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Yes, premises liability law covers animal attacks in Georgia. Unfortunately, some animal attacks can cause catastrophic damages, leaving the victim with a huge medical bill to pay, lost wages, and plenty of suffering.
Our lawyers can utilize our knowledge of premises liability law to hold the liable parties financially accountable for your losses. You should not have to pay for injuries that are not your fault.
How You Could Get Paid for Your Accident-Related Losses
Premise liability coverage is an insurance policy that compensates for accidents involving guests on the policy holder’s business or residential property. An at-fault property owner might have this coverage. They might also turn to their homeowners insurance.
Every property owner must protect everyone on their property (to the best of their ability). If they fail to do this, our lawyers could hold them responsible.
What Losses From a Georgia Animal Attack Are Compensable?
Depending on how you make your case, you can be compensated for an animal attack that happens on another person’s premises. O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7 states that an owner is liable when their animal attacks people.
However, it is not always straightforward. If you are a guest attacked by an animal, it does not automatically mean the property owner is responsible for your damages. For you to build a strong case and stand a chance of recovering your compensation, you need:
- To provide evidence that proves the animal that attacked you was not on a leash at the time of the attack when it should have been.
- To prove the owner of the animal and the property knew that the animal that attacked you was dangerous but failed to restrain it anyway.
- To prove that the animal that attacked you was dangerous or had a history of attacking other people before.
Who Is Liable for My Animal Attack?
When we talk about animal attacks, most people immediately think of dogs. However, animal attacks can come from both domesticated and wild animals. As for wild animals, the property owner might be liable for attacks from snakes, bears, livestock, and wasps. Premise liability covers both domestic and wild animals’ attacks.
The primary party responsible for your animal attack in Georgia would be the property owner where you were attacked. For instance, if you were visiting your neighbor’s house and you were attacked, your neighbor would be liable for your injuries. In the same way, if a wild animal attacks you on a friend’s farm, your friend would be responsible for your damages. Other parties that might be partly responsible include:
- If you are attacked in a property owned by an individual, the property owner’s insurance company might be forced into paying for your damages, especially if the property owner has insurance.
- In some situations, the landlord of a rented property where the attack occurs might be the liable party for your animal attack injuries.
Usually, the property owner is liable for all the attacks and injuries caused by animals on their premises. However, there are cases where other parties, such as the property owner’s insurance company, might be liable. Either way, you should not be afraid to file your animal attack claim if you have been injured due to negligence by a property owner.
Do I Need a Lawyer for My Animal Attack Claim?
You do not need to hire a lawyer for your animal attack injuries in Georgia. However, because such claims can become complex, you might decide to retain an attorney. Our lawyer can help you:
- Determine the value of your losses, including income losses and medical costs
- Represent you in negotiations
- Take the matter to court if the liable party doesn’t settle
- Claim and secure damages while maintaining a healthy relationship with a negligent party you are friendly with
What Is the Cost of Hiring an Animal Attack Lawyer?
Our lawyers work on a contingency-fee basis, which means you only pay us if we successfully help you recover compensation. Our decades of experience provide us with first-hand knowledge of how best to proceed with your case.
As we go about our daily activities, we never know what might happen to us the next minute. For instance, in a state where wild and domesticated animals are abundant, such as Georgia, animal attacks are prevalent. Our lawyers can handle cases involving the damage wild animals and pets of negligent owners cause.
Our Firm Can Take on Your Georgia Animal Attack Case
Animal attack victims could benefit from protection and a channel to recover compensation for their injuries and damages. Fortunately, Georgia’s premises liability law covers citizens from wild and domestic animal attacks. The law generally urges property owners to create a safe environment for everyone that resides or visits their premises.
Call today for a free case review, and if we take up your case, you won’t have to pay a dime until it’s settled. Call George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers today to talk to a member of our team about your animal attack. We can discuss what to do after a dog bite, legally speaking.