At Rawson Merrigan & Litner, LLP we understand the serious nature of dog bites. Our Boston dog bite attorneys work with doctors and medical experts to prove the facts of your injury and to help you get the compensation you deserve. For a free consultation, please call our Boston or Greenfield offices at (617) 348-0988.

An animal attack, such as a dog bite, can be a terrifying ordeal. It can also cause serious injury, scarring or disfigurement that may require cosmetic procedures in addition to other medical care. Fortunately, you have resources available to help you recover.

Why Choose Rawson Merrigan & Litner, LLP for a Dog Bite Case?

• The dog attack lawyers at Rawson Merrigan & Litner, LLP are dedicated to helping every injury victim secure full compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and other losses.
• We work to coordinate between appropriate insurance carriers for dog bite claims, including personal health insurers and homeowners insurance carriers of the at-fault party.
• Every one of our clients will work directly with a firm partner and will receive personalized attention from the Boston injury attorney handling their case.
• We take Boston dog bite cases on a contingency fee basis, which means our clients will not pay any legal fees until we secure the compensation they need.

What Will a Dog Bite Attorney do to Help your Claim?

A skilled attorney is going to be an invaluable resource after a dog bite incident occurs. A Boston dog bite injury lawyer can use their resources to:

• Obtain any evidence needed to prove what happened, including statements from eyewitnesses, any photo or video surveillance, police or animal control reports, etc.
• Obtain all medical records and ensure that the client’s total losses are properly calculated.
• Handle all negotiations with the insurance carriers involved to ensure that the client receives full compensation. This often involves directly negotiating with the homeowner’s insurance carrier of the at-fault party.

Understanding Massachusetts Dog Bite Laws

Massachusetts is one of the states that has a “strict liability” dog bite law in place. This means that dog owners will be liable for any injuries caused by their pet even if the owner had no prior knowledge that the dog would bite somebody or had a propensity for aggression.

Under the strict liability dog bite law in Massachusetts, the dog owner does not have to be negligent, or reckless, in order to be held responsible for the injuries caused by a bite. Additionally, the strict liability law in Massachusetts applies to other injuries caused by a dog as well. For example, if a dog runs into somebody and knocks them over, causing the victim to sustain a broken arm, the dog owner will be held liable. This level of liability does not often exist in other states and is seen as pro-victim when it comes to securing necessary compensation.

If a person was trespassing on private property or in some way provoked the dog into attacking them, then the victim will likely not be able to recover compensation if they sustain an injury due to a dog bite.

What Kind of Compensation is Available for Your Injury Claim?

People who are bitten by dogs can sustain a range of injuries, from simple bite wounds to serious injury and disability. In many cases, victims who were attacked may have facial scarring that requires surgery. It is also possible for a large, strong dog to crush bones in an arm, hand, leg or foot. A severe attack can even cause wrongful death.

There may be various types of compensation available to dog bite victims in Massachusetts. This can include the following:

• For compensation of all medical bills related to the dog bite
• Compensation for any surgery needed
• Coverage of lost income if a victim cannot work while they recover
• Pain and suffering damages
• Scarring and disfigurement damages

The total amount of compensation available in these cases will vary depending on the circumstances related to each situation. The Boston dog bite injury lawyers at Rawson Merrigan & Litner, LLP will work with trusted economic and financial experts to help calculate the total losses and negotiate with insurance carriers in these situations.

What Should You Do After a Dog Attack?

To find out if you have a potential dog bite lawsuit, please call (617) 348-0988 or contact us online. We are here to help in any way we can.