East HamptonDog Bite Lawyer

Why Choose Us for Your Dog Bite Case in East Hampton

Because dog bites are often unexpected, you may be unsure what to do afterward. You need a legal professional who can help you through the challenges of getting the compensation you need with a minimum of stress and worry. The team at Tehrani Law Group is dedicated to tenaciously protecting your rights while compassionately working with you to build your case. 

We begin with a free case review and offer our best legal advice, giving you the knowledge you need about the strength of your claim. When we accept your case, we also provide a contingency fee structure, meaning you do not pay us until we reach a settlement for you. You can relax knowing we will not be adding to your immediate financial burden while we handle the details of your claim.

Attorney Payman Terhani takes the time to build a relationship with every client, offering decades of experience both in and out of the courtroom. His background in negotiation and litigation allows him to secure fair settlements quickly, allowing you to get your life back in order and heal. Our record of case results demonstrates how hard we will work for you. 

You may expect that a dog bite happens when a dog is rabid or untrained, but even a docile family pet can lash out in the right circumstances. Owners who fail to restrain, socialize, and care for their animals are liable if their pet hurts another person, but it helps to recognize potential situations where a dog may bite or injure you. A dog or other animal may hurt you due to any of the following:

• Overstimulation: When playing, a young or overexcited dog may mistake your hand for a toy or treat and bite. They may also jump up, bump into, or run over you while exercising, causing you to fall or be injured from their weight.
• Training Mistakes: Many owners fail to fully train their animals, forgetting that a poorly trained dog will react unpredictably in public, especially if frightened. Dogs may bite, run, or chase small children or other animals, causing dangerous conditions.
• Anxiety and Fear: Dogs that are not socialized will be afraid of anything new and bite to protect themselves. It is vital that owners recognize if their pet dislikes children, cats, or other dogs and take care to prevent injury.
• Illness or Injury: A dog that is sick or hurting is much more prone to biting, even hurting their family members. If the owner does not provide proper care, the dog may bite when it is touched somewhere sensitive or painful.
• Abuse: Dogs that have been neglected or handled violently are often very aggressive and a bite risk. Even if they are rescued, they may continue to pose a biting threat for the rest of their lives. 
• Lack of Control: Many dogs are perfectly behaved when on a leash, but become dangerous when allowed to run loose. East Hampton owners should always obey local dog laws to avoid liability for when their dog hurts someone else. 

Connecticut Laws on Negligent Dog Owners

Under Connecticut General Statutes  § 22-364, owners must keep their animals contained or restrained from running loose off their private property. Dogs are not permitted to be at large on public or other private property, nor in the roadways. While this is not specifically a leash law, your dog bite attorney can use this statute to justify seeking compensation from the owner for your injuries. 

Dogs of any age or size can cause serious harm to a person, and smaller or frail individuals are at higher risk. For example, a medium-sized dog’s mouth may only cover part of your hand when it bites, but it could cause loss of limb to a small child or infant. Falling down because an exuberant dog knocked you over could lead to brain injury or broken bones.

Other common conditions resulting from dog bites include:

• Punctures and Tearing: A dog’s teeth are sharp and meant for killing prey. They can go deep into tissue, severing nerves and blood vessels, and carrying bacteria into your system.
• Infection and Sepsis: An untreated bite can quickly become infected, especially for anyone with a compromised immune system, such as the elderly and children. Without medical attention, you may develop sepsis, which can lead to death. 
• Muscle and Nerve Damage: If a dog grabs hold and shakes you, the teeth can cause significant damage to your muscles and nerves. You may lose the ability to use your hand or arm, even with surgery.
• Disfigurement and Scarring: According to a study in the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, as many as 5% of children’s facial injuries are due to dog bites, mostly because children are smaller. The resulting scars and disfigurement can also lead to social isolation and emotional trauma. 

Psychological Repercussions for Children After a Dog Attack

A review of studies published in the BMJ Paediatrics Open Journal reports that children who suffer dog bites often develop PTSD, phobias of dogs, nightmares, and lengthy symptoms of anxiety. These may extend into their adult lives, making the impact of a dog bite substantial. Fortunately, your dog bite lawyer in East Hampton, CT, can help you identify the full value of your claim by examining both your economic and non-economic losses.

