Were you recently bitten by a dog in Sauk County, Wisconsin? You may have the right to sue the dog’s owner for damages, which can include money for your medical bills, lost wages, and harder-to-value trauma. Contact Eisenberg Law Offices, S.C., at (608) 256-8356 for a free consultation.
Our experienced Sauk County dog bite lawyers can help you fight for a maximum financial recovery. Discover the positive impact we can have on your life after a dog bite by calling our Sauk County law office for a free case evaluation.
Dog bite litigation can be complicated and emotional, so you’ll want an experienced and level-headed legal advocate in your corner as you take on a powerful insurance company or property owner. For over four decades, victims of dog bites and their families have trusted Eisenberg Law Offices, S.C.
We’re nationally recognized Wisconsin trial lawyers with more than 140 years of combined legal experience. Dedicated to making a difference in the lives of each client we represent, we’ve won over $100 million in monetary awards.
Our team has been recognized as leaders in civil litigation by:
We handle all aspects of litigation, so all you have to worry about is focusing on your recovery. Our team will investigate your dog bite, gather important evidence, negotiate with the defense, and, if necessary, take your dog bite lawsuit to a jury in Sauk County, WI.
Every moment counts when you’re recovering from a catastrophic dog bite injury, so contact us to arrange a free case review with a Sauk County dog bite attorney today.
Wisconsin does not adhere to a “one bite” rule like many other states. Instead, under Wisconsin Statute 174.02, dog owners are usually strictly liable for injuries or deaths when their dogs bite someone, regardless of the dog’s history of aggression.
Under a “one bite” system, the dog’s first bite is typically free, allowing the owner to escape liability the first time their dog displays vicious tendencies. In Wisconsin, however, dog owners are liable the very first time their dog bites.
Wisconsin takes things a step further than most other states. If the dog’s owner knows or should know that a dog has a history of aggression, they can be liable for twice the victim’s damages if the dog bites “a person with sufficient force to break the skin and cause permanent physical scarring or disfigurement” without being provoked.
This encourages dog owners to take significant steps to keep their dog leashed, confined in a fenced-in yard, and away from visitors if there’s a possibility they could cause harm.
Strict liability means that a dog’s owner can be financially responsible for dog bite injuries even if they weren’t negligent in any way. As a victim, this can make your path to getting compensation less complicated.
When you file a dog bite lawsuit against the owner of a dog, you need to prove:
Sometimes, dog bite cases can also involve premises liability. If you were bitten by a dog on someone else’s property, you might have a legitimate claim against the property owner. You can win your dog bite case if you can prove that the property owner was negligent.
Typically, this involves establishing that the owner knew or should have known there was a dangerous dog on the premises and failed to take steps to protect visitors from reasonably foreseeable harm.
Not everyone who gets bitten by a dog will suffer catastrophic injuries or even require professional medical attention. Others will suffer wounds so severe that a trip to the emergency room is absolutely necessary.
At the end of the day, everyone who’s bitten by a dog will have a unique experience. The things that set your story apart will influence the potential value of your personal injury claim. They include:
Age can play a big part in the value of dog bite cases. More than half of all dog bite victims are children. Since kids are still developing and growing, they are more likely to suffer long-term complications or consequences from a dog bite.
The more serious an injury and the more it changes a victim’s life, the more a related legal claim for damages might be worth.
When you file a dog bite lawsuit in Sauk County, you can request two types of compensatory awards: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are intended to cover financial costs and expenses, including:
Non-economic damages acknowledge the more personal trauma you endure as the victim of a dog attack, which can include:
Our Wisconsin dog bite attorneys in Sauk County will gather and evaluate key evidence and work hand-in-hand with respected expert witnesses to identify your damages and build a claim that helps you recover the maximum amount to which you’re entitled under Wisconsin state law.
Our dog bite lawyers in Sauk County, WI, handle cases on a contingent basis. Our fees are entirely dependent on the results we achieve. You’ll only pay for our help when we recover a settlement or win a verdict for you at trial. If we don’t win, you’ll pay nothing.
Fees are deducted from your financial award. You can usually expect an attorney to recover between 33 percent and 40 percent of your winnings, depending on the case.
Common dog bite injuries include:
If you or your child has been bitten by a dog, don’t hesitate to report the incident to the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office. Seek prompt medical attention to ensure that the injuries are diagnosed and treated within a reasonable time. These steps will provide evidence for a future legal claim and promote a better recovery with fewer complications.
While there are some exceptions, you’ll usually have up to three years to file a dog bite lawsuit in the state of Wisconsin.
The statute of limitations can be tolled in cases where a child is bitten by a dog. In these cases, the child has until their 20th birthday to file a lawsuit, as long as no one has sought compensation on their behalf.
You must file your dog bite lawsuit before time runs out, or you’ll risk losing out on valuable compensation. Once the statute of limitations expires, the dog’s owner will no longer be liable for your dog bite injuries.
In Sauk County, Wisconsin, dog owners are expected to take reasonable measures to prevent their dogs from causing harm, even if the animal has never displayed vicious tendencies. When you’re bitten by a dog, it’s imperative that the owner is held accountable.
Eisenberg Law Offices, S.C., can offer the experience and resources you’ll need to win your dog bite case and maximize your financial recovery. Our Sauk County dog bite lawyers are top-rated litigators committed to advancing your best interests.
We’ll take on the dog owner’s insurance company and anyone else who tries to stand between you and the monetary award you deserve. Call our Sauk County law office to learn more. Your initial case assessment is free.
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