Laguna Niguel Dog Bite Attorneys

Being bitten by an aggressive dog is a traumatic experience that can leave both physical and emotional scars. The subsequent medical care and other costs can also take a bite out of your finances. Our Laguna Niguel dog bite attorneys can help you pursue compensation for any damages you have incurred as a result of the attack. The laws surrounding these cases are complicated, but our legal team has a track record of success in these claims. For a free consultation, call 1-800-GO-HARRIS.

What Should Go in My Personal Injury Journal?

You may be in a hurry to forget about the attack and move on with life, but it is important that you carefully document the details about the moments preceding the incident and the days following. Over time, even the clearest memories can become fuzzy. A personal injury journal will give you a space to record important information such as the details of your day-to-day pain and suffering, limitations, prescription medications, medical treatments, and accident specifics. Your Laguna Niguel dog bite lawyer may use this information when building your claim. Let’s explore just a few important details you can include in your personal injury journal:

• Pain Levels: We all experience pain differently, hence why it’s difficult to quantify pain and suffering when estimating a fair settlement. A personal injury journal can help your lawyer place a value on these non-economic damages by tracking your pain levels and describing the types of symptoms you are experiencing. It’s advised to assign a numerical value between 1 and 10 to “score” your pain levels—1 representing mild discomfort and 10 representing a debilitating degree of agony. You should also use detailed descriptions to help communicate the extent of your pain. Instead of simply writing, “Pain in left leg,” you could, for instance, describe this pain as a corkscrew twisting under your skin. These details can be useful to your attorney when he or she is building an argument for pain and suffering.

• Daily Limitations: Does your personal injury prevent you from completing specific tasks at work? Has your condition affected your ability to do physical activity? Describing these limitations will help you communicate the impact your injuries have had on your life. You should log any moment wherein your condition limited you from returning to your normal routine and fulfilling your responsibilities. Your attorney may rely on these details when building your case or to help counter disputes down the line.

• Accident Details: As soon as possible after you suffered your injury, but only once you have received medical treatment, you should make detailed notes on everything you can remember about the incident. For example: Were there any eyewitnesses? Surveillance cameras? Signs of negligence by the defendant? This information can help guide your legal team when they begin their investigation.

What Common Mistakes Should I Avoid When Filing a Dog Bite Claim?

Mistakes are a natural part of being human. However, while forgetting to pick up your kid from basketball practice can be remedied with a cone from the local ice cream shop, errors before and after your personal injury claim can sometimes never be undone. With your financial future at stake, it’s important to steer clear of common mistakes that could otherwise derail your personal injury case. At Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, we can guide you through the claims process and help you avoid such errors. Let’s discuss a few mistakes you should try avoid while your claim is pending:

• You Didn’t Keep Important Financial Documents: Repair costs and medical bills can tank your bank balance. To recover these expenses after sustaining a personal injury, you will first need to provide evidence of the costs you’ve incurred. In your fight for fair compensation, any financial document—such as receipts, invoices, and paystubs—could be your golden ticket to securing a financial award that accounts for all recoverable expenses.
• You Posted About Your Injuries Online: With most of our socializing taking place in a digital space, you may want to post about the details of your personal injury case online. While you’re just looking for a support network, investigators hired by other parties to monitor your activity are searching for any information that could be used to counter your claim. Even seemingly harmless posts and pictures could be leveraged to dispute your case. You should set all your accounts to private and avoid posting altogether until your claim is resolved.
• You Didn’t Take Reasonable Steps to Mitigate Your Damages: In a personal injury case, you have a duty to make sure you do everything in your power to mitigate additional damages. For instance, if your doctor orders you to take time off work to allow your injuries to heal, it would be negligent to ignore his or her instructions and return to your job. As a result, you could be held liable for at least a percentage of your damages.

Speak with a Dog Bite Lawyer in Laguna Niguel Today

If you need help navigating the legal system after being attacked by a dog, contact our law firm for a free consultation. You can reach us 24 hours a day by calling 1-800-GO-HARRIS or sending a message on our Contact Page.