How much your case is worth depends on a variety of factors, such as the severity of your injuries, how long your recovery will last, and whether you have permanent medical conditions. Once your dog bite attorney has investigated your claim, he can give you a better estimate of what to expect. Attorney Payman Tehrani will also help you build a list of your damages, which may include:

• All emergency medical costs and follow-up bills
• Physical and emotional therapy expenses
• Lost income while you heal
• Property damage, such as to a watch, phone, or other items
• Lost earning capacity if you are disabled
• Permanent disability
• Loss of limb or amputation
• Mental anguish

You are entitled to full compensation for your economic losses, which include your medical and other bills. You can also seek payment for psychological damage, isolation from society, and diminished quality of life, which are considered non-economic. As mentioned, dog bites can inflict much more than physical harm, and many victims end up forever changed in how they can live their lives.

After your bite or attack, you should seek immediate medical attention to protect your health. You can also use your medical records as the foundation of your dog bite case. Under Connecticut General Statute §22-357, dog owners are strictly liable for any harm their animals cause to others. You do not have to demonstrate they were negligent, but your attorney will likely gather evidence showing how the owner owed you a duty and failed to perform it.

The general steps for your claim will be:

• Collect evidence showing how you were hurt and how the owner was negligent.
• File a claim against the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance policy, since dogs are considered property, even if you were bitten on public lands.
• Negotiate a settlement with the insurance company.
• If they do not meet your demands, file a personal injury lawsuit.
• Continue to negotiate while litigating the case in court.

The vast majority of personal injury claims settle during the insurance negotiation phase or before a court case reaches the jury. While you can file the insurance claim on your own, insurance adjusters dislike paying out claims and may offer less than what you need. When you work with a skilled legal team, you can focus on getting better while your attorney manages your case. 

What If the Dog’s Owner Says You Are to Blame?

You should expect the dog owner to push back and deny that they are at fault. Connecticut does have a comparative negligence statute that says you cannot seek damages if you are more than 50% at fault for an injury. Therefore, the owner may say you provoked the dog by teasing or tormenting it in an effort to reduce what they pay. They may even say you were trespassing when the dog bit you.

The owner may also insist their dog is not dangerous when, in fact, they have violated Connecticut law against nuisance dogs that are vicious. In that case, the owner may face criminal charges in addition to your civil action. Regardless of what the other party tries to say in their defense, your personal injury lawyer will work to hold them responsible under the law. 

Filing insurance claims and lawsuit paperwork after a dog bite attack can be overwhelming if you have no legal background. In addition, you are dealing with pain and injuries that make it hard to work or concentrate on anything else. You need someone who will listen to your story, care about your needs, and lessen your concerns.

Attorney Payman Tehrani and his staff are the trustworthy advocates you can turn to for help. Our team can connect you with medical professionals to fully diagnose and treat your injuries and therapists to help you recover emotionally and physically. We will also work with experts in various fields to support your case with their testimony.

Our legal team will assess the full value of your claim, negotiate powerfully for the settlement you need, and take your case to court when necessary. We strive to collect every penny you deserve for the full extent of your current and projected expenses so you can avoid financial consequences for the dog owner’s negligence. Above all, we stand by you every step of the way.

Connecticut Law Requires You to File Before the Statute of Limitations Expires

Insurance negotiations can take weeks before the company either settles or shows they will not meet your demands. During that time, the clock is ticking when filing your personal injury lawsuit. If you miss the two-year deadline under the statute of limitations, you could lose your opportunity to hold the dog owner liable for your losses. 

As a negotiation tactic, your attorney may advise you to file the lawsuit paperwork right away, showing the insurance adjusters that you are taking the claim seriously. This often encourages a better settlement faster, providing the resources you need to fully recover. However, if you delay contacting a personal injury lawyer for too long, there may not be enough time to develop a robust case and secure a win. 

Suffering a dog bite or other animal attack is rarely a minor inconvenience. You may suffer scarring, trauma, and lifelong pain as a result, and children may never fully recover from their injuries. When another person’s negligent or careless action has left you with expenses and medical conditions, you need strong champions on your side to secure justice.
At Tehrani Law Group, we offer the steadfast and knowledgeable representation you need during a difficult time. For a free, no-obligation consultation with a qualified dog bite lawyer in East Hampton, contact our law firm today. You can also call us at (860) 261-6770.