March 29, 2024

How to Try to Settle a Dog Bite Claim Out of Court

Bicycle accident claim

The time and expenses of dog bite lawsuits are mind boggling, which is why it’s best to settle dog bite injury claims outside of court if you can. However, if the dog’s owner refuses to compensate you, you may have no other choice but to take your dog bite claim to court.

Believe it or not, writing a letter to the dog’s owner could really help keep things out of court. So, before you begin a dog bite lawsuit, try writing a letter that includes the following.

An Account of What Happened.

Although it’s highly likely that the dog’s owner is as aware of the facts as you are, you should still write an account of what happened. Having the facts in writing never hurts, and it’s always good to have a documented account of the situation.

Provide Information About Local Laws Regarding Dog Bites.

Do some research on what your city or state’s law say about dog bites. Be sure to include this information, to keep them as informed as possible on the particular outcomes. It lets them know what the dog bite lawsuit could entail if things don’t get settled.

An Itemized List of All of Your Expenses.

Next, you should provide an itemized list of all of your expenses. This will help give them an idea of the amount of payment that you’re expecting. It’s also a good idea to mention at this point that many homeowners insurance policies cover dog bites, too, because they may not even realize that they can claim it on their insurance.

Give Them a Deadline.

Lastly, give them a firm deadline of when you expect repayment. This is a good incentive for the dog’s owner. Stress that if your two parties can’t work things out by this deadline, then you’ll have no choice but to pursue a dog bite lawsuit in small claims court.

Nobody likes having to deal with a dog bite lawsuit. The faster things can be settled out of court, the happier everyone will be. Writing a letter can start the settlement process in a fast, and efficient manner. If you have any questions about trying to prevent a dog bite lawsuit from going to court, feel free to ask in the comments. Get more on this here.

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