If you or a family member has been injured by a dog, even if the dog belongs to someone you know, it is time to contact an attorney. Dog bites can cause serious injuries and illnesses, sometimes requiring extensive medical care.
The Advocates’ Omaha dog bite attorneys can help. If a dog attack left you with physical injuries and medical bills, you deserve to be compensated fairly for your damages.
We represent injury victims in Omaha, Lincoln, and all over the state of Nebraska. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.
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 any and 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 don’t 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.
Not every accident requires an attorney. However, if the accident 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 build your case, keep track of your medical records, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary. Studies have shown that accident victims who hire a personal injury lawyer can receive settlements up to 3.5 times larger than if they settled on their own.
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. Once you have decided to hire an Advocate, we will investigate your accident to firmly establish liability.
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 a few years. It’s 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 accidents, 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.
If the dog is running at large with no owner in sight, back away slowly from the dog. Do not run or turn your back on the animal. If possible, get on top of something like a car or wall, and then call for help.
If the owner has control of the dog, back away so the dog can no longer reach you.
Take a look at your injuries to determine whether you need immediate medical attention in an emergency room or urgent care facility. If you are bleeding uncontrollably, have muscle or tendon damage, or can see bone, seek emergency medical care right away.
Take photos of your injuries as soon as you can and throughout your recovery, especially if additional symptoms appear later on.
If the owner is on the scene, take down their name, phone number, address, and homeowner’s insurance information. Get the dog’s name, breed, and details about its appearance. You should also ask if the dog is up-to-date on its vaccinations, but do not just take the owner’s word for it.
If there is no owner in sight, remember as much as you can about the dog’s appearance and the location where the bite occurred. Animal control may be able to identify the dog’s owner using your description.
Clean and dress the wound as soon as possible after the bite. The sooner you can get the bite area under warm, soapy water, the better your chances of avoiding infection. Wash the wound for at least five minutes. Dry the bite area, apply an antibiotic ointment, and cover it with a clean cloth or bandage.
Consider seeing a medical professional, especially if you are unfamiliar with the dog. Your doctor may recommend certain shots to prevent the transmission of disease. If the wound is severe, they may recommend stitches or other care.
Keep track of all treatment you receive. If you choose to file a personal injury claim, you will need evidence of treatment.
Some dog bite victims hesitate to report their injury, especially if they know the dog owner. Reporting the attack, however, is a crucial step in your own recovery and in preventing further bites to other people.
In Omaha, animal control services are handled by the Nebraska Humane Society. If your bite occurred in another city, those services may be provided by the police department or another government agency.
If your dog bite injury required medical treatment, caused you to miss work, or has resulted in lasting pain and trauma, it is a good idea to speak with a dog bite attorney to discuss your legal rights.
The Omaha Advocates offer free consultations to discuss your potential case. We will listen to your story, consider the factual circumstances surrounding your injury, and help you understand your options.
Dog bite injuries can range from mild to life-threatening. Some common injuries dog attack injuries include:
Any dog has the capability to bite or attack unexpectedly, but certain situations present a much higher risk than others. Dog bites are most likely to happen when:
Omaha requires all dogs to be on a leash or confined in a yard at all times. If your dog is not microchipped, it must have a collar and tags.
Owners must clean up after their dogs in public spaces
One household may not have more than three dogs in the city of Omaha. Some owners may be permitted to have up to five dogs by applying for a pet avocation permit.
All dogs and cats must have up-to-date rabies vaccinations. Once they receive their initial round of vaccines, they must be revaccinated every three years.
If you are bitten by an unvaccinated dog or by a dog whose vaccination status is unknown, your doctor may recommend that you receive a tetanus shot and post-exposure rabies treatment.
In most cases, dog bites are covered by the dog owner’s rental or homeowner’s insurance policy. Insurance companies should pay for bite victims’ medical expenses up to the liability limit. After the limit has been reached, the owner of the dog is responsible for additional damages.
Nebraska observes strict liability when it comes to dog bites, under Nebraska Revised Statute 54-601.
This statute states that dog owners are liable for their dog biting any person other than a trespasser on their private property.
The dog bite statute also covers property damage or other injuries caused by a dog. You generally will not have to prove negligence in order to recover damages, but you will need to be able to show that the dog caused your injuries and that you were not trespassing.
For any personal injury case, a plaintiff only has a certain amount of time to file their claim. After that time period is up, they lose their right of action. This is referred to as the statute of limitations.
In Nebraska, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is generally 4 years. There are several factors that may impact this time limit, however, so it’s a good idea to contact a personal injury lawyer to determine exactly how much time you have.
The aftermath of a dog bite is often a difficult time for victims. You may be facing economic damages, like medical bills and lost wages, in addition to non-economic damages like pain and suffering. It may feel like your life will never return to normal.
The personal injury attorneys with The Advocates are committed to helping you recover physically, emotionally, and financially. Our team is standing by to take care of your dog bite claim so you can focus on feeling better. We can help you keep track of medical records, access the care you need, and get the compensation you deserve.
Our goal is to be your voice in the personal injury process. Contact The Omaha Advocates personal injury law firm today for a free consultation. You deserve compassionate, skilled legal representation for your injury claim. You deserve an Advocate.
