When most of us think of dogs we think of the playful, affectionate animals known as man’s best friend – the lapdogs that bring us joy, comfort, and companionship. But clearly, encounters with dogs are not always this pleasant. There are times when – out of fear, breeding, or because they have been trained or encouraged to attack – dogs will attack humans, biting and injuring them. In fact, nearly five million people are bitten by dogs every year in the United States – some even resulting in death.

When animal attacks such as this result in personal injury, many victims will call upon the services of a personal injury attorney to understand their legal rights. In fact, there can be liability associated with dog attacks if it is found that the dog’s owner was complacent in the dog’s behavior, encouraged or did not mitigate the signs of ongoing aggressiveness, and did not take steps to protect people from the dog.

A personal injury attorney in this case will work with their clients to establish the details of the case, gathering evidence including eyewitness accounts, medical records, police reports, and the like. The personal injury attorney will work on behalf of their client to attempt to prove liability on the part of the dog owner, calling expert witnesses that can speak to the claimant’s injuries, emergency personnel that were called to the scene, and others involved in the incident. In the end, the personal injury attorney hopes to establish liability through the legal proceedings in order to garner their client financial restitution for their injuries and pain.