Injuries from dog bites can leave victims with life-long injuries and mental trauma that can take years to recover from. If you have suffered a dog bite injury, contact TSR Injury Law for a free consultation with one of our Minneapolis dog bite lawyers. You may be eligible to obtain compensation to help cover hospital bills and lost income from missed time at work as well as physical pain and emotional suffering.
Our firm has helped injury victims recover millions in financial compensation, including a $60,000 award for a woman who suffered wrist nerve damage after being bitten by an aggressive dog. This case was settled by our partner Rich Ruohonen, who has been selected for the Super Lawyers list every year between 2003 and 2018.
Let us review your claim during a free consultation. There is no risk or obligation to take legal action and there are no upfront costs or fees involved for our legal services if you do have a case and decide to move forward. We can discuss the specifics of the attack and the legal options that may be available to you.
Call (612) TSR-TIME today to see how we might be able to help you.
Partner Rich Ruohonen represented a young minor who was attacked by dog when she was eight years old and did not seek legal representation until several years later. Her face was lacerated in several places. The immediate plastic surgery performed by the University of Minnesota repaired all wounds and was unbelievably well done, leaving only some minor visible scarring. This young girl’s parents did not take pictures of the initial dog bite as they rushed their daughter to the hospital. Rich and his staff ended up locating pictures years later that were not attached to her medical file but were being used to teach plastic surgery reconstruction for doctors. These pictures were critical to showing the severity of the initial injuries and attack. The scarring is now only minimally visible, but the client did have issues with mild PTSD and behavioral issues believed to be related to the dog attack. This matter settled for $450,000.
Partner Rich Ruohonen settled a case for $425,000 involving a dog attack to the face of a young boy. The parents tried to settle this matter several years later on their own but were only offered about 20 percent of the actual value of the case. Rich got involved in the case only a few months before the expiration of the statute of limitations and the insurance company immediately began to increase their offer. There were two policies that applied (one for the owner and one for the harborer of the dog). The first policy was eventually tendered after Rich got involved and said he would not settle for less than those limits. The second part of the case was sued out to preserve the statute of limitations. The insurance company for the second policy requested early mediation after the lawsuit was commenced and the case was settled at mediation.
Partner Rich Ruohonen litigated a dog bite case in which K.T., a minor, was bit by a dog owned by his grandparents while visiting his grandparents’ home. He suffered a laceration below his nose running toward his upper lip. After significant investigation, Rich located another child that also was bit by the dog in the case. Following that discovery, the offer on the case almost doubled and the case was settled shortly before trial for a total of $85,000.
Unlike some other states, Minnesota’s dog bite statute seems to favor dog bite victims. Dog owners may be held liable when a dog, without provocation, attacks or causes injury to a person acting peaceably, if that person was legally allowed to be in the place where he or she was harmed.
For example, if you were on public property or were an invitee on private property, and other conditions explained above were met, the owner may be liable for your injuries. The statute defines an owner as anyone harboring or keeping a dog, but the dog owner is primarily liable.
In some dog bite cases, provocation is the owner’s defense to liability. Provocation defense is often mentioned but difficult to support with facts.
Provocation can be used as a defense if the injured person provoked, tormented, abused, or assaulted the dog before the attack. The defendant is not relieved of liability if the injured person’s conduct inadvertently or involuntarily provoked the dog to attack. An example of inadvertent behavior would be accidentally stepping on a dog.
The state of Minnesota has a strict liability rule for dog owners. Regardless of the dog’s past behavior, the owner is responsible for any personal injuries caused by his or her dog, even if he or she did not know or could not have known the dog would be dangerous.
According to Minneapolis Animal Care and Control, a dangerous dog is one that when unprovoked:
If you were bitten by a dog while trespassing, the dog owner may not be liable for your injuries. You must have been lawfully invited onto the property as a social guest or potential customer, such as friend, family member, postal worker, contractor, etc. to be eligible to recover damages for a dog bite.
Dog bite cases can be very difficult to handle on your own, especially because the owner and his or her insurance company and legal representatives will try to prove you provoked the dog or were on the property illegally.
We recommend contacting our Minneapolis dog bite lawyers for a free consultation. We have detailed knowledge of the complexities of these cases and how to collect evidence to help establish liability.
TSR Injury Law has recovered over $1 billion for clients who have suffered injuries or losses due to the negligent actions of others.
Our firm has earned a 5-star rating for our commitment to excellence in legal representation and client satisfaction.
With more than 20 years of experience, TSR Injury Law has a proven record of success.
After a dog bite injury, you may be wondering how much your claim is worth. This is a reasonable question to ask since damages from a dog bite can be life-changing.
