Louisville Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog Bite Attorneys in Louisville, KY

Dogs of all sizes and breeds can cause serious bodily injuries to adults and children. Sadly, dogs bite more than 4.5 million people in the United States yearly. More than 800,000 of those people need medical attention. And at least half of those bitten are children.

Fortunately, Kentucky laws make it easier to recover compensation if a dog injures you or a loved one. But understanding the steps required to file a claim or lawsuit can be confusing. That’s where Gerling Law injury attorneys come in. At Gerling Law, our attorneys have the know-how you need to achieve the results you desire.

We have decades of experience helping dog bite victims and thoroughly understand Kentucky’s dog bite laws, giving us a distinct advantage over other firms that are unfamiliar with dog bite cases. If you’ve got medical bills piling up, a skilled, passionate Louisville dog bite lawyer can help you pursue justice. At Gerling Law, we’ve recovered over $500 million for clients and want to put our experience to work for you.

Louisville Dog Bite Laws

When it comes to dog bites specifically, many states apply a “one-bite rule,” allowing a dog owner to escape liability if their dog never demonstrated aggressive tendencies. However, Kentucky has taken a tough stance in dog bite cases.

In Kentucky, a dog owner is strictly liable for any damages caused by their dog, no matter how peaceful its past disposition was. Under Kentucky law, “any owner whose dog is found to have caused damage to a person, livestock, or property shall be responsible for that damage.” This means an owner can be liable for a dog bite, whether the dog was previously considered aggressive or not, no matter where the bite occurred.

If a dog bit you or a loved one, a skilled Louisville dog bite attorney can navigate Kentucky’s prevailing laws and help you recover the best compensation.

Third-Party Liability

In most dog bite claims, the owner is liable for damages. But liability isn’t limited to the dog’s owner. In some cases, a third party may be liable. For instance, if a landlord knows a tenant is keeping a dangerous dog on the premises, the landlord may be liable for the dog’s actions.

Other third-party defendants can include:

• A dog’s caretaker, including someone who regularly feeds a stray dog, a negligent dog sitter, or a kennel owner;
• A dog owner’s parents, if the dog owner is a minor under the age of 18; and
• Another property owner if that property owner allows a dog they do not own onto their property.

Suing a third party doesn’t bar a victim from suing the dog’s owner. Depending on the situation, a victim can sue both parties in some cases.

How Much Is a Dog Bite Claim Worth?

In the United States, insurance company payouts for dog injury claims average about $50,000. While each case is different, damages for a dog bite claim usually include economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are concrete losses and may consist of items such as:

• Current and future medical expenses,
• Prescription medicines,
• Current and future lost wages,
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation,
• Property damage, and
• Incidental expenses like childcare.

Non-economic damages are less tangible and often harder to quantify. Non-economic damages can include compensation for pain and suffering, disfigurement, and psychological and emotional trauma.

Other Considerations

The total compensation received will depend on specific case facts. The following are just a few factors that can influence a settlement:  

• The severity of injuries,
• The value of medical bills,
• How much work is missed,
• How much work a victim expects to miss in the future,
• A victim’s level of pain and suffering,
• The dog owner’s insurance policy limits, and
• The dog owner’s assets.

Usually, a homeowners or commercial property insurance policy covers dog bite claims. For this reason, you want a skilled dog bite attorney in Louisville who can help calculate your dog bite injury’s worth and negotiate with the owner’s insurance company to ensure the company covers all your losses.

Statute of Limitations on Dog Bites in Louisville

The statute of limitations dictates how long after a dog bite a victim has to file a lawsuit. Under Kentucky law, a dog bite victim must file a claim within one year from when the dog bite occurs. Because one year is a short period, it is essential to speak with a lawyer for dog bite injuries as soon as possible. Consulting an attorney helps ensure that all the necessary steps are taken to protect your claim before the statute tolls.

Over $500 Million in Recoveries