Category Archives: Dog Bite Accidents

Recent Changes to Nevada Pet Law

Recently, people have taken to the streets to protest in Nevada to ask for changes to Nevada law concerning animal cruelty. Last September protesters gathered to lobby for stricter penalties for the miss treatment of animals in our state. As a result, a new ordinance past Las Vegas states that a person convicted of harming killing or abusing a pet will be barred from owning another pet for two up to five years. City officials recently broadened penalties for animal cruelty in our state. Under a recent ordinance past which was spearheaded by Las Vegas councilman Stavros Anthony, it is now illegal to tie your tether a pet outside for more than 10 hours during a 24 hour. Furthermore, they cannot be tethered outside at all if the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory. It is sad that this commonsense principle must be passed into law based upon recent horrible events concerning animal cruelty in our state.

In addition, under the ordinance, when temperatures reach 105° pet owners are required to have some type of cooling mechanism such as a misting system or portable air conditioners if their pet is outside. Commonsense says you would keep your pet inside during such extreme temperatures. The new ordinances which disallow tethering your pet which means tying them up outside bring the law in the City of Las Vegas against animal cruelty into alignment with other states. Under these city provisions the duration allowed to tether a pet in the city is strict then the states 14-hour limit. This means that in the city you are not permitted to tether your dog for more than 10 hours and in the state, you are not allowed to other dogs more than 14 hours. Specifically, the city ordinance states as follows:

1.2 Dog restraints and enclosures

With regard to dogs, it is a crime in Nevada to restrain a dog for more than fourteen (10) hours during a twenty-four (24) hour period. (In Las Vegas, the limit is 10 hours in a 24-hour period.) It is also illegal to restrain a dog by either:

using a prong, pinch, or choke collar or similar restraint, or

using a tether, chain, tie, trolley or pulley system, or other device that:

is less than twelve (12) feet in length, or

fails to allow the dog to move at least twelve (12) feet or,

allows the dog to reach a fence or other object that may cause the dog to become injured, entangled, or to die by strangulation after jumping the fence or object

Animal advocates praise these new ordinances which will protect Nevada pets from the extreme temperatures of the summer. These new ordinances come at the advocation by Councilman Anthony as a result of recent animal cruelty events which would shock most of our collection collective conscience. These new regulations made by the city of Las Vegas mirror the changes made by the city of North Las Vegas in December after the very sad story of Lily the laboratory retriever.

In August 2020 retriever Lily died after being tethered it outside in the heat in North Las Vegas. The owner Arnold Galanto, 42, was formally charged in January in North Las Vegas Municipal Court. The charges came about a month after the city in December changed the ordinances to allow harsher penalties for such blatant animal abuse. Galanto was charged with illegally tethering his brown Labrador retriever mix outside his home for two days on August 19 and 20th. A very sad video came forward showing Lily lying partly in the sun with her mouth open. You could see that it was just torturing the poor animal. Sadly, Lily passed away from heat exposure. The ordinance passed by the city of North Las Vegas in December reduce the time that a dog could be tethered outside during the 24-hour period from 14 hours to 10 hours. Animal rights advocates pushed for felony charges to be filed in such a situation. However, the new ordinance makes it a misdemeanor in such situations.

The new ordinance passed in the city of Las Vegas not only prevents a pet owner from owning an animal for two to five years following a conviction, and it also bars a convicted person from living in the same household as a pet or working at a place where they have access to animals such as a shelter. Animal cruelty and torture in Nevada is a misdemeanor crime in Las Vegas punishable by $1000 fine and up to six months. However, it is a felony to harm or maliciously torture or kill a pet. The city attorney prosecutes misdemeanor cases while the more egregious cases are turned over to the district attorney’s office. Penalties can be severe, especially after the first offense:

1.3. Penalties

The punishment for unjustifiably maiming, mutilating, or killing any cat or any dog or any animal kept for companionship or pleasure (whether belonging to the defendant or not) depends on the defendant’s state of mind:

If the act is committed in order to threaten, intimidate, or terrorize another person, it is a category C felony in Nevada carrying one to five (1 – 5) years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
If the act is committed willfully and maliciously, it is a category D felony carrying one to four (1 – 4) years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines.

