How Plaintiffs Can Protect Themselves in Dog Bite Liability Claims
It is easy to get money from an insurance claim related to an injury, but it is much harder to get enough money to cover all of your injury-related medical bills. A lot of people take the attitude that filing an insurance claim, especially against someone else’s insurance policy, is a lot like buying a lottery ticket, and you are lucky to get any money at all, but this is a mistake. When you file an insurance claim, your goal is to break even. It is virtually impossible to receive an insurance claim that makes you wealthier than you were before the accident that caused your financial losses, and if you did, you would probably get charged with insurance fraud. Insurance companies do not make it easy to get compensation for all of the money you lost, to say the least. The same strategies you would use to get a fair settlement on a car accident claim also work with dog bite claims. For help getting a fair insurance settlement after a dog bite injury, contact an Atlanta dog bite lawyer.
Collect Evidence at the Scene of the Attack
The insurance claims adjusters were not there when the dog bit you, and they will attempt to reconstruct the events in the way that enables them to pay you the least. Therefore, you should provide as much evidence as possible from the scene of the attack. Using your phone, take images and videos of your injuries and your surroundings. Get the contact information of any witnesses, if you do not already have their contact information. This can include the dog owner or whoever was accompanying the dog, such as a professional dog walker.
Get a Medical Examination on the Same Day as the Attack
Even if you think your injuries are minor, you should still go to the emergency room or your doctor’s office, if you can get an immediate appointment, on the same day as the attack. The doctor who examines you can provide an unbiased report about what caused your injuries and what kind of treatment they require. If necessary, you will be able to compare these to your medical records from before the dog bite to show that your residual symptoms are due to the bite instead of to a pre-existing medical condition.
Don’t Fall for the Games That Insurance Companies Play
If your injuries are severe, speaking freely with insurance claims adjusters is the worst mistake that you can make. They will engage you in conversation and make you think that they are being friendly, but they are actually trying to get you to say things that can justify a lower payout. For example, they will try to get you to contradict yourself or to talk about old injuries to which they can later attribute your current symptoms.
Contact Zagoria Law About Dog Bite Cases
An Atlanta personal injury lawyer can help you get a fair insurance settlement by negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf. Contact Zagoria Law in Atlanta, Georgia to discuss your case.
Source:
kidshealth.org/en/parents/bites.html
