Most people love dogs and with good reason. Most canines are friendly animals that can provide many years of great companionship. But while dogs are often viewed as part of the family, they are still animals and can still act out from time to time. If you have been bitten by someone else's dog, you may have a legal case to pursue. But it's important before moving forward that you hire a dog bite attorney who will go to bat for you. Here are three reasons why having a dog bite attorney is preferable to pursuing your case alone.

People Can Get Very Emotional About Their Pets

If you go after someone personally over an incident with their dog, be prepared for a vicious fight. In addition to the legal repercussions, some individuals may react very poorly simply because they have a strong emotional attachment to their pet and they will lash out at anyone who tries to fault it. They may even feel that their dog did nothing wrong and that you instigated the bite for one reason or another. Hiring an attorney helps put a buffer between you and all of that emotion. Your dog bite attorney is a professional who knows what to say to keep things as civil as possible and won't bat an eye if the defendant starts getting angry on the phone or in person.

Get the Professional Help You Need to Acquire Evidence

Dog bite cases, like most court cases, will depend on the quality of evidence you can present. While you can present things like your medical records, an attorney may be able to provide you with additional resources to help you win your case. For example, the attorney may have access to a private investigator who can quickly and quietly photograph the defendant's property where the incident occurred. You may also be able to talk with a professional about other things that can help your case, like the mental anguish the bite caused for you, or the potential lost future wages from any disfigurement that occurred.

Insurance Companies May Offer More When An Attorney is Involved

If someone has agreed to pay you for a dog bite, it's likely their homeowner's insurance may get involved as some policies do cover incidents like this if the bite occurred while on the defendant's property. Never negotiate with an insurance company without the assistance of an attorney. The insurance company will put the needs of their business and its client ahead of your settlement offer. But when an attorney is involved, they may be less likely to send an initial lowball offer because they know that you mean business. 

If you've been bitten by a dog, you should hire an attorney (such as one from http://www.trammellandmills.com) before moving forward with a dog bite case. An attorney can help keep an emotional situation stable, help you quickly obtain evidence you need to win your case and can be a huge help when at the negotiating table with an insurance company.

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