Have you been bitten or attacked by a dog?
You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and more, but you must act fast because North Carolina law requires all personal injury lawsuits be filed within three years of the event that caused the injury. Through a free consultation with our Charlotte dog bite lawyers, we can help you determine if you have a case. Our personal injury lawyers have decades of experience defending the rights of the injured and helping victims get the compensation they deserve.
Call 855-856-4212 to get started today. We do not get paid unless you do.
Dedicated Legal Team
The attorneys at The Nye Law Group take seriously every claim that comes through our door. If you believe another’s negligence caused your injury, we will immediately get to work investigating your claim and gathering all of the evidence necessary to build your claim.
For a dog bite, this will include taking photos of your injuries, locating the dog’s owner, determining if the owner has insurance, and speaking with any witnesses of the incident and neighbors who are familiar with the animal.
Our Charlotte dog bite lawyers will do everything we can to aggressively pursue your claim and help you get the compensating you deserve.
Contact us today to learn more.
Reporting a Dog Bite
If you have been bitten or attacked by an animal, you should report the incident to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control. You should also seek immediate medical care for your wounds by visiting an emergency room, hospital or doctor. Your treating physician is also required to report any animal bites within 24 hours.
An officer should conduct an investigation into the attack and put together a bite report with information from the victim, the victim’s family and the dog’s owner. However, this may not always happen.
Your medical records and report to Animal Care and Control are important pieces of evidence that will help build your claim against the owner of the dog that attacked you. Our Charlotte dog bite lawyers can help you obtain copies of these records.
North Carolina Dog Bite Laws
There are a number of laws in place in Charlotte and North Carolina that allow dog owners to be held liable for any dog bite injury.
One Bite Rule
North Carolina is one of 18 states that abides by the “one bite rule.” This means that a dog’s owner cannot be held liable for a dog bite if the dog has not bitten another person before or was not previously known to be vicious or dangerous. There are, however, many exceptions to this rule.
Dangerous Dogs
North Carolina General Statutes section 67-4.4 holds dog owners strictly liable for any injuries or damages inflicted by a dog that has been identified as a “dangerous dog.” A dog owner must be notified in writing by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control that his or her dog has been determined as dangerous or potentially dangerous. A dog will receive this designation if it has:
- Killed or severely injured a person without being provoked
- Bitten a person that resulted in broken bones, lacerations, hospitalization or cosmetic surgery
- Killed or severely injured a domestic animal while not on the owner’s property
- Approached a person in a vicious or terrorizing manner while not on the owner’s property
Charlotte Leash Laws
North Carolina allows each city to decide its own leash laws. The City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County have strict leash laws that require animals to be on a leash or contained within a fence at all times. Property owners are able to utilize an invisible fence only if there is a sign indicating the fence is in use.
The only time a dog can be off of a leash is if the dog is in the owner’s yard and an adult who the dog takes commands from is immediately next to it.
Running at Large at Night
Furthermore, North Carolina General Statutes section 67-12 prohibits dogs that are older than six months old from running at large at night unaccompanied by the owner or someone designated by the owner.
Any owner who intentionally, knowingly and willfully violates these laws can be held liable for a dog bite. Our Charlotte dog bite lawyers are well-versed in these laws and will analyze the details of your situation to determine if you have a case.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now for more information.
Do I Have a Dog Bite Case?
Depending on the circumstances of your situation, you may have a case if it can be demonstrated that the dog’s owner broke any of the above laws.
If you are not able to bring a claim under strict liability, it may be possible to prove that the owner was negligent in his or her handling of the animal. This can include knowing that the dog had the potential to be vicious or failing to prevent a dog bite or attack.
Proving negligence requires that you be able to prove that the dog’s owner did not act as a reasonably prudent and careful person would under similar circumstances. You must also be able to demonstrate that the owner’s failure to uphold the standard of care directly caused your injuries.
It is important to note, however, that North Carolina is a pure contributory negligence state, which means if your actions contributed to your injuries in any way, you may be barred from recovering compensation. This includes provoking the animal.
You also will likely not be able to recover compensation if you were bitten by a stray dog because the law only holds owner’s liable for their animals. If our Charlotte dog bite lawyers are unable to locate the owner, you will not have a case.
Click to contact us and find out if you have a case.
What Type of Compensation Can I Recover From an Animal Attack?
A dog bite or attack can lead to a variety of serious injuries like scratches, lacerations, nerve damage and cuts from the claw or mouth of a dog. These injuries can lead to life-threatening infections. Victims may also suffer broken bones and head injuries if the animal jumps at the victim and pushes him or her to the ground.
These types of injuries will likely require medical care that can range from a hospital visit to cosmetic or reconstructive surgery. Because of this, it is vital that you contact our reputable Charlotte dog bite lawyers to find out if you are entitled to compensation. A personal injury lawsuit may help you recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Physical pain
- Mental suffering
- Missed time at work
- Lost wages
If your loved one died because of a dog bite, you may also be able to recover additional damages through a Charlotte wrongful death lawsuit.
Get started today by chatting with a representative.
Contact Our Charlotte Dog Bite Lawyers Today
Do not hesitate to contact the Charlotte dog bite lawyers at The Nye Law Group today if you or a loved one has been bitten or attacked by a dog. With a strong record of success, we can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
We also only work on a contingency fee basis. This means you will not have to pay anything while we handle your case. You will only owe us a portion of the compensation you recover through your claim.
Call 855-856-4212 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form.
