Close to 40% of American households own a dog. In Montana, that jumps to 51.9%. Canines are wonderful pets, but with more dogs come more dangerous dogs. Pit bulls, rottweilers, and other breeds usually pose the biggest risk to people, but that is not always the case.
Even seemingly harmless dogs can cause severe injuries in the snap of a finger. You might be walking down Main Street when a corgi jumps up and bites your finger out of nowhere. Such is the nature of a dog attack: They are often unpredictable.
The Advocates are a group of experienced lawyers specializing in representing people with dog bite cases. Dog owners have certain responsibilities over their pets, including ensuring their dog does not bite someone. No one should have to walk through Lewistown afraid of an animal attack.
If you have been bitten, we are here for you. Our dog bite attorneys will negotiate with the dog owner’s insurance company, keep your medical bills from going to collections, and ensure you are fairly compensated for your pain and suffering.
Immediately after being bitten, assess your injuries
Contact The Advocates as soon as possible to begin the road to recovery
Seek medical attention as soon as you can
Keep track of all treatment you receive during recovery
Once you’ve completed treatment, your case can move forward
Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party
You will pay nothing out-of-pocket when you hire an Advocate.
Your initial consultation with us is always 100% free. There are never any upfront costs or hidden fees.
Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that our attorney fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement. We do not get paid unless we win your case, and you receive a settlement.
For more information on how settlements and payment work, please see our contingency fee information page.
If the dog’s conduct resulted in injuries or significant property damage, it is a good idea to contact a lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate the claims process, which can be lengthy and complex.
Your attorney will gather evidence, keep track of your medical records, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary.
The best way to know if you have a case is to speak with an attorney. The Advocates offer free consultations—you can speak with a qualified legal team to understand what your case is worth without paying a dime.
Every personal injury case is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to accident claims. The length of the claims process will depend on the severity of your injuries, the willingness of the other party to settle, the court’s caseload, and more.
In general, personal injury cases can take anywhere from several months to several years. It is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to get your case started. Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, after which you will lose your right of action.
When you hire The Advocates, we will begin investigating your accident immediately while you finish medical treatment. Once all evidence and medical records have been compiled, your attorney will send a demand letter to the other party’s insurance company. At this point, negotiations will begin.
In many cases, a settlement can be reached during negotiations. If the other party refuses to make a fair offer, you may choose to file a suit. In the litigation phase, your attorney will represent you in court in front of a judge, jury, and/or arbitrator.
For nearly 30 years, The Advocates have helped thousands of personal injury victims receive the compensation and care they deserve after their injuries, and we are prepared to do the same for you.
We can help you:
I was in an accident 3 years ago and had a very bad experience with the attorney back then I was in another accident last year and called the advocates mark and his team were amazing changed my view on accident attorneys they kept I'm touch with me every step of the way gave me authority on choices for myself I didn't have to go with what they said I could go against it and they still would have worked with me the same I had choices this time around I would always go with Mark I have even sent friends his way just cause I appreciate all the help and support the whole way threw.
My experience with the advocates was a good one. After being hit by a car on my motorcycle they helped me with a settlement with the insurance company to get the hospital bills paid. They were extremely helpful. They always answered any questions I had with in a day. Every email I sent was always responded to. If you unfortunately has to go through a injury by another person I would recommend them in helping you resolve any debt you have because if that injury. The Advocates were great to work with and help me get this unfortunate event behind me.
Steve and his crew at The Advocates were nothing short for amazing. They took my case after I was rear-ended resulting in neck surgery. Steve and company made sure all of the was taken care of and that I got the maximum compensation possible. I definitely recommend The Advocates
Mr. Brad Johnson, our lawyer; was Awesome! He was very informative, kept us up to date on my case with regular calls. He returned calls back to us within 24 hours or less. Brad Johnson is very courteous, honest, kind, and a pleasure to talk to and work with. There are very few Lawyers out there that could even come close to the high morals that Brad Johnson has and has shown towards us. We need more lawyers like Brad Johnson . If we ever needed a disability lawyer again in the future; it would be Brad Johnson and The Advocates Firm that he works at. We will definitely turn ALL of our family and friends towards this lawyer and firm; in a heartbeat!!!
I want to First say that I am truly thankful for the advocates Law Firm they have been a great service to me through this ordeal and Katie she is a tremendous lawyer someone that I would recommend she fights tooth and nail for her clients and the rest of the team they supported me to the fullest with that being said I would like to say for anyone who is trying to find an attorney to fight their case The Advocates is the way to go.
Imagine you have a dog, a sweet labradoodle that has never even growled at anyone. One day, you’re walking down Main Street, and your dog suddenly clamps down on someone’s ankle.
Would you be responsible for the damage your dog inflicts? Yes. According to the Montana Code, you are still responsible for your dog, even if it has never bitten someone or shown signs of aggression.
This is called strict liability. Some states have a one-bite rule, allowing a dog owner to be off the hook legally the first time their dog bites someone. Montana does not have this rule.
A dog has bitten you. You have serious injuries from the attack, but does dog bite law in Montana immediately guarantee you will win your case? Not necessarily. There are two defenses a dog owner can make to prevent you from filing a claim against them:
Leave your personal injury claim to an expert. These cases can be complicated and are best left to dog bite lawyers with deep experience in this practice area.
Even if you do not think you have severe injuries from a dog bite, you should still seek medical care. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 81 people died from dog attacks in 2021. Dog bite injuries can be more serious than they appear due to rare but still prevalent diseases such as rabies.
These are the common physical injuries dog bite victims face:
You could follow all the rules of the road and still get in a car accident. The same thing applies to dog bites. Even when doing everything right, there is still a chance a dog might bite you.
Here is some advice to follow to lessen the probability:
Most homeowners’ and renters’ insurance covers dog bites through personal liability coverage, meaning you are covered up to a limit when your negligence causes someone to be injured.
Keep in mind that not all policies cover animal attacks, and some don’t cover certain dog breeds, such as Rottweilers, Pitt Bulls, and German Shepherds. Dogs with a history of aggression or biting probably won’t be covered.
The damages you can seek depend on the nature of your dog bite injury claim. No two cases are ever the same in law, which means even an experienced Lewistown dog bite lawyer cannot predict the trajectory without first doing a case evaluation.
The following are commonly sought damages in a personal injury case:
Our team recommends you hire a dog bite injury lawyer as soon as possible. You can always take on the process alone, but it will probably be difficult to get the outcome you deserve. Insurance companies do not care about fairness and want to give you as little money as possible for your pain and suffering.
Allow our law office to take on the legal burden of your claim. Our experienced lawyers will work hard to get you what you deserve: Compensation for your injuries, payment of any medical bills stemming from the attack, and a recouping of lost income, to name a few.
Lewistown is home to many dogs, most of which are harmless. However, there is always a non-zero chance of you getting bitten. If you have been attacked, then reach out to us today. One phone call is all it takes.
A dog bite lawyer with The Advocates will be by your side from beginning to end, advocating on your behalf, working for fair compensation, and communicating with you every step of the way. You deserve it. You deserve an Advocate.
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