How To Choose A Dog Bite Lawyer
A civil suit is a legal process in which you hold someone financially responsible for the injuries and distress they have caused you. However, if you want to initiate civil action, you need the right lawyer. Ideally, you should look for a dog bite lawyer who meets the following criteria.
Understands The Laws Of Your State
Dog bite laws vary greatly from state to state. Many states, such as New Hampshire and Massachusetts, are strict liability states, which means that the owner is almost always liable when his dog attacks. But in other states, liability may be more difficult to prove. To ensure you get the best settlement for your case, you need a lawyer experienced in handling cases in your state.In most cases, if a lawyer practices in a certain state, it means that he or she has passed the bar exam in that state and, by extension, understands the laws of that state. However, some states offer reciprocity, which means that if a lawyer passes the bar in one state, he may automatically become licensed to practice in a neighboring state. To ensure you get the best legal advice, make sure they are experienced in the practice of law in your state.
Experienced With Dog Bite Cases
In addition to making sure that your lawyer has experience in your state, you should also make sure that he is experienced in particular dog bite cases. With his experience, a lawyer knows how to fight the common defenses of the dog owner's lawyers. They also have a network of quality expert witnesses they can call on, and these witnesses can be essential in relating your injuries to the dog's attack and in establishing the pain and suffering that you are likely to feel as a result of certain injuries.
Lawyers experienced in dog bite also know how to assess your injuries, damage, pain, and suffering to obtain the best possible settlement for your situation. However, an inexperienced lawyer may not note all of the damage you suffered during the attack.
Dog attacks can cause physical disabilities, but they can also cause untold pain and suffering, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or long-term fear of dogs. All of these can seriously affect your life and you need a lawyer who understands how to bring all of these conditions to the attention of the court.
Well Rated By Professional Organizations
There are many lawyers out there, and to make sure you hire the best dog bite lawyer, you should look for lawyers involved in professional groups who receive high marks from third-party organizations. Ideally, the lawyer you hire should be a member of the state bar association and the county bar association. They should also be members of state organizations such as the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys and federal groups such as the American Association for Justice.
To find out more about potential lawyers, you can check sites such as Avvo and Super Avocats. Both of these sites have profiles and customer satisfaction ratings that can be helpful in your research process.