Otherwise, the punishment for a first-time offense is a misdemeanor, and the penalties get harsher with each successive offense within a seven (7)-year period. And depending on the circumstances the defendant may be ordered to surrender ownership or possession of the allegedly mistreated animal:

A first offense of animal cruelty within the preceding seven (7) years is prosecuted as a misdemeanor in Nevada carrying:

two (2) days to six (6) months in Clark County Detention Center (or another county jail), and
48 to 120 hours of community service, and
$200 to $1,000 in fines, and
restitution for all costs associated with the care and impoundment of any mistreated animal including money expended for veterinary treatment, feed, and housing

A second offense of animal cruelty within a seven (7)-year period is also a misdemeanor in Nevada. The sentence is increased to:

Ten (10) days to six (6) months in Clark County Detention Center (or another county jail), and
100 hours to 200 hours of community service, and
$500 to $1,000 in fines, and
restitution for all expenses for the care and impoundment of the mistreated animal such veterinary services, food, and shelter

Finally, a third or subsequent offense of animal cruelty within a seven (7) year span is prosecuted as a category C felony in Nevada. The punishment includes:

one to five (1 – 5) years in prison, and
maybe up to $10,000 in fines, and
restitution for the expense of treating, feeding, and housing the mistreated animal.

At TheOneLawyer.com, we are here to serve our community and provide legal services in the Henderson and Las Vegas area. We are pet owners and active in charitable pet organizations. We are a boutique law firm providing experienced and personal representation to injured clients. At the Law Offices of Laura Payne-Hunt, TheOneLawyer.com we provide professional and personal service to each and every one of our clients on various legal matters and have over 15 years of experience in reviewing insurance policies and in Nevada insurance law. If you have a question regarding any type of personal injury or paying your medical bills from an accident, please do not hesitate to call the offices of TheOneLawyer.com and speak directly to attorney Laura Marie Payne-Hunt, Esq. a Henderson Injury Attorney for over 15 years. Laura is recognized as one of Nevada’s Top 100 Lawyers. She has the experience and knowledge to obtain the maximum settlement you deserve. Please call our office if you or a loved one is injured. We can make sure that you receive the care you need and deserve and advise on how to preserve evidence.

At our office, we are experienced in helping injured victims get the compensation they are entitled to. Insurance companies never have the best interest of the injured person at the top of their priorities. They want to pay as little on every claim as possible. Having worked for an insurance company as an attorney for 9 years before opening my boutique law firm specializing in helping injured people, I have reviewed thousands of auto accident claims and policy provisions.

At the Henderson and Las Vegas Accident injury law offices of TheOneLaweyer.com, Laura Marie Payne-Hunt and her staff are here to help you and your family in the event that accidents and tragedies occur. For any of your legal needs, do not hesitate to contact our Henderson and Las Vegas Accident injury offices. TheOneLawyer.com is a boutique, family-owned law firm that specializes in helping injured people and the community of Las Vegas and Henderson Nevada with legal issues involving auto accidents, wrongful deaths, slip and falls, truck accidents, injuries to children, bicycle accidents, dog bites, product liability claims, and all types of injury claims. Please do not hesitate to call us anytime you have a legal question or you or a loved one has sustained an injury at 702-450-(HUNT) 4868 and text 24/7 at 702-600-0032.

I was Bitten by a Dog, What are my Rights?

FIVE THINGS TO DO WHEN BITTEN BY A DOG

Get the Dog Owners full name, address, and phone number
Call Animal Control to the scene immediately
Call the Police
Take photos of your injury, the location and the dog if possible
Seek Medical attention.

Dog Bite Victims In Nevada Need to Obtain Legal Counsel Immediately to Preserve the Evidence.

In Nevada, the dog owner is not automatically considered liable for your injuries. http://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-202.html#NRS202Sec500 For this reason, it is extremely important to obtain counsel immediately following a dog bite so that the proper evidence can be gathered to establish the owners liability for injuries sustained. The Law Offices of Laura Payne-Hunt,Esq. can immediately take steps to preserve the evidence in your case.

The personal injury victim has the burden to establish the dog owner was negligent. The required evidence and documentation must be gathered immediately to establish the owners liability for injuries sustained. If you or a loved one has been attacked or bitten by a dog that is not yours Henderson personal injury Law Offices of Laura Payne Hunt, Esq. can help you recover your medical bills and money for the pain and suffering and trauma you have endured, if this happens to you, consider hiring a philadelphia premises liability attorney.

If the owner was negligent in maintaining their dog, for instance the dog was loose or not on a leash, the owner can be liable for injuries sustained by the victim. As a practical matter, if your injury does not warrant medical attention, it is not likely worth pursuing a claim for injury against the owner of the dog. However, is your injury is severe, the owner should be held liable for your injuries.

If the dog owner has homeowners insurance that does not exclude the breed involved in the attack, it can take time to settle your claim since negotiations cannot begin until the extent of the scaring is known. Meanwhile, the Law Offices of Laura Payne-Hunt, Esq. can assist you in deferring payment of some of your bills, and/or getting ongoing treatment.

Tell Your Homeowners Insurance Company about all Dogs you own

In cases where the dog owner owns a home, the personal injuries sustained by the victim are covered by homeowner’s liability insurance policy. It is important to note that many homeowners’ policies are starting to exclude specific breeds of Wild Blue French Bulldogs and considering them dangerous animals such as Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Chows, Dobermans etc. When purchasing homeowners insurance, it is extremely important to list any pets you have and their breed. Failure to advise your homeowner’s insurance company that you have a specific breed of dog can result in you being personally liable for the injuries your dog may cause. If you fail to advise your homeowner’s insurance company of the pet that you own in your home, they may deny coverage for the injuries. It is important to remember to call your homeowners insurance company each time you get a new dog to advise them of the breed to confirm you are protected from personal liability in the event your dog injuries someone.

How Many Dog Bites are there every year?

In the United States, approximately 90 million dogs are owned as pets, according to a survey by the American pet products Association from 2017 to 2018. The centers for disease control and prevention have estimated that approximately 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in the United States each year. Sadly, the rate of dog bite claims is highest for children 5 to 9 years old. The centers for disease control also estimate that over half of the dog bite injuries occur at the home where the dog lives.

According to The Insurance Information Institute, it is estimated that insurers paid approximately $675 million in liability claims related to dog bites in 2018. An analysis of insurance data by the Insurance Information Institute found that there was a decrease in dog bite claims to 17,297 in 2018 down from 18,522 in 2017 which was a 6.6% decrease. The Insurance Information Institute also found that the cost per claim had risen 5.3% in 2018. According to their analysis, the average cost payout for a dog bite claim nationwide was $39,017 in 2018.

Interestingly, approximately 20% of all dog bite claims arose in the states of Florida and California. All of these injury claims are not solely attributed to dog bites. Often a dog can knock down a child, a bicyclist or an elderly person which can result in potentially severe injury to the victim.

https://www.iii.org/article/spotlight-on-dog-bite-liability

What Kind of Medical Attention Should I get?

It is important that you obtain medical care if necessary right away for your dog bite injury or dog related injury. It is also important to call animal control if the dog involves an injury where you are knocked off a bicycle or knocked down by an animal but not actually bitten. Liability can still attached to the dog owner for your injuries. If your injuries are severe you should seek treatment at the emergency room. If your injuries are moderate you should seek treatment adequate care to document your injury and obtain stitches that you may need or x-rays. It is very important to photograph your injury daily following the accident. Most dog bites involve residual scarring and it is important to have the evidence of the initial wound and how long it took to heal and the scarring that remains when the injury is healed. Often times, dog bite injuries will necessitate a scar revision surgery. At the personal injury Law Offices of Laura Payne-Hunt we work with very skilled doctors and plastic surgeons to find the right medical care for you to minimize any scarring you have sustained as a result of a dog bite injury. As in any personal injury claim, documentation and proof is key to maximizing your recovery for the pain, suffering and loss that you sustain. At the Law Offices of Laura Payne Hunt, Esq., we will guide you and assist you through the entire process and make sure that you get the care that you need for the personal injury you sustained.

Criminal penalties for dog owners

Although it is uncommon, there can be criminal penalties on behalf of the dog owner. In January 2001 the tragic death of Diane Whipple resulted from being attacked in the doorway of her San Francisco apartment by two pit bulls owned by Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel. Both of the owners were convicted of manslaughter for harboring a mischievous dog that killed a person. Although they were convicted on different charges both were sentenced to a four year prison sentence. They became the first Californians convicted of murder for their dog’s actions.

This was only the third time that such charges have been upheld in the United States. The first conviction was in Kansas in 1997. It is important to understand that criminal liability can attach for ownership of certain pets. If you are severely attacked by an animal, you should call the police and animal control both and you should be willing to press charges as a personal injury victim. At The Law Offices Of Laura Payne-Hunt, Esq., Laura and her staff love dogs and dog owners. Over the years we have donated to various animal welfare organizations. We understand the nature of pet ownership and we believe that a responsibility attaches with such ownership. Pet owners should be held accountable for the actions of their pets if they injure residents of their community including Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada. At the personal injury Law Offices Of Laura Payne-Hunt, Esq. we will also assist all regulatory departments investigating the incident and if criminal charges should be brought, we will push for such charges to be brought against the negligent pet owner.

Contact Us If you or a loved is the victim of a Dog related injury

Often times we see clients and they want to minimize their injury and get on with their life. At the personal injury Law Offices of Laura Payne-Hunt, we will help you quickly get back on track while also healing and recovering from your injuries. We will assist you in documenting your injuries and make sure that you get the proper medical care you need at the most convenient location and time for you. We understand at the Law Offices of Laura Payne-Hunt that victims of personal injury need to go on with their life in spite of the injury that they sustained. We specialize in helping victims of personal injuries in all aspects of their recovery as well as preserving evidence of the injury itself.

Dog bites can cause traumatic, painful, emotional, and residual injuries for which monetary compensation is warranted and allowed under the law. If you have a question about a dog bite injury and/or any questions regarding a personal injury, whether from a car accident or a slip and fall or any combination of injuries, please don’t hesitate to call The Law Offices of Laura Payne Hunt, PC, and Henderson Injury Attorneys for over 13 years. Please call our office if you or if a loved one is injured. We can make sure that you receive the care you need and deserve and advise on how to preserve evidence. If you have been in any type of accident and have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Henderson and Las Vegas Accident injury offices today. At our office, we are experienced in helping injured victims get the compensation they are entitled to. Insurance companies never have the best interest of the injured person at the top of their priorities. They want to pay as little on every claim as possible. Having worked for an insurance company as an attorney for 9 years before opening my boutique law firm specializing in helping injured people, I reviewed thousands of auto accident claims and policy provisions.

At the Henderson and Las Vegas Accident injury Law Offices of Laura Payne Hunt, PC we are here to help you and your family in the event that accidents and tragedies occur. For any of your legal needs, do not hesitate to contact our Henderson and Las Vegas Accident injury Henderson offices. The Law Offices of Laura Payne Hunt is a boutique, family owned law firm in Henderson that specializes in helping injured people and the community with legal issues involving auto accidents, wrongful deaths, slip and falls, truck accidents, injuries to children, bicycle accidents, dog bites, and all types of injury claims. Please do not hesitate to call us anytime you have a legal question or you or a loved one has sustained an injury at 702-450-(HUNT) 4868 and text 24/7 at 702-600-0032.

Top 5 Things to Consider When Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney

Experience – LAURA PAYNE HUNT’S EXPERIENCE and insight is the key difference in knowing how to settle, when to settle and for how much. If you don’t know what to do next, call The Law Office of Laura Payne Hunt and let our personal injury attorney help you get the Medical Treatment and Legal Advice you need and deserve.

Accessibility – As a small practice with a consistent staff we are able to treat our clients like friends and family and be there to hear their concerns. My secretary, Peggy has been with me for many years and she is extraordinarily skilled and knowledgeable in the area of personal injury law. At the Costa Ivone, LLC offices of Laura Payne Hunt, we take great pride in providing a service that is fading in the world of big law firm‘s big advertising and nationwide organizations. If you are looking for a personal injury lawyer with experience, knowledge, personal service and compassionate representation, call our office today.

Knowledge of the Law — INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE NEVER ON YOUR SIDE! This personal injury lawyer knows this firsthand because he spent years working as defense counsel for one of the leading insurance companies in the nation. Laura knows what it takes to win. She uses the insight, knowledge and expertise she acquired while helping THEM save millions to now help YOU recover the maximum personal injury compensation you deserve. Remember this, the only way of getting compensation is by working with the best personal injury attorneys.

Compassionate –according to a personal injury attorney some insurance companies are cold and corporatized and it is important to have someone who listens to you and understands the pain, inconvenience and emotional distress that you are going through. I take great pride in being available to my clients to listen to what they need and to find specific medical providers that are best for their location, as well as the injuries they have sustained. It is important that you receive the proper care and it is equally important that your property damage is addressed. Many law firms do not assist you with your property damage. However we care about our clients and we see the case through from start to finish. Every case we take will be ready for trial if necessary. Fortunately for clients, only about two percent of cases go to trial but we handle every case as if it is one of those two percent and insurance companies know that. If you’re living in New York, you can view more to find the best injury lawyers in the bronx.

Community Connections –As a lifelong resident of Nevada, professional connections I have built are of great benefit to the clients we represent. Having grown up in the state of Nevada and the city of Henderson primarily, I have made many friends and have valuable professional connections that help my clients to get the proper medical care that they need as well as to have their vehicle repaired properly with the proper warranties. It takes a village sometimes to handle these matters. Clients need medical care, vehicle repairs, and rental cars. Having practiced as a personal injury attorney in this city for my entire professional career and having worked for the insurance companies, I have maintain strong professional connections that are of great benefit to the clients we represent. I have been a long time sponsor of Paseo Verde Little League teams and I enjoy being active in our community.

ABOUT LAURA

I knew I wanted to be a personal injury lawyer from the time I was seven years old. I grew up in Las Vegas and attended Tomiyasu Elementary School and Valley High School. I went to junior high school at Cannon Junior High School and was a product of 6 Grade Center being bused to a different part of town. Henderson is my home and it has been since I was five years old. I take a great deal of pride in what I do and being part of the community.

I went to UNLV undergrad and obtained a degree in Communications with an emphasis is print Journalism. While attending UNLV I was a writer for the school paper for the entertainment section. I was also an active Disc Jockey at the school radio station KUNV, playing my alternative favorite alternative beats. To pick up extra cash, I was also a Disc Jockey at the AM radio station where we played a variety of cultural music. Fortunately, my amateur guitar playing skills and love of Diet Coke helped keep me awake during those overnight AM radio jobs.

I went to Oklahoma City University for law school. I graduated from law school Cum Laude. While in law school, I was a member of the legal honor Society a Phi Kappa Phi as well as a participant in the moot court team. Upon graduating from law school, I took the Nevada bar exam successfully followed by the California bar successfully. I am also admitted to practice law in the state of Texas.

I returned to Las Vegas to start my legal career and clerked for a respected District Court judge. I went on to work for a law firm that handled cases for the insurance companies for a couple of years before I became the managing attorney for a major insurance company’s in-house legal office.

During my time working as an attorney for the insurance company, I learned the ins and outs of this business first hand. I trained insurance adjusters on how to deal with attorneys and had daily interactions with claims adjusters and claims files. I observed the nature and approach of insurance companies to accident claims and the victims involved. This experience is invaluable in representing injured people.

I am very passionate about what I do and I take great pride in providing top legal representation for injured people. I never had a desire to be on every billboard in town and be an attorney that brings in 100 files a month. To do that you need a lot of lawyers churning these files out to pay the massive overhead of advertising and large buildings. Personal care and attention to clients’ needs can easily be lost in that type of environment. I prefer to focus on the people who are my clients. I know each of my client’s case personally and I meet with every client personally. When you call my office, I will know your first name, I will know what your case is about. I will know what is going on. That is not the case with many law firms that have a high turnover rate because of low pay and often inexperienced attorneys.

The benefit of retaining a small law firm to handle your case is that you will receive personal service and you will have a relationship with your personal injury attorney. I kind of analogize this to the difference between going to a large medical center where you see someone different every time who hasn’t looked at your file and doesn’t know your name, to going to your family doctor who knows who you are remembers your conditions. The person who is there for you to talk to about your needs. It is a choice that an injured person should make from the start of their search for a personal injury law firm. Whether a large firm or a small firm is the right choice for you will be very important for your mental well-being during your case. Dealing with a large firm with constant turn over can be frustrating. THE LAW OFFICE OF LAURA PAYNE HUNT is a boutique law firm providing you with personal and compassionate representation with one goal in mind, the best care and recovery for each of our clients.

With over 18 years of experience helping injured people and working for the insurance companies I have a vast amount of knowledge and insight into exactly what insurance companies are looking at when reviewing your claim. Having been a member of this community for so many years, I know many good physicians and practices that provide top medical care for injured people. Connections in the community are vital in helping clients obtain the medical care they need for their specific injuries.

AS A SHORT TRIAL JUDGE and frequent Arbitrator, my skill is just as effective in the courtroom as it is in the conference room. I will passionately and aggressively defend your rights and recovery whether your case settles or goes to trial.

If you or a loved one is ever in any type of accident and have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our offices today. At my office, we are experienced in helping injured victims get the compensation they are entitled to. Insurance companies never have the best interest of the injured person at the top of their priorities. They want to pay as little on every claim as possible. Having worked for an insurance company as an attorney for 9 years before opening my boutique law firm specializing in helping injured people, I reviewed thousands of auto accident claims and policy provisions.

423HURT injury attorneys are here to help you and your family in the event that accidents and tragedies occur. For any of your legal needs, do not hesitate to contact our offices. The Law Offices of Laura Payne Hunt is a boutique, family owned law firm in Henderson that specializes in helping injured people and the community with legal issues involving auto accidents, wrongful deaths, slip and falls, truck accidents, injuries to children, bicycle accidents, dog bites, and all types of injury claims. Please do not hesitate to call us anytime you have a legal question or you or a loved one has sustained an injury at 702-450-(HUNT) 4868 and text 24/7 at 702-600-0032.

Is Saying I’m Sorry an Admission of Guilt?

Imagine this. You’re driving along on Eastern, trying to get to your favorite donut shop. The tunes are playing loudly on the radio and you’re not paying much attention to the road as you sing along. The light ahead of you turns red and the cars stop, but you miss it. You slam on the brakes, unexpectedly. Suddenly, your rear fender finds itself lodged in the front fender of the car behind you. Horrified, you call the police and your personal injury lawyer. Then, you get out of your car and apologize profusely. After all, your mom raised you to be polite and apologize for things. But did you just admit your guilt? And can it cause you legal difficulty if your case goes to court?

Outcomes of Apologies in Court Cases

There’s two possible outcomes when you apologize after an accident. In one case, a sincere apology can lessen a person’s anger, thus making it less likely that they will seek legal action. In the other case, it’s a question of “anything you say can be used against you in a court of law.” By apologizing, they may argue you indicate your liability in the matter and it gives the other party a compelling case against you.

Thirty-six states have recognized the detriment that an apology can cause to a potential defendant and have enacted “Apology Laws”. First applied to medical malpractice, the laws protect anyone who makes a statement of sympathy or benevolent gesture following an accident. As long as the person doesn’t actually admit guilt, such statements are not admissible as evidence. Unfortunately, Nevada is not one of those states, so legal protections for an apology are limited.

So, how do you apologize without admitting guilt?

First, think about if an apology really is important in the situation. It might be your gut reaction, even if you did nothing wrong, but is it necessary? In our example above, there was obviously a lapse in judgment by driving distractedly, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should apologize for being in an accident.

Second, if you decide that an apology is worthwhile, don’t admit any fault or place any blame. It’s important to not give any indication that you are liable. You shouldn’t express any opinions or hunches about what caused the accident or how it could have been avoided.

Third, consider finding something different to say, instead of “I’m sorry.” Simply saying “I’m sorry” is relatively ambiguous and can be applied to many different situations, including accidents, funerals, and arguments. Find specific language for the sentiment you are trying to express. In our above example, you might say, “I understand how frustrating this situation is” instead of “I’m sorry I stopped so abruptly.”

Dr. Ken Broda-Bahm, a Ph.D. in persuasive strategies, gave two suggestions on how to show you are sorry: one, acknowledge pain, death, loss, and inconvenience; two, don’t let acknowledgement get confused with responsibility. In short, there are many occasions when apologizing is meaningful, and can even be beneficial, but don’t let anyone mistake saying “I’m sorry” for saying “It’s my fault.”

In general, when you’ve been in an accident, the old adage probably still holds true: “It’s better to say nothing at all.” And if you have been in an accident, please call our office today at 702-450-4868 and we can explain your legal rights and remedies under the law.

Find Out if a Dog Bite Attorney in Las Vegas Can Help Your Case

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If you’ve been bitten by a dog, seeking medical attention for your injury is essential for your well-being. Once you’ve dealt with your injury, you most likely want to know your legal options from a dog bite attorney and how you can get financial compensation to assist with the various bills you now have to pay. Continue reading →

Protect Your Rights as a Dog Bite Victim

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Nevada law guarantees certain rights to people who were attacked by a dog. These rights allow the victim to be compensated for their injuries and losses. Continue reading →

Liability Issues After a Dog Bite in Nevada

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A dog’s owner is not automatically liable when the dog bites someone. Nevada law makes it possible for the dog’s owner to escape liability and may shift the blame to another party.

Who is Liable After a Dog Bite?

In Nevada, a dog’s owner is not automatically considered liable for a dog bite. There are, however, ways to prove liability that both dog owners and the public should be aware of, since Nevada law can make someone other than a dog’s owner liable for a dog’s actions. Though the law varies from one city to another, here are some general facts everyone living in the area should know.

The One Bite Rule

Though it has received much criticism, Nevada maintains a one-bite rule that can free a dog’s owner from liability if the dog has never bitten anyone before. This leaves the burden of proof on the dog bite victim, who must show either that the owner’s dog has bitten someone previously or that the owner had reason to believe the dog might bite even if unprovoked. Proving this can be difficult, which is why consulting a dog bite attorney as soon as possible after the incident is a smart move.

Negligence Per Se

Under negligence per se, a dog bite victim may be able to hold someone other than the dog’s owner liable for the bite. This doctrine provides that anyone who acts negligently while caring for or in control of the animal may be held liable instead. If, for example, Bob’s sister takes his dog for a walk and then lets the dog off leash, she may be held liable for any ensuing dog bites rather than Bob himself. Again, a dog bite attorney can help you determine who is liable for your injury and help you obtain a compensation for a dog bite injury.

Know the Local Law

Local law may trump state regulations, so always make sure you understand your liability as a dog owner where you live in Nevada. If you’ve been bitten, seek legal counsel immediately to learn what recourse is available to you. If the dog’s owner refuses to pay for your medical bills related to the bite, you may be able to pursue legal action against him or someone else. Consulting a dog bite attorney in Las Vegas to protect your rights is always wise, even if you are able to resolve the issue later outside of court.

Reasons Why You Should Not Omit Legal Counsel for A Dog Bite

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When you contact a dog bite accident attorney, you can increase your chances of receiving compensation for your injury.

Don’t Omit Legal Counsel for Your Dog Bite

Dogs can be ideal pets to have and are liked by most people. However, there are times when dogs are not as nice as they appear and will attack those whom they know or don’t know. When these situations occur, the dog bite victim can lose a significant amount of blood, limbs or die from their injury. The severity of dog bites may vary among victims, but the trauma is the same. The sudden attack of a dog can leave you fearful of any dog that is similar to the dog that bit you.

Don’t Forego Your Benefits

You may not want to cause any trouble regarding your dog bite injury, but you have to take into consideration your future discomfort. Some people may be able to recover from a dog bite within a short period of time, but if you have extensive wounds your level of care may be lengthy.

How an Attorney Can Help You

An attorney understands your apprehensions about being near dogs and knows that the recovery process requires various forms of medical treatment. That’s why it is important to seek assistance shortly after the incident. You may have already begun your medical treatment, and that’s good, but you should also seek counsel with an attorney so that you can receive the compensation you’re entitled to in order to cover medical expenses. You need to ensure that all of your injury expenses will be paid.

Contact an Attorney Today

There is no specific deadline in which you must submit a dog bite claim or file a lawsuit within the state of Nevada. However, the sooner you seek dog bite attorney Las Vegas representation, the sooner you will be able to collect compensation that you’re entitled to. Your recovery process can be better when you have legal support.

Dealing with a Serious Dog Bite Injury

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If you’ve been attacked by a dog, whether it was your neighbor’s dog or a stranger’s dog, it may be worth your time to explore your legal options. The laws vary from state to state, but in some cases, you can get compensation for dog bite injuries, to get it just hire an expert legal injury lawyer like this one at https://www.inc.com/profile/Mike-Morse-Law-Firm.

Reach out for Legal Protection for Yourself or Your Child

Millions of people are bitten by dogs every year in the United States, and unfortunately, more than half of them are children. Most of the time, it is not a serious injury, but if your dog attack results in a serious injury, you may want to meet with a lawyer to go through your options. A dog bite attorney in Las Vegas can examine your case and tell you whether you can legally hold the owner responsible.

How to Handle Your Dog Bite Accident

Not every state automatically holds the owner of the dog responsible for the dog bite accident. You have to gather evidence, make a claim and prove that the owner was neglectful of basic dog-care regulations. Seek legal counsel and let a personal injury lawyer provide you with guidance to ensure a small mistake doesn’t cause your case to be tossed out. Your lawyer will investigate all avenues in order to establish strict liability on the part of the owner.

The Best Advice You Could Get about Your Dog Bite Accident

In order for your lawyer in Las Vegas to build you a valid case, you can take some important steps when you have to deal with the consequences of a serious dog bite injury. Seeking medical attention should always be a priority, but whenever possible, you or a family member should document the scene of the accident, obtain information about the dog owner and report the incident to your local animal control.

Protect Yourself

Don’t wait too long after a dog bite injury to contact a dog bite attorney. You can uphold your rights and hold those responsible accountable for being irresponsible with their dog.

Winning a Dog Bite Case in Nevada

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Winning a lawsuit over a dog bite can be tricky since Nevada does not have a dog bite statute. Learn what you can do to strengthen your case.

Strengthening a Dog Bite Lawsuit in Las Vegas

If you have been bitten by a dog in Las Vegas, suing the dog’s owners can be tricky as Nevada does not specifically have a law covering dog bites. However, working with a dog bite attorney Las Vegas, you can successfully sue under a general negligence claim if you can prove that the owner knew their dog was a threat to bite and didn’t take adequate steps to protect the public. Here are a few points that can help you strengthen your case.

Frequent Aggressive Behavior

An animal’s past history can be used to prove that the owner should have reasonably known that it was a threat to bite a person. This history can include a track record of snapping or biting at people or past fights with other dogs. Another potential factor in a lawsuit is if the dog has been trained as an attack dog; if this is the case the owner has a higher burden to keep the dog away from the public.

Defending Against Shared Negligence

One common defense that dog owners use in Nevada during a civil case is that the person who was bitten had provoked the dog and was partially responsible for the attack. If this holds up in court, a potential financial judgement can be reduced or even thrown out. It’s important to find witnesses to the attack if possible to prove that you were not involved in provoking the dog to attack.

Dog Breeds and Sizes

Certain breeds of dogs are known to be more likely to aggressively attack strangers. Such breeds include rottweilers and pit bulls and preventing obese pets from attacking people is of utmost importance. If you are bitten by a dog that is a breed known to be aggressive, this can be proof that the owner should have taken additional precautions. This is also true if the dog is a larger breed that can cause more damage if a bite does occur.