Severe Emotional Trauma Caused by Dog Bites

Many people are surprised to find how emotionally traumatic dog bites can be. Until you have been through the experience or have watched someone you love go through the emotional trauma of a dog bite, it can be difficult to comprehend.

But the truth of the matter is that dog bites can cause severe psychological and emotional distress. When this happens, and your entire life has been affected, you may have the right to financial compensation. The experienced Chatom dog bite lawyers at Turner, Onderdonk, Kimbrough, Howell, Huggins & Bradley, P.A. can help you maximize your injury settlement.

Get the compensation you need to cope with the emotional trauma you have endured. You can schedule your free consultation when you call our Chatom office at 251-847-2237 or our Bay Minette office at 251-651-0483.

The Emotional Impact of Dog Bites in Chatom

The emotional damage that a dog bite can cause is undeniable. There are many different difficulties someone who has been attacked by a dog will experience when trying to cope with what has happened to them. Many people develop fears of specific breeds of dog or dogs altogether after being attacked.

Others may experience insomnia or nightmares reliving the trauma of what they have been through. This can make it difficult to continue to live life normally. It is also not uncommon for victims of dog bites to be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to their dog attack. This often requires specialized therapy to help combat the symptoms of PTSD, identify triggers, and to treat them

This type of care will be costly. Even with health insurance, you can expect to pay out-of-pocket costs related to your care. For this reason, the dog’s owner, who is responsible for the actions of their dog, should be compelled to compensate you fairly.

Justice for Chatom Dog Bite Victims

Pursuing insurance and civil claims against the dog’s owner may be the best way to ensure that you are awarded maximum compensation for your suffering. Alabama is a strict liability state for dog bites. This means that the dog’s owner will be strictly responsible for the damages their dog causes in an attack.

Pursuing a lawsuit may be the furthest thing from your mind during this challenging time in your life. But when you are struggling to cope emotionally with the aftereffects of a dog bite, you need a strong legal advocate who can fight for your right to full restitution.

How Dog Bite Survivors Can Be Compensated

Victims of dog bites have the right to be compensated for every single way that their lives have been affected by the dog attack. This includes the financial expenses associated with treating your emotional trauma, and other economic and non-economic damages you have endured. You may also be awarded exemplary damages depending on the details of your case.

There are several different ways that you may go about obtaining the compensation that you deserve. The first is by filing a claim with the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance provider. In most cases, dog owners who are found liable may have coverage through their homeowners or renter’s insurance company.

But if the insurance company is unable to fairly compensate you for your damages, or if the dog owner does not have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, you will need to prepare to bring your case to court where a judge can award you maximum compensation for your suffering.

In addition to being awarded compensation for the emotional trauma and costs associated with treatment and care, you will also have the right to compensation for a variety of other losses, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Diminished quality of life
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of future potential earnings
• Scarring and disfigurement

Contact a Chatom Dog Bite Attorney Today

Emotional trauma can be just as devastating as physical injuries after a dog attack. When you are ready to take action against the liable party, make sure you have an aggressive legal advocate on your side.

Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation when you contact Turner, Onderdonk, Kimbrough, Howell, Huggins & Bradley, P.A. You can reach us through our Chatom office at 251-847-2237 or our Bay Minette office at 251-651-0483 when you are ready to get started on your case.