Nashville Dog Bite Attorney

We’ve all seen it – your dog shows a few teeth when you wake them up or lets out a growl to let you know they’re not in the mood to play. In most dogs, a little playful force is normal. You might get a few scratches playing with your neighbor’s dog, but it’s never anything serious.

However, even if a dog seems friendly, it can still bite. According to the Canine Journal, about 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States annually. That’s 1 out of every 73 people, and Nashville is no exception.

If you or someone in your family has suffered a dog bite, our Nashville attorneys at Steinger, Greene & Feiner will help you pursue compensation from the owner’s insurance carrier. Treatment and healing for dog bites can be costly, especially with trips to the hospital and time missed from work. Let us represent you and help you win the money needed for medical costs and other expenses. You can also visit offices: 3102 West End Ave, Suite 1050, Nashville, TN 37203.

Relentless Representation

Nashville dog owners must keep their pets under control. If the owner is negligent in that duty, they are liable for any injuries that the dog may inflict on anyone in a public place or on someone else’s property. 

However, Tennessee law mandates that there is no liability if an individual provoked a dog or if the injury occurred while the dog was in a crate or kennel.

State and local laws regarding dog bites are complicated. That’s why it’s important to contact an expert dog bite attorney. Steinger, Greene & Feiner have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our thousands of injured clients. If you or a loved one have been injured by a dog bite, don’t assume it’s out of your hands. Take action with Steinger, Greene & Feiner today. 

Our attorneys will prove the dog owner’s liability and hold them accountable for your injuries. We will ensure that your case begins on track and meets the statute of limitations for dog bites, which is one year in Tennessee.

Steinger, Greene & Feiner have experience in complicated dog bite laws and know how to talk to insurance companies. When you hire a lawyer for your dog bite case, you can also help prevent a rabid or aggressive dog from harming others.  

Types of Injuries

Dog bites can cause significant injury or damage to a victim’s skin and soft tissues on any part of their body. The most common areas are the head, neck, and legs. Because canine jaws and teeth are so powerful, the force of their bite can tear or crush a victim’s skin, puncture their chest wall, or even cause fatal damage to intestinal organs.

However, perhaps even more serious are the bacterial and viral infections that can spread from dog bite puncture wounds that damage joints, organs, and tissues. 

Bacterial and viral infections from dog bites:

• Tetanus (lockjaw). This is an often-fatal infection that is transmitted into puncture wounds from a dog’s teeth. (MedicineNet, 2020)
• Rabies. When a human is bitten by a rabies-infected dog, the virus spreads from the wound to the brain over a few months and then to the rest of the body. (MedicineNet, 2020)
• Cellulitis. This is a tissue infection that spreads from the affected area. Skin will feel warm and appear swollen and red. (Mayo Clinic, 2020)
• Septic arthritis. A joint infection that usually causes pain and discomfort, as well as difficulty using the affected area. (Mayo Clinic, 2020)
• Osteomyelitis. A bone infection that may require surgery to remove areas of the bone that have died.

You may have an infection if you experience the following symptoms after suffering from a dog bite:

• Swelling, redness, or a warm feeling around the affected area.
• Pain that lasts longer than 24 hours.
• Pus or drainage from the affected area.
• Loss of sensation around the wound.
• Red streaks near the wound.
• Fever, chills, or night sweats. (Healthline, 2020)

These are severe and life-threatening injuries that can be expensive to treat and rehabilitate. Contact a Nashville dog bite attorney at Steinger, Greene & Feiner today for a free consultation.  

Miscellaneous

Dr. Ian Dunbar, a veterinarian and animal behaviorist, created an official scale that is widely used by doctors and animal professionals to assess the severity of dog bites. The scale ranges from Level 1 to Level 6, which is the most severe.

• Level 1. Aggressive behavior but no teeth-skin contact.
• Level 2. Teeth-skin contact but no puncture of the skin. There may be slight bleeding and small nicks that are less than 1/10th of an inch deep.
• Level 3. One to four puncture wounds from a single bite. The punctures are no deeper than half the length of the animal’s canine teeth.
• Level 4. One to four puncture wounds from a single bite. At least one of the punctures will be deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth. There may also be bruising around the puncture site, suggesting that the animal held on and bore down for a number of seconds, or lacerations in both directions, suggesting that the animal shook its head around while biting down.
• Level 5. Multiple bites with at least two of Level 4 severity, or a multiple-attack with at least one bite of Level 4 severity.
• Level 6. Victim is deceased. (Association of Professional Dog Trainers, 2017)

Why Choose Us?

Dog bites can be traumatizing for victims. Some people develop animosity toward dogs. Others make excuses for the dog and pretend the attack never happened. You don’t have to be angry, but you do need to take legal action if a dog bites you.

If you or a loved one have suffered from a dog bite, contact Steinger, Greene & Feiner today. We have successfully handled thousands of cases for our injured clients and have won millions of dollars in compensation for them.

Being injured by a dog is dangerous; that same dog could injure or kill someone else tomorrow. So don’t brush off a dog bite by taking money from its owner. Contact Steinger, Greene & Feiner today and we will work to get you with the compensation you deserve.