However, every dog bite case is different and the amount of compensation you may be eligible for will depend on the specific details of your situation.
There are several factors we may review to determine the value of a case. We may look at:
Contact TSR Injury Law to set up a free consultation with our Minneapolis dog bite attorneys so we can determine the potential value of your claim. If you have a case, we are ready to carefully investigate and pursue full compensation. There are upfront no fees for our services.
Contact our legal team today by calling (612) TSR-TIME.
While compensatory damages are for injuries. Punitive damages are to punish someone financially for their actions. Punitive damages are awarded over and above the damages for injuries. There are three reasons to seek punitive damages:
Some reasons why judges award punitive damages:
Minnesota Statute § 549.20 states that punitive damages shall be awarded if it is proved by clear and convincing evidence that the Defendant deliberately disregarded the safety of others.
If you have a case, there is a limited amount of time to take legal action. The majority of personal injury cases in Minnesota, including dog bite cases, must be filed within two years from the date of the injury. If you fail to file a lawsuit within this deadline, you may be unable to pursue compensation through a lawsuit.
However, there may be exceptions to this two-year deadline for your specific case. You may be required to file before then, or you may have more than two years to file a lawsuit.
If you have any questions about the deadlines for personal injury lawsuits or are unsure if your time to file has passed, we recommend that you consult with to one of our knowledgeable Minneapolis personal injury lawyers for legal advice.
Our dedicated attorneys are recognized for their skill and unwavering commitment to justice. They have a proven record of success in leveling the playing field, securing justice, and helping people rebuild from the impact of injury.
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A dog bite or attack can leave you feeling scared, vulnerable and unsure about what to do next. There are certain things immediately following a dog bite injury that you can do to protect your health and your rights:
Dog bite injuries can be severe. Even small puncture wounds can result in serious infections or permanent scarring/disfigurement. Regardless of the injury, it is important the you seek medical treatment right away to ensure that the wound is properly treated. A doctor will examine the injury to determine whether the bite was deep enough to damage nerves, muscles, tendons or bones and take measures to prevent an infection.
Infections are common with dog bite injuries so be sure to regularly change the bandaging around your wound and clean it properly on a regular basis, as instructed by your doctor. If you are given antibiotics to prevent infection, it is important that you take them as prescribed. Follow up with the doctor as ordered for routine cleaning, wound care inspection and continuous monitoring of the healing process.
Make sure to report the dog bite or attack to the Minneapolis Animal Care and Control (MACC). The MACC will respond to the location given and investigate the incident. It is in your best interest to provide an accurate description of the dog and its location so that the MACC can contact the dog owner, legally confine the dog for a certain period of days to protect the public from rabies and take other suitable measures.
Take pictures of the wound, bruises, lacerations and bloodied, torn or damaged clothing. Documenting your injuries can help prove the severity and extent of the harm you suffered from the beginning through the entire recovery period. Be sure to also photograph the location of the incident and anything else that may be helpful later.
Be sure to identify and collect vital information from the dog owner, including his or her name, address, phone number, veterinary information, and name of his or her insurance company – the owner’s homeowners’ insurance may provide compensation for your injuries.
Also take down the contact details of any witnesses present at the time of the incident. A Minneapolis dog bite attorney from our firm can use this information to contact a witness at a later date to discuss what he or she may or may not have seen.
If you have been injured by a dog bite, we recommend that you contact TSR Injury Law as soon as possible. There may be time limits to your dog bite claim. Reach out to us anytime. We are available 24/7. There is never a fee involved for our legal services unless we obtain compensation for you.
Complete our Free Case Evaluation form now so we can get started.
When you talk to the owners or insurance company, make sure that you:
If you feel pressured in any way by the dog owner or insurance company, refer them to your attorney. Also, let your attorney know that you are being pressed for information or cooperation.
There are certain breeds of dogs that are generally considered to be more dangerous than others. It is generally recommended that you be cautious around these breeds because there could be a greater risk of an attack or bite. These breeds include:
See what our clients have to say about working with TSR Injury Law. Their stories reflect our commitment to providing exceptional legal representation and personalized attention to every case.
Contacting an experienced Minneapolis dog bite lawyer can help to determine if you have grounds to file a damages claim and if so, the legal options that may be available. You may be eligible to obtain compensation for medical expenses, past and future loss of income, and any pain and suffering you have endured.
At TSR Injury Law, our dog bite attorneys charge no upfront fees if we take on your case and we only get paid when we obtain a recovery on your behalf.
We are located just two miles from the Fairview Southdale Hospital and offer free consultations, either in person at our office or over the phone. We also provide home and hospital visits if required.
We look forward to helping you. Call (612) TSR-TIME today.
