You would have a hard time finding someone who loves dogs more than Attorney Rosenthal. He has two of his own. But Attorney Rosenthal firmly believes that a dog owner has to be responsible for their dogs. When a dog bites and injures someone, the owner has to be held responsible. Attorney Rosenthal has been handling dog bite cases since 1993 and has successfully handled many.
The law in Connecticut is that an owner (or keeper) of a dog is strictly liable for any injuries they dog causes. The only exception is if the injured person were “teasing or tormenting” the dog.
It is important to take the following steps after a dog bite:
- Call the police to report the attack
- Get the name and contact information for witnesses
- Get medical treatment as soon as possible
- Take photos of the dog and also of injuries including bites, scratches, or scars
- Do not talk to the dog's owner or their insurance company
One of the biggest factors in a dog bite case is the medical injury, and what the medical reports say are critical to the case- what the doctors say about the severity of your injury, the need for future treatment, whether you have a permanent injury, the length of your treatment, the cost of your treatment. It is important that before you settle your case that you have explored all your medical options. Once you settle, if you discover a new medical problem you won't be able to get more money from the insurance company.
When you are getting your medical treatment, it is best to treat consistently. Gaps of time between appointments can hurt your case. If treatment with one doctor isn't improving your injury, let that doctor know. If you still don't improve, there are often many medical options available to you. You should discuss this with your doctor and lawyer. Skipping treatment or not scheduling treatment is not the best approach.
Often times with dog bites, the victim is left with a scar. It is important that the client get the proper treatment when the dog bite happens, but before the case is over, the client may need to get a scar evaluation by a plastic surgeon.
It is important to keep track of time missed from work. Lost wages are something that we take note of and work to get you reimbursed for from the insurance company.
There are many factors that go into deciding what your settlement is going to be - how the accident happened, your medical treatment, your lost wages, and the injuries' impact on your life. In some cases it may be necessary for the attorney to use an expert such as an doctor or economist to convince the insurance company on some issue in the case.
Attorney Rosenthal works hand-in-hand with clients to understand how the accident has affected them, and to guide them through the recovery and settlement process. Most clients have his mobile phone and he can respond to texts or calls after hours or on weekends. Your case won't be pushed off to a secretary or junior attorney. Attorney Rosenthal has been successfully handling cases since 1993 and has guided countless clients through the process from accident, to recovery, to settlement.