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Lewistown Dog Bite Lawyers

The Advocates is a personal injury law firm that can help dog bite victims with their personal injury cases.

A Dog Bite Attorney Can Help Your Case 

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. 

The Next Steps in Your Montana Dog Bite Case

Injury

Immediately after being bitten, assess your injuries

Hire Attorney

Contact The Advocates as soon as possible to begin the road to recovery

Treatment

Seek medical attention as soon as you can

Medical Records

Keep track of all treatment you receive during recovery

Finish Treatment

Once you’ve completed treatment, your case can move forward

Demand

Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party

Frequently Asked Questions

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.  

A Team of Dog Bite Professionals Assigned to Your Case 

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: 

  • Understand the claims process 
  • Investigate your accident 
  • Work together with you towards a full resolution of your injuries 
  • Negotiate with insurance adjusters 
  • Obtain a fair resolution of your claim 

Talking to a Professional

Talk to a professional

The Laws Around Dog Bites in Montana

Aggressive dog warns before a potential bite

One bite is all it takes 

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.    

The defenses against a dog bite claim 

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:  

  • You were trespassing: You entered a property without the owner’s consent. Victims usually must be attacked in a public space or on private property if the owner consented to them being there to file a dog bite claim.  
  • You provoked the dog: Courts will usually see a dog attack as your fault if you were provoking the dog. The nuances of provocation are tricky: Extending your hand out to pet a dog is not considered provoking, but making a quick movement toward the dog might be.   

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. 

Close up focus on courtroom microphone with attorney in the background.
Common dog bite injuires

The most common dog bite injuries   

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:   

  • Punctured skin   
  • Broken bones   
  • Eye and face injuries   
  • Scarring and disfigurement   
  • Bruising and lacerations   
  • Tissue and nerve damage  
  • Post-traumatic stress  
  • Wrongful death of a loved one  

How to avoid being bitten by a dog 

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:  

  • Do not provoke the dog or trespass on the property where it lives  
  • Choose not to approach or pet dogs you do not know  
  • If you must pet a dog, ask for the owner’s permission and approach slowly  
  • Watch the dog’s body language; this is a good indicator of how it is responding to you  
  • Be calm and gentle, and do not act in an erratic manner  
  • Do not ever approach working dogs, such as guide dogs 
People overwhelm stressed-out dog by over petting

A Dog Has Bitten You, What Next?

Renters Insurance form on a table and keys.

Does insurance cover dog bites?  

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.  

What damages can I seek in my dog bite case?  

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:    

  • Medical expenses  
  • Pain and suffering  
  • Emotional distress  
  • Lost income and loss of future earnings   
  • Non-economic damages such as emotional trauma   
  • Funeral expenses for a loved one   
Medical bill from the hospital, concept of rising medical cost.
Policeman writing up report on incident where their was a person injured

Steps to take after getting bit by a dog  

  • Get away from the dog 
  • Seek medical attention 
  • Obtain information about the dog owner right away 
  • File a report with law enforcement 
  • Document everything by taking pictures or videos of the dog, the injury, where the bite occurred, and any other piece of evidence 
  • Follow up with a doctor to ensure you have not contracted rabies or other diseases 
  • Call a personal injury lawyer to get legal advice 

When Should I Hire a Montana Dog Bite Injury Attorney?

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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