Dog bite cases are handled by attorneys who are well versed in bite laws that vary from one state to another. These attorneys work both sides of the courtroom. They assist the victim in recovering for the injury as well as for loss employment time, pain and suffering. Dog bite attorneys also help the dog’s owner defend against the suit and possible fines or jail time. For both injured and the owner, an attorney specializing in dog bite law is essential. This is true no matter what the circumstances are surrounding the bite incident.

Dog bite victims can potentially suffer greatly after the incident. The injury may lead to loss time on the job. The medical expenses are also a major part of any dog bite case. Attorneys who are knowledgeable in the state’s laws on dog bites can recover for both the lost employment time and the medical expenses. The attorney may also secure punitive damages and an award for pain and suffering. These attorneys are personal injury lawyers who, as others like him, work on a contingency fee. In other words, there is no retainer—the attorney gets payment when the damages are awarded.

Dog owners also benefit from hiring an attorney in a bite case. Typically, the owner is not only fighting a civil suit, but also any criminal charges, such as battery or animal cruelty, that a victim might file for the incident. Unlike the victim’s attorney, the owner’s lawyer does not work on contingency basis. The owner must pay a retainer. The type of attorney that defends owners of biting dogs is a civil defense attorney. The dog owner should obtain such a lawyer who is well versed in not only dog bite laws, but the defense of a personal injury case.

Both the owner and the victim in a dog biting incident should be represented by an attorney who is familiar with dog bite and personal injury laws. There are many issues involved in a dog bite case that require the specialized attention that neither owner nor victim handle on their own. Although hiring an attorney is no guarantee that either side will win, it is the best way to ensure that each side’s argument is presented in the most accurate way possible.