Memphis Dog Bite Lawyer

We Represent Victims When Man’s Best Friend Turns Vicious

Fun, furry, and friendly, dogs are usually great companions, and most go their entire lives without any indication of violent or aggressive behavior. But, they’re still animals, and there’s a chance that even the most peaceful-looking dog will bite or attack. In Tennessee, dog owners aren’t always liable for injuries their dog causes. If a dog has bitten you, this could spell bad news for your wallet; you could be responsible for all your medical care, and get nothing for your other losses, like replenishing the wages you didn’t earn because you had to miss time from work to heal. Our Memphis, TN dog bite lawyer can evaluate your claim and help you hold the negligent dog owner accountable for the harm their pet caused you.

Just because Tennessee’s dog bite laws seem to give canines a “free pass” the first time they actually bite someone, doesn’t mean that you’re completely out of luck in pursuing a lawsuit for compensation against the dog’s owner. At Patterson Bray PLLC, we have extensive experience litigating dog attack cases, including those where the owner claimed that the dog had never bitten. Our strong track record of successfully settling contentious personal injury claims speaks for itself. We can explain more in person, so please contact us today for a free consultation.

Our Attorneys Overcome Common Hurdles To Dog Bite Injury Recovery

Dog bite claims have challenges that many other personal injury cases do not. Firstly, if you haven’t already realized it, there’s a significant amount of victim-blaming in dog bite claims. The dog’s owner may not want to believe their pet could harm someone so badly or be worried about what animal control may do. We have seen this countless times and have several successful strategies to overcome victim-blaming. Ultimately, the dog’s owner is responsible for its behavior (with a few very narrow exceptions).

Secondly, the value of dog bite claims is typically higher than other types of personal injury claims. Bite injuries are notoriously difficult to suture, and the risk of infection is high. In fact, dog bite victims spend an average of 2 days longer in the hospital than people injured similarly. You may also need to go through rabies treatment, a painful, invasive series of injections. Your medical expenses may be considerable, which means that the insurance company will take a close look at your claim. We must build a strong, evidence-based case justifying the amount of compensation we seek.

Our Skilled Memphis Dog Bite Lawyer Defends Your Rights

Even though Tennessee operates under a “one-bite” rule for dog attacks, the owner is still responsible for ensuring their pet doesn’t harm anyone. Many times, dogs that bite will exhibit other aggressive behaviors, like lunging, snarling, or threatening to bite. Under Tennessee law, behaviors like these mean that the owner should have reasonably predicted that the dog would eventually hurt someone, making them liable for a bite, even if they claim that the dog never so much as nipped.

Our legal team investigates the dog’s history and behavior as part of our case-building. We overcome common objections to your claim and fight hard for every penny you’re due. Please contact Patterson Bray PLLC today for a free consultation.