Top Chunchula, AL Dog Bite Lawyers Near You

Did a Dog Bite You?

If you were bitten by a dog there are laws in place to help you. Dog bite laws are a mixture of city and county ordinances and state law that establishes when the dog’s owner is liable to the bite victim. A few states use the “one bite rule,” which shields the dog’s owner from liability in that one incident, unless the owner knew the dog bites. These laws establish proper control of the dog and when the dog’s owner is liable to the bite victim.

Learn Your Rights Regarding Dog Bite

Most states are strict liability jurisdictions, meaning the dog’s owner or controller is liable to the victim unless the dog owner has a valid defense. Find out if you are entitled to compensation by talking to a Chunchula dog bite attorney.

When to Hire a Lawyer

It is in your best interest to get legal help early on in addressing your situation. There are times when hiring a lawyer quickly is critical to your case, such as if you are charged with a crime. It may also be in your best interest to have a lawyer review the fine print before signing legal documents. A lawyer can also help you get the compensation you deserve if you’ve suffered a serious injury. For issues where money or property is at stake, having a lawyer guide you through the complexities of the legal system can save you time, hassle, and possibly a lot of grief in the long run.

Tips on Approaching an Initial Attorney Consultation

• Use the consultation as a means of gaining a better understanding of your legal situation.
• Ask the attorney how many cases similar to yours he/she has handled. An attorney’s experience and knowledge can speak to their expertise (or lack of) in addressing your situation.
• Your attorney should be able to articulate roughly how long a case like yours will take to resolve and what sort of procedures to expect.
• Determine how comfortable you are working with the lawyer and/or law firm.

How to Find the Right Attorney

• Determine the area of law that relates to your issue. Attorneys specialize in specific practice areas around legal issues within the broad field of law.
• Seek out recommendations from friends, family, and colleagues. A successful attorney or practice will typically have many satisfied clients.
• Set up consultation appointments to get a better understanding of your case as well as gauge your comfort level with different attorneys. Find the attorney who is the right fit for your needs.

Common legal terms explained

Personal jurisdiction – Requirement that a particular court have authority over a person, in order to bind that person to the judgment of the court, based on minimum contacts. International Shoe Co v. Washington is a landmark Supreme Court case outlining the scope of a state court’s reach in personal jurisdiction.