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Fall River Dog Bite Lawyer

A dog bite can happen in seconds, but the physical and emotional effects may last for years. These attacks often leave victims facing painful injuries, medical complications, permanent scarring, and lasting psychological trauma. Children are especially vulnerable to these effects, and those ages five to nine are the most common victims.

If you or a loved one has sustained a dog bite in Fall River, Rob Levine Law is here to help. Our Fall River dog bite lawyers can listen to your story, explain your options, and pursue maximum compensation from the person responsible for your injury.

Find out what your case is worth.

How Our Attorneys Can Help After a Dog Bite in Fall River, MA

Dog bite claims are often more complex than simply proving a bite occurred. You generally must show that you were lawfully on the premises where the bite occurred and did not provoke the animal to attack. You also must establish the full impact of the injury on your life.

Our Fall River personal injury attorneys can investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack to prove that someone else is liable for your injuries. We’ll gather evidence, such as medical records and witness statements, to build your claim and negotiate with the liable party or their insurance company and seek a settlement that reflects the full extent of your damages.

We take an aggressive approach to personal injury cases, meaning we don’t back down when the opposing side tries to settle for less than you deserve. We’re willing to go all the way to trial if negotiations are unsuccessful.

What to Expect From Our Legal Team

We are committed to providing client-first advocacy to those in need and offer 24/7 availability at every stage of the legal process. Our Fall River dog bite attorneys can also meet you remotely, in our office, or at your home.

We represent clients under our Fee Free Guarantee®, which means you pay nothing for our services unless we recover compensation for you.

Hear from Our Satisfied Clients

What Injuries Are Commonly a Result of Dog Bite Attacks?

Dog bites can cause catastrophic injuries that affect victims long after the attack. Common physical injuries include lacerations, deep puncture wounds, facial injuries, and broken bones.

Some victims also fall with significant force, which may lead to traumatic brain injuries. These injuries may require extensive medical treatment and can lead to infection, nerve damage, or permanent scarring.

A dog attack can also result in lasting psychological trauma, especially for children. Victims may experience a fear of dogs and suffer extreme distress in situations that remind them of the attack. They may also experience generalized anxiety, nightmares, flashbacks, or avoidance of places where they may encounter dogs. These symptoms can interfere with school, work, sleep, or relationships.

Factors That Influence the Value of a Dog Bite Claim

After a dog attack, the amount of compensation you can recover depends on several factors, including the severity of the injuries. More serious injuries typically lead to higher claim values because they require more costly treatment and have more profound consequences on a victim’s ability to work and quality of life.

Several types of damages may factor into your dog bite claim’s overall value, including the following:

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Lost wages for the work missed during the initial recovery period
  • Reduced earning capacity for the injury’s long-term impact on the type or amount of work you can do
  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of enjoyment of life for the ways the injury has affected your ability to participate in activities you enjoyed before the attack
  • Scarring or disfigurement

Your dog bite compensation may also depend on the at-fault party’s insurance limits or the amount of assets they have to cover your damages. As a result, the average dog bite settlement varies significantly.

Calculate the Value of Your Case

Use our free personal injury settlement calculator to determine how much your case may be worth. This calculator is designed to give you a value with a range based on thousands of case we have settled.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Dog Bite in Fall River?

Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 155, the dog’s “owner or keeper” is strictly liable if the dog bites or otherwise injures someone, unless the injured person was trespassing, committing another tort, teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog. Massachusetts’s dog bite law defines a keeper as someone responsible for caring for or controlling the dog at the time of the attack, even if they did not own the animal. Common examples include dog walkers, pet sitters, or friends watching the animal.

In certain situations, a landlord may also be held liable for negligence that results in a dog bite. For instance, if the landlord knew or should have known that a tenant had a dangerously aggressive animal but failed to take reasonable steps to protect those legally on the premises, they may be liable under a premises liability theory.

The owner or keeper is generally liable even if they took reasonable steps to prevent the bite or the dog has never previously shown aggression.

Regardless of who’s liable for the dog bite, all dog bite claims are subject to the Massachusetts statute of limitations for personal injury cases. This law gives you three years from the date of the attack to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss the deadline, you may lose your right to pursue compensation.

Count On Our Fall River Dog Bite Lawyers to Handle Your Case

After a life-altering dog bite, you deserve proven advocacy. Rob Levine Law has fought for injured people throughout Fall River for over 25 years. We’ve helped more than 50,000 people recover disability benefits and injury compensation, securing over $2 billion for our clients.

We’re proud to advocate for those in need throughout our community with strong ethical standards, transparent pricing, and accessible representation. Under our Fee Free Guarantee®, you pay us nothing unless you win. Our fee is 33% of the compensation we recover for you, and we offer a reduced fee of 25% for police, fire, rescue, and military personnel.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an animal attack, our Fall River dog bite lawyers are available 24/7 to guide you on a path forward. Call (866) 767-9178 or contact us online for a free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Bite Claims in Fall River

Explore our answers to common questions from people injured by dog bites in Fall River.

What Is the ‘Presumption of Innocence’ for Children Under Age 7 in Massachusetts Dog Bite Cases?

Massachusetts Law provides special protections for children under seven who sustain dog bites. If a dog injures a child under seven, the law presumes the child was not trespassing, teasing, tormenting, or abusing the animal at the time of the attack. This presumption can make it easier for families to pursue compensation after a dog bite injury involving a young child.

If a child develops post-traumatic stress disorder after a dog attack, you can pursue compensation for the cost of ongoing mental health treatment. Pediatric trauma is a common outcome of dog bites in children, and we’re prepared to help you prove the extent of your child’s mental health injuries.

A police report may contain important details about who was caring for or controlling the dog at the time of the attack. When our dog attack lawyers in Fall River investigate the incident, this information can help us determine who may be liable for your injuries.

Yes. If a security camera showed that the dog was loose during or immediately before the attack, you may have a stronger claim.

If the dog that attacked you had previously been deemed dangerous or vicious, that information may be important to your claim. Prior complaints, bite reports, leash-law violations, or dangerous-dog findings may help show that the owner, keeper, landlord, or another responsible party knew or should have known the dog posed a risk. Our attorneys can investigate animal control records, police reports, witness statements, and property records to determine whether prior notice may affect liability in your case.

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Warwick, RI

3970 Post Rd, Warwick, RI 02886

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