Dog Bite Injury Lawyers in Schererville

Bitten By a Dog? You May Be Owed Compensation!

The old adage “his bark is worse than his bite” when referring to dogs is often incorrect. According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, and half of these are children. One in five dog bites results in injuries serious enough to require medical attention.

Dog attacks can result in painful injuries and infections that can severely impact the life of the victim. If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog, we encourage you to speak to a personal injury attorney at Tauber Law Offices right away. Our firm will treat you like family while we aggressively pursue a favorable conclusion to your case.

Our Schererville dog bite injury attorneys will advocate for monetary compensation that can cover:

• Medical costs, including reconstructive surgery and physical therapy
• Lost wages from missed work
• Pain and suffering

You have a right to a full recovery. Call (219) 247-6790 today to schedule a consultation with an experienced dog bite lawyer in Schererville.

Who is Liable for a Dog Bite Injury?

When a dog is in the home, it is considered a part of the premises from a liability perspective; the homeowner is therefore liable for ensuring the safety of neighbors and visitors to the home. This means that proper safety measures must be in place and used. When fences, gates, and leashes are not utilized or don’t exist, there is a risk that the dog could attack and cause serious injury or even death.

Dog bite injuries can lead to:

• Muscle and tendon damage
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement
• Infection
• Emotional trauma

Victims of dog bites are sometimes reluctant to bring claims if they have a relationship with the dog’s owner. Please be assured that if there is adequate insurance coverage, the owner will not have to compensate you personally. Insurance coverage can come from many sources, depending on the situation, and the attorneys at Tauber Law Offices will be able to determine this for you.

Holding Dog Owners Responsible

Sometimes it is difficult to determine who is liable for an injury caused by a dog. It is not uncommon for owners of dangerous dogs to try to blame the victim who is an innocent child, guest, or jogger. Although accidents can and do happen, there are still many irresponsible pet owners out there who just shouldn’t have a dog in the first place. Many times, dogs are untrained and allowed to roam without a leash or fence.

Often, owners do not have the dog’s rabies vaccines and other medical necessities up to date. Dogs that bite and do not have proof of an up-to-date rabies vaccination will need to be in quarantine for 10 days.

Indiana's "One Bite" Rule

Under Indiana's "one bite" rule, owners may be held liable for dog bite injuries if they knew, or reasonably should have known, that the dog was dangerous and didn’t do anything about it. However, the one bite rule does not apply when the victim is a government official (such as a postal worker or police officer) in the peaceful course of their duties. In this instance, the owner will always be held strictly liable for damages.

A dog biting for the first time is no excuse if the negligence of the owner allowed the dog to bite another person. This also applies to people who are watching a dog for someone else.

Restricted Dog Breeds in Indiana

There are special restrictions in many Indiana counties for some dog breeds that are associated with a higher risk of dog attacks and bite injuries. Owners must follow specific rules to control these breeds. Depending on your location, restricted breeds may include:

• Pit Bulls
• Rottweilers
• Bull Terriers
• Chow Chows
• Doberman Pinschers
• Presa Canarios

The truth is, however, that even the gentlest breeds of dogs have been known to bite.

Contact Tauber Law Offices Today

Tauber Law has many years of experience handling dog bite cases. When you retain our firm, we will investigate the circumstances, sometimes with the help of animal control or law enforcement, and relentlessly pursue the compensation you are due.

If you or a loved one has been bitten by someone’s dog in the Lake County area, call our office at (219) 247-6790 or reach us online to schedule an initial consultation with one of our dog bite injury lawyers in Schererville.