If you’re looking for an animal attack lawyer, here is what you need to know right away:
- You may have the right to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- In many cases, Maine law holds animal owners strictly liable for unprovoked attacks.
- You have up to six years to file a claim in Maine, but acting quickly preserves critical evidence.
- A lawyer handles insurance negotiations, evidence gathering, and court representation, at no upfront cost.
- The lawyers at Garmey Law work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win.
This guide walks you through your rights, the legal process, and what to do next.
Immediate Steps After a Dog or Animal Attack
The moments following an animal attack are often a blur of adrenaline and shock. However, the steps you take in the first hour can significantly impact both your health and your eventual legal claim. Your priority should always be safety and medical care.
Seek Medical Attention Immediately
Even if a bite seems minor, you must see a healthcare professional. Animal mouths are full of bacteria, and puncture wounds are notorious for trapping that bacteria deep under the skin, leading to serious infections like cellulitis or even rabies exposure. Visit an urgent care or emergency room to have the wound professionally cleaned and documented. After you have received care, our guide on what to do after a dog bite injury can help you organize the next practical steps.
Identify the Owner and the Animal
If possible, get the name, address, and phone number of the animal’s owner. If the animal was being walked by a sitter or a friend, get their information as well. If the animal is a stray, try to keep it in sight from a safe distance until authorities arrive so it can be quarantined and checked for diseases.
Report the Incident to Authorities
Contact local animal control or the police department in your municipality. A formal report creates an official paper trail. This report is a crucial piece of evidence that the lawyers at Garmey Law will use to build your case. It often includes the officer’s observations and any history of prior complaints against that specific animal.
Documenting the Incident for Your Claim
Once you are medically stable, begin gathering evidence. The more information we have, the stronger your position will be when we talk to insurance companies.
- Photo Evidence: Take high-quality photos of your injuries before they are bandaged, as well as the location where the attack happened. If there are torn clothes or bloodstains on the ground, photograph those too.
- Preserve Clothing: If possible, do not wash the clothes you were wearing during the attack. Keep them in a sealed bag; they can serve as physical evidence of the attack’s violence.
- Witness Contact: If anyone saw the attack, get their contact information.
- Incident Timeline: Write down exactly what happened while the memory is fresh. Include what you were doing right before the attack to help disprove any future claims of provocation.
Understanding Liability: Strict Liability vs. The One-Bite Rule
When it comes to animal attacks, not all states play by the same rules. Some states follow the “one-bite rule,” which essentially gives a dog one “free” pass unless the owner knew the dog was dangerous. Fortunately for victims in Maine, our laws are much more protective.
Maine’s Strict Liability Law
Maine is primarily a strict liability state for animal attacks that occur off the owner’s property. This means that if a dog attacks you, the owner is liable for the damages, even if the dog had never been aggressive before. You don’t have to prove the owner was “negligent” in the traditional sense; the fact that the injury happened is often enough to establish liability.
Liability for On-Property Attacks
If the attack happens on the owner’s property, the legal standard shifts slightly toward negligence. In these cases, we must show that the owner failed to exercise “reasonable care.” This might include failing to fix a broken gate, not using a leash, or failing to warn a guest about a dog known to be territorial. These cases often overlap with premises liability claims involving unsafe property conditions, especially when a landlord, business, or property owner failed to address a known risk.
Common Injuries and Compensation in Animal Attack Cases
Animal attacks are violent, traumatic events. The physical damage is often just the beginning of a very long road to recovery.
Physical Trauma
- Puncture Wounds and Lacerations: These are the most common injuries. Because of the crushing power of a dog’s jaw, these wounds often involve deep tissue damage.
- Nerve and Muscle Damage: Attacks on the arms and hands often result in permanent loss of sensation or mobility.
- Facial Scarring: Children are particularly at risk for head and neck injuries due to their height. These injuries can require multiple reconstructive surgeries and can leave lifelong scars.
- Infections: Beyond the initial wound, diseases like rabies can lead to systemic illness.
Psychological Effects
We cannot overstate the emotional toll of an attack. Many victims suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a debilitating fear of animals, and sleep disturbances. In Maine, you are entitled to seek compensation for these non-economic damages, and those losses should be evaluated as part of the full personal injury claim, not treated as an afterthought.
Types of Recoverable Compensation
An animal attack lawyer helps you quantify your losses to ensure the insurance company doesn’t lowball your settlement. You may recover:
- Medical Expenses: Including ER visits, surgeries, physical therapy, and future scar revision procedures.
- Lost Wages: Compensation for the time you missed at work while recovering.
- Pain and Suffering: For the physical agony and the loss of enjoyment of life.
- Permanent Disfigurement: Specific damages for the lasting impact of scars.
The Evidence We Use
To build a bulletproof case, our team gathers:
- Veterinary Records: To see if the animal had a history of aggression or was up to date on vaccinations.
- Leash Law Violations: If the attack happened in a city that has specific leash ordinances, proving a violation is a major win for your case.
- Expert Testimony: We may hire animal behaviorists to testify about the dog’s propensities or medical experts to project the cost of future care.
- Neighbor Interviews: Often, neighbors have seen the animal lunging at fences or acting aggressively for years. This “prior knowledge” can turn a negligence case into a much stronger claim.
Why Hire an Experienced Animal Attack Lawyer?
You might wonder if you can handle the claim yourself. While you can, insurance adjusters are trained to minimize your story. They might offer a quick settlement that covers your initial ER bill but ignores the $20,000 plastic surgery you’ll need two years from now.
When you hire us, we provide:
- Contingency Fees: We take the financial risk. We cover the costs of investigation and filing; you only pay us a percentage of the final settlement or verdict. If we don’t win, you don’t owe us a dime.
- Insurance Negotiation: We speak the “language” of insurance companies and know how to counter their tactics.
- Litigation Strategy: If the insurance company won’t be fair, we are trial lawyers at heart. We are prepared to take your case to a jury.
Frequently Asked Questions About Animal Attacks
What is the statute of limitations for a dog bite in Maine?
In Maine, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, including dog bites, is six years. This is one of the most generous windows in the country. However, you should never wait that long. Evidence disappears, witnesses move away, and memories fade. Contacting a lawyer within weeks of the attack is the best way to preserve your rights.
Does homeowners insurance cover animal attacks?
Generally, yes. Most homeowners and renters insurance policies provide liability coverage for dog bites. However, some policies have “breed exclusions” for dogs they consider high-risk. If the owner’s insurance has an exclusion, we can try to look for other avenues of recovery, such as umbrella policies.
Talk to a Maine Animal Attack Lawyer About Your Next Step
An animal attack is a life-altering event that can leave you feeling vulnerable and overwhelmed. You shouldn’t have to fight for your recovery alone. The legal system is there to provide a path toward justice and financial stability.
At Garmey Law, we are proud to represent the “underdogs.” We bring an aggressive yet compassionate approach to every case, ensuring that negligent owners and their insurance companies are held accountable for the harm they’ve caused. We have the resources to take on big opponents and the heart to care for our neighbors in Maine.
If you or a loved one has been injured, Garmey Law provides the aggressive advocacy and compassionate representation you need to secure the compensation you deserve. Our team is dedicated to underdog protection and holding negligent owners accountable. Contact an experienced animal attack lawyer at Garmey Law today for a free consultation.