damage caused by the animal, the scene of the attack, or the lack of sufficient restraints and enclosures. Photograph your injuries as well as any scarring that develops as your injuries heal.

Contact an Experienced Allentown Dog Bite Lawyer

Even if you don't yet know the extent of your damages or the status of the dog involved, it is never too soon to contact a personal injury lawyer at Munley Law. There is no risk, no obligation, and no charge for the initial consultation – just an opportunity to get answers and support.

During the initial consultation with a dog bite lawyer, we will listen to your story, answer your questions, and advise you about what to do next.

We consider ourselves a “full service” law firm, which means that we'll do everything we can to guide you through this challenging time. We don't just file a lawsuit and negotiate with the insurance company; we will act as your resource as you navigate finding the right doctors, understanding your medical bills, and more.

Who Pays for Dog Bite Damages in Allentown?

Dog bites are not just scary; they can result in significant economic and non-economic damages for dog bite victims. You may be left with medical bills for emergency treatment, surgeries, and therapy. You might have to miss work for medical appointments or for an extended time while you heal.

Damages in an Allentown Dog Bite Case

Dog bite lawsuits can result in both economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages include medical bills, lost wages, and other concrete financial losses. Noneconomic damages include emotional and mental anguish and diminished quality of life. Dog bites often result in emotional trauma and psychological distress. They also frequently result in long-term scarring, which is both expensive to treat and emotionally difficult to bear.

If you were bitten by a dog in Allentown, you shouldn't have to pay for these expenses on your own. The purpose of a dog bite lawsuit is to provide you with the compensation you need to recover these losses.

Who Pays For Your Damages?

The defendant (usually the dog owner or property owner) can be held liable for your damages and compelled to pay you compensation. The dog owner, property owner, or landlord may be financially responsible for dog bite damages. Even if the property owner is not the dog's owner, they can be held responsible for allowing the dog on the premises.

More specifically, the dog owner's renter's insurance or homeowner's insurance (or their landlord's insurance) can provide coverage for your damages. This is important to know, because dog bites often take place at the home of a friend or family member. In these situations, some people hesitate to pursue a personal injury claim involving someone with whom they have a personal relationship. But, insurance exists to protect people when things go wrong. If you or your child was injured by a dog bite, you deserve due compensation under the law.

Why Choose an Allentown Dog Bite Lawyer at Munley Law

If you've been seriously hurt by a dog bite in Allentown, it is important that you not only have a lawyer – you need to have the right lawyer.

The family of lawyers at Munley Law have been representing people throughout Allentown and Lehigh County since 1959. We have decades of experience negotiating settlements and winning jury trials. Our dog bite attorneys have consistently been named to the Best Lawyers in America, Best Law Firms, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, and more. And, we have won record-breaking settlements and verdicts for our clients.

Allentown Dog Bite Lawsuit FAQs

Q: What is the one bite rule?

Different states have different laws regarding dog owners' liability for their pets' behavior. In states that follow a “one bite rule,” also known as the “first bite rule,” dog owners are liable for damages caused by their pet only once the animal has exhibited dangerous behavior in the past. Under this rule, the owner is liable if they knew or should have known the animal posed a threat to others based on previous behavior.

In states that follow a strict liability rule, dog owners can be held liable for injuries caused by their pets regardless of the animal's bite history. Pennsylvania is a strict liability state. So, dog owners in Allentown can be held legally responsible for paying damages to dog bite victims, even if the animal has not bitten someone before.

Q: How much is a dog bite case worth in Allentown?

The value of your dog bite case – or, the amount of compensation you will receive – depends on a number of factors. Your settlement will be based in part on the extent of your damages: your injuries and the cost of medical treatment, your lost wages or lost earning power, long-term scarring or disfigurement, and more. The settlement will also depend on the amount of available insurance coverage from the defendant.

An Allentown dog bite attorney at Munley Law will investigate all possible sources of recovery to maximize your chances of recovery. We work closely with some of the nation's leading economic and medical experts to calculate the full amount of your damages.

Never accept an offer of settlement from the insurance company without speaking with an Allentown dog bite lawyer at Munley Law first.

Q: Can I press criminal charges after a dog bite?

In most cases, dog bites result in civil legal actions. However, in some extreme cases, criminal charges may be filed against the owner as well. Such circumstances might include a fatal dog attack or cases where the owner was knowingly or intentionally allowing their dog to cause harm. If the owner was violating certain dog laws at the time of the attack, they may face criminal penalties as well.

Q: What is considered a dangerous dog?

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture defines a dangerous dog as one that has inflicted serious injury to a person unprovoked, killed or seriously injured another domestic animal while off the owner's property,  attacked a human being without provocation, has been used in the commission of a crime, and has either a history of or propensity to attack humans or animals without provocation.

Owners of dangerous dogs are required to register their animal with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement and to keep the animal secure in an enclosed space. In addition, the dog owner must keep the dog muzzled and leashed when not confined to an enclosure, must microchip the animal, and must post signs warning visitors to the property of the presence of a dangerous dog. Furthermore, they must notify their homeowner's insurance about the dog's status. Failure to comply with these and other dog laws can result in misdemeanor criminal charges.

Q: What if I was bitten by a dog while doing my job?

There are many situations where one might get bitten by a dog while on the job. Your rights and options will depend on the nature of your job, as well as the circumstances surrounding the attack.

There are some occupations where animal bites are considered an occupational hazard. For example, veterinarians and vet techs work very closely with animals. By and large, veterinary workers are thought to understand and accept that the risk of being bitten is part of the job. However, there are some exceptions to this “assumption of the risk” rule; for example, if a dog owner fails to disclose their dog's aggressive history or knowingly allows their dog to harm a member of the veterinary staff.

Other types of jobs such as delivery workers and service providers who must enter customers' homes also face a risk of being attacked by a stranger's dog.

If you were bitten by a dog while doing your job, you may be able to collect workers' compensation, and/or pursue a third-party dog bite lawsuit against the dog owner or property owner. An Allentown workers' compensation lawyer at Munley Law can help you claim any benefits you are owed through workers' comp, and take additional action to collect the full amount of compensation you deserve.

Contact an Allentown Dog Bite Attorney for a Free Case Review

Too often, humans fail to uphold their responsibilities as dog owners – and innocent people get hurt as a result. Children, who are smaller and don't always know how to safely interact with dogs, are especially vulnerable to dog attacks.

An Allentown dog bite attorney at Munley Law can help make things right again. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

609 Hamilton St
Allentown, PA 18101
(610) 857-7424