Medford Dog Bite Attorney Firm
“First bite free” – or so the saying goes. This is a widely-held belief that a dog bite victim can’t get payment for damages from the first dog bite. But that’s not always true; if the dog showed a “vicious propensity,” the first bite is “not” free and you can recover your losses.
We can assess your case and check into the animal’s history. City ordinances can come into play that could help your case. We fought to help an elderly dog-bite victim whose thigh was ripped open by a 100-pound pit bull. The dog-owner had no insurance or assets; and he fled the scene at midnight in his camper along with his five other dogs. However, we were able to prove that his landlord knew about the vicious dogs and didn’t do anything about it. This fact forced the landlord’s insurance to pay for our elderly client’s extensive surgeries, scarring, horrific near-death experience, and extreme pain.
We’ve helped dog bite victims who were bitten in the face; one even had his upper lip bitten off. We worked with the plastic surgeon to assess his case. He used tissue from the inside of his mouth to fabricate an excellent replica of his lip, and we got a great settlement for him.
Another of our clients was attacked by a “pack” of dogs while riding his bicycle. We went so far as attending the “dog trial” (yes, these really do exist) to ensure the “dog court” knew the five dogs were vicious repeat-offenders, and that their owners just let them run loose all day. The dog court forced the owners to build a dog-proof fence, and now adults and kids can ride past without risking life and limb. Being on this case early yielded a great settlement for the damages caused when the dogs shredded our client’s Achilles’ tendon.
We can settle most dog bite injury cases for fair and just payment without going to trial. But either way, with or without a trial, you have just the one chance to get justice, and insurance companies know it. They will pull out all the stops.
In one of our trials, the insurance lawyer hired seven medical experts and surgeons! But they didn’t fool the jury; one by one we forced these hired-gun experts to admit they didn’t have the facts. For example, one expert admitted he hadn’t read even one page of 20 deposition transcripts before trial; he ignored 1,500 pages of sworn testimony! Yet he still gave the jury his $6,500 “expert opinion” anyway! That’s not justice, but that’s how they work.
The system is lopsided, in favor of insurance companies. If you’re a dog bite victim, we can help level your playing field. We can stand for you against the insurance companies. We know their weaknesses from an insider’s vantage point. They have in-house lawyers, working full-time against injury victims like you; you need someone on your side who knows how they work.
We work to get you the best possible settlement without going to trial; an estimated 95% of our cases settle without going to the courthouse. And if your case is one of the few that does have to go to trial, then we have the skills and experience to win. One of our recent trial verdicts was $550,000 against a premier Portland defense law firm.*
Sometimes in serious dog bite cases, the medical bills are more than all combined insurances. When this happens we fight with the lien claimants to reduce liens. We recently got a $405,479 medical lien down to $33,333.* In another, we only had $25,000 in total available insurance limits, and the medical bills totaled $82,967. We got all liens reduced to $4,691.* We are experts in dealing with lien claimants and have gotten liens and medical bills dramatically reduced in many cases.
We work closely with all health care insurances, Medicare, Medicaid, and OHP, so that when you leave our office, the check in your hand is a “net check” with no lurking liens or bills left out there unpaid. From start to finish, we help you get to the best possible result.
We have expertise with dog bite injuries. Let us help you get back on your feet, cover your medical bills, and keep your credit from getting ruined. We guide you through the process. Let us put our experience on your side to help you get fair and just payment for what you’ve been through. Call us now at (541)772-3266 for a FREE initial phone consultation with a Medford Dog Bite Lawyer.
Or click here, which will send you to an easy on-line inquiry so we can assess your case and set up a convenient time – even evenings/weekends – to discuss maximizing your settlement and making you whole, so that you’re not a victim twice.*