Dog Bite Victim Representation

Description

Dogs bite millions of people each year, a problem that accounts for a third of all homeowners' insurance claims each year. This presents special challenges to practitioners who represent victims, because dog bite cases require more than just being familiar with the local law.

Whether the state follows the "one free bite" rule, strict liability or other approaches to liability, counsel must also consider raising other claims, such as infliction of emotional distress, investigating the dog involved, and overcoming possible defenses.

Children are frequently victims of dog bites, raising questions of proper ethical treatment of young clients and possibly difficult situations if friends or family are the defendants. Practitioners must also be familiar with assessing the injury and with effective insurance company negotiation approaches.

Listen as our panel of experienced personal injury attorneys examines the special legal and practical challenges involved with representation of dog bite victims. While dog bite laws can vary, the panel will identify the common strategies for dog bite cases by examining how attorneys can effectively assess cases, investigate the dog, work with young clients, prove causation, as well as negotiate with insurance companies and evaluate settlement offers.

Outline

1. Overview: the problem of dog bites in the U.S.
2. Assessing cases
   1. Interviewing clients
   2. Ethics and other considerations when representing children
   3. Assessing insurance coverage
3. Pre-lawsuit
   1. Putting attacking dog owner on notice
   2. Establishing causation and investigating the attacking dog
   3. Working with veterinarians and other experts
   4. Gathering medical bills and records and assessing injuries
4. Filing the lawsuit
   1. A sampling of dog bite laws
      1. Strict liability
      2. One free bite
   2. Other causes of action, including emotional distress
   3. Potential defenses
   4. Depositions
   5. Summary judgment on statutory legal issues
5. Insurance settlement negotiations
6. Seeking court approval of settlement

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key questions:

• How should counsel assess injuries and scars when preparing to seek awards or settlements with insurance companies?
• How can litigators show causation in a situation with multiple dogs?
• What does counsel need to demonstrate to a court to obtain approval of a settlement involving a minor?

Following the speaker presentations, you'll have an opportunity to get answers to your specific questions during the interactive Q&A.

Webinar/Teleconference

Strafford webinars/teleconferences offer several options for participation: online viewing of speaker-controlled PowerPoint presentations with audio via computer speakers or via phone; or audio only via telephone (download speaker handouts prior to the program).  Please note that our webinars do not feature videos of the presenters.

CLE Credit

Strafford's live seminars qualify for CLE in every state that accredits webinars. They offer you a high quality, cost effective, and convenient CLE option, with no lost travel time or expenses.

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