Greensboro, NