Did you know that about 4.5 million dog bites occur each year in the United States? Nearly one in five dog bites become infected. A 2010 study showed that the average cost of a dog bite‑related hospital stay was $18,200, about 50% higher than the average injury‑related hospital stay. If you have been bitten by a dog or other domesticated animal, an Allentown dog bite lawyer at Drake Hileman & Davis can help. Our personal injury lawyers are known for serving ordinary people and will fight to make sure you get a just settlement.
Proving and Winning Your Dog Bite Case
Most dog bites in the Allentown area are inflicted by dogs owned by neighbors, family and friends. As a result, many dog bite victims are reluctant to sue. But even a routine dog bite may result in expensive medical treatment, missed days at work, and pain. A serious bite may be truly devastating, even life‑altering. In fact, from 2005 through 2015, canines killed 360 Americans. Pit bulls alone killed 232 people during this period. Pit bulls and Rottweilers were responsible for 76% of the total recorded deaths.
Dog and animal bite cases are very fact‑sensitive and require legal expertise. Do not risk your claim for compensation by trying to handle your case without experienced legal help.
At Drake, Hileman & Davis, your Allentown dog bite lawyer will prove negligence in animal bite cases by:
- Demonstrating an animal’s “dangerous propensity” through evidence of prior attacks, bad disposition, or classification of the dog as an “attack breed.”
- Showing that the owner violated leash laws or other local ordinances.
Our legal team has won many dog bite cases, including:
- A Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, dog mauling in Allentown that settled for $70,000;
- A dog attack in Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, which resulted in a $36,000 settlement; and
- A Northampton County, Pennsylvania, dog bite in Easton that resulted in $37,469 jury verdict
Because we have successfully pursued many dog bite and animal bite cases in Allentown and the Lehigh Valley, we know how to prove the necessary elements of your injury claim and obtain the recovery you deserve. Call us today at (610) 433-3910 or reach out to us online for a free consultation to discuss your claim.
Your Allentown Dog Bite Lawyer is Skilled at Negotiating with Pennsylvania’s Insurance Companies
Dog owners often have homeowner’s insurance policies that cover claims of dog bite victims. Drake Hileman & Davis attorneys are skilled at negotiating fair settlements with insurance companies to cover your medical bills and lost wages. Sometimes, however, insurance does not cover losses that are not financial in nature, such as trauma and emotional distress caused by a dog bite. Accordingly, an Allentown dog bite attorney with the firm will work with the injured individual to help get compensation for all damages incurred, even those not covered by homeowner’s insurance. These injuries could be severe in nature, including severe emotional distress, anxiety and panic attacks, nightmares, broken bones, serious injury to the head or brain, permanent disfigurement, scarring, amputations, and paralysis.
Types of Damages in Animal and Dog Bite Claims
At Drake, Hileman & Davis, we know how to handle your animal attack claim. We have extensive experience representing clients who have been injured by all sorts of domesticated animals including dogs, cats and rabbits. We’ve also handled claims involving wild animals (including bats) permitted or encouraged to remain on the owner’s property.
Drake, Hileman & Davis will aggressively pursue the compensatory damages you deserve for the losses you have suffered from a dog bite. In appropriate cases, our attorneys may also seek punitive damages for you.
Compensatory Damages: Compensatory damages cover: (1) economic damages which can be measured in terms of money, including medical expenses and lost wages; and (2) non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and other major life changes caused by a dog bite.
Punitive Damages: These damages punish a dog owner for reckless or repeated behavior and discourage the defendant, and others, from similar conduct in the future.
Contact an Allentown Dog Bite Lawyer
If you live in the Allentown area and have suffered injuries as a result of a dog bite, you need legal assistance in order to get the full compensation you deserve for your losses. Contact Drake, Hileman & Davis at (610) 433-3910 or message us online to work with a top dog bite lawyer in Allentown today.