If you or a loved one has experienced a dog bite in Terre Haute, Indiana, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and non-economic damages related to the accident. At Christie Farrell Lee & Bell, we’re committed to helping you understand your rights and guiding you through the complexities of Indiana’s dog bite laws to get the compensation you deserve.
Lee Christie is a partner with Christie Farrell Lee & Bell and a lifelong Indiana resident. He has trial experience in both federal and state court and is a frequent lecturer on personal injury.
Dog bite laws in Indiana, primarily defined under Indiana Code 15-20-1-3, hold that if a dog bites a person without provocation, while the person is acting peacefully and lawfully, the dog’s owner can be held liable. The law is clear-cut in ensuring victims of dog bites can seek justice and appropriate compensation for their injuries.
Unlike many states, Indiana does not subscribe to the “one-bite” rule. This common law principle usually grants dog owners some immunity for the first bite inflicted by their dog if they had no prior knowledge of the dog’s tendency to bite.
However, under Indiana’s stringent legislation, dog owners are liable for any harm their dog causes, even without any prior aggressive behavior from the animal. And if you suffered from injuries related to a dog attack, chances are you’re entitled to receive compensation to heal and recover.
Indiana law stipulates a time window within which a dog bite victim can take legal action. According to Indiana Code, there’s a two-year statute of limitations from the date of the dog bite injury to file a lawsuit. If a lawsuit isn’t filed within this time frame, it risks being dismissed.
Thus, it’s important to consult with an experienced attorney promptly after a dog bite to ensure your rights are effectively upheld from the first moments after the accident.
Dog bite injuries can be severe and traumatic, leading to significant medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress. But if you can prove the negligence of another dog owner caused your injuries, chances are you have a case.
After over 40 years of experience working with personal injury cases related to animal attacks, we saw a lot of injuries -from minor cuts to catastrophic injuries- that cause many financial complications and emotional distress to our clients. Here are some of the most common injuries we deal with:
Dog bite cases are often underestimated by some law firms, especially if there are no severe injuries related to the accident. But the truth is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1 in 5 people bitten by dogs requires medical attention, highlighting the severity of these incidents and the economic burden it represents for the victims and their families.
If you suffered from such an accident, you have the right to pursue fair compensation according to the severity of your injuries.
At our law firm, we fight to help injured people get over this difficult time by getting the economic compensation they need. But first, our team of personal injury lawyers needs to analyze your case, identify the responsible parties, and calculate the associated damages properly.
In the state of Indiana, the law is unambiguous when it comes to holding dog owners strictly accountable for any harm their dogs inflict. However, like any legal matter, there can be exceptions that may influence the outcome of a case.
For instance, if the victim had provoked the dog or was unlawfully present on the owner’s property at the time of the incident, the owner might not be held fully liable. These complexities can create a challenging landscape for victims seeking justice and compensation, but we are here to help.
If you or a family member has been bitten by a dog in Terre Haute, don’t hesitate in contacting us to request a free consultation. We will evaluate your case and help you understand your rights and options. Get in touch today.
Navigating the aftermath of a dog bite can be overwhelming, especially when dealing with medical recovery and legal complexities simultaneously. Here, we address some of the most common questions we receive at Christie Farrell Lee & Bell about dog bite cases. Our aim is to provide you with preliminary information that helps demystify the legal landscape surrounding dog bite incidents in Indiana.
Securing compensation after a dog bite incident is a process that requires legal expertise. It begins with engaging a knowledgeable dog bite attorney who has a deep understanding of Indiana’s dog bite laws.
Our team can assist you in documenting your injuries, compiling the necessary evidence, presenting a compelling case, and negotiating assertively with insurance companies on your behalf. We work to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.
The amount of compensation you receive for a dog bite depends on various factors, including the severity of the damages, the cost of your medical bills, whether you’ve lost wages due to the injury, and the degree of emotional distress experienced. Your personal injury lawyer can help estimate a fair settlement based on these factors.
In Indiana, if a dog injures another dog, the owner of the offending dog could be held liable for veterinary costs under the same principle of strict liability.
In Indiana, landlords may sometimes be held liable for dog bites. If they were aware of a tenant’s dog’s dangerous propensities and neglected to take adequate preventive measures, they might be held accountable.
“From my first telephone conference with Mr. Christie to the settlement of my case, I found Lee and his office staff to be professional, courteous, and extremely helpful. Mr. Christie is professional, very knowledgeable, thorough, and realistic.”
“Tina Bell is the best. She continued to pursue the case resulting in an agreeable settlement.”
“Lee Christie represented my parents after an auto accident and he was wonderful! He always answered any questions or concerns we had and I would recommend him to anyone!”
“Lee Christie and Jill DuVall were very compassionate and caring in a stressful situation. They always answered our questions promptly, sometimes very late in the evening.”
“They were professional, yet very personally involved in our case. After hiring them, I felt a huge weight lifted from my shoulder so I concentrate on taking care of my husband.”
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