Dog Bite Lawyer Newport News, VA

Whether you’re enjoying a day in the park, walking through a quiet neighborhood, or visiting someone’s home, a dog bite can happen when you least expect it. Dog attacks can cause deep physical injuries, infections, and lasting emotional trauma, often resulting in costly medical bills and time away from work.

If you or a loved one has been attacked, a Newport News dog bite attorney at Huffman & Huffman Brothers-in-Law can help you understand your legal options and fight for the compensation you need to recover.

Can You Sue for a Dog Bite in Newport News?

Virginia has a “one bite” rule, which means that if the dog that bit you previously bit someone else, you may be eligible to sue for compensation. However, even if the dog hasn’t bitten anyone before, you may still have a case if you can demonstrate that the owner knew or should have known about its aggressive behavior.

There are some exceptions to this rule, however. Dog bite victims who were injured while trespassing on the dog owner’s property or were bitten because they provoked the dog are generally not eligible to sue.

A successful dog bite lawsuit can help you recover the cost of your medical bills, lost income during your recovery, and other expenses related to your injury.

Why Dog Bite Victims Choose Huffman & Huffman

For more than 50 years, Huffman & Huffman has stood up for people injured in dog attacks and other serious accidents in Newport News and across Virginia. Our attorneys bring over 150 years of combined legal experience to every case, backed by strong local connections and trusted relationships with medical providers and experts who can support your claim.

We can investigate the circumstances of the attack, help you document your injuries and the impact they have had on your life, negotiate with insurance companies and other parties on your behalf, and fight to secure full compensation. When you choose Huffman & Huffman, you’re choosing a law firm with deep roots in the community and a proven commitment to protecting victims of serious dog attacks.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Bite?

The dog’s owner is usually the primary party responsible for a bite. However, liability can sometimes extend beyond the owner. Other parties that may be held responsible include:

• Landlords or property owners: If they knew about the aggressive dog and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent harm.
• Dog sitters or caretakers: Individuals temporarily in charge of the dog can sometimes be held accountable if negligence contributed to the attack.
• Other responsible parties: In some cases, neighbors, pet boarding facilities, or dog trainers could share liability.

Our attorneys at Huffman & Huffman carefully review every detail of the incident to determine all parties who may be responsible. This thorough approach ensures victims have the strongest chance to recover full compensation for their injuries and related expenses.

What Damages Can You Recover Through a Dog Bite Lawsuit?

Dogs have extremely powerful jaws. Even a single bite can result in lasting or lifelong injuries. You can potentially be awarded several types of damages from a dog bite lawsuit. Some of the most common types of damages are compensation for:

• Medical treatment, including both current and future care
• Physical and emotional therapy
• Lost wages due to your injuries
• Pain and suffering

In addition, if a loved one has lost their life as the result of a dog attack, you may be able to recover compensation for the loss of their care, support, and companionship.

What Are the Most Common Dog Bite Injuries?

Dog bite injuries can last weeks, months, or even a lifetime, depending on the circumstances of the attack. Some of the most common types of injuries are:

• Puncture wounds
• Dog bite infections
• Fractured bones
• Nerve damage
• Scars
• Internal organ damage
• Lost digits

Some of these injuries have effects that will plague you for the rest of your life. For example, if you lose fingers, you may find it difficult to earn a living in several fields. Similarly, if a dog bites your face, causing severe scarring, you may have difficulty finding a romantic partner.

What Should You Do if You Are Bitten by a Dog in Newport News?

If you are bitten by a dog in Newport News, you should get treatment for the wound as fast as possible. Wash the wound with soap and water if you can before getting medical attention. You may need to receive the rabies vaccine. A doctor is best equipped to determine that and administer the vaccine if needed.

If possible, collect the contact information for the owner or handler of the animal, then report the attack to the police as soon as you are able. This creates an official record of the bite and can help the authorities take measures to protect others from being harmed by the dog.

Once you have taken the above steps, we encourage you to reach out to us to understand whether you may be able to file a dog bite claim.

Dog Bite Lawyer Newport News, VA: FAQs

How Much Does a Lawyer Cost for a Dog Bite?

At Huffman and Huffman, we take dog bite cases on contingency. This means that we don’t charge you anything up front. Furthermore, we only take a fee when we successfully obtain compensation for you. Our lawyers will explain this fee structure in detail during your free consultation and case evaluation.

How Long Do You Have to File a Dog Bite Claim?

There are two answers to this question. If you are filing a dog bite claim with the insurance company of the liable party, the amount of time you have to file that claim depends on the relevant policy. Typically, though, it is in your best interests to file a claim as soon as possible.

If you are filing a lawsuit, the state of Virginia gives you two years from the date you were bitten to file a lawsuit. Despite having two years to act, it is still prudent to file your lawsuit as soon as it is reasonable to do so.

Can I Sue if My Child Was Bitten After Wandering Onto Someone’s Property?

This question involves a tricky aspect of the law. Typically, if you are trespassing on another person’s property, the owner of the property is not liable if you are injured, including by dog bites. However, you must have the intent to be trespassing.

Young children, by legal definition, can’t form intent. Thus, a child can’t be trespassing. This means that if a child wanders onto someone’s property, they aren’t trespassing.

However, this doesn’t always mean that you can sue. While the child can’t be trespassing, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the property owner was negligent. The adult who should have been monitoring the child’s actions may be the negligent party.

Our attorneys will consider all elements of your case to determine whether you are eligible to sue in this type of situation.

How Bad Does a Dog Bite Have to Be to Sue?

To be eligible to sue someone, you must be able to show that you suffered financial damages. For example, if all it took to heal from a bite was some soap, water, and a few Band-Aids, you suffered no meaningful financial harm, and wouldn’t be able to sue. Our dog bite lawyers can help calculate the value of your claim.

Do You Have a Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me?

Our office is located at 12284 Warwick Boulevard, #2A, across the street from the Ferguson Center for the Arts. We encourage you to schedule a free consultation to learn more about how we may be able to help with your case.

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Dog Bite Lawyers in Newport News Today

If you or a loved one was attacked by a dog in Newport News, we recommend getting in touch with our legal team to determine your next steps. We offer free consultations to all potential clients and take all cases on contingency. This means that you take no financial risk by scheduling a quick conversation with us. Contact us to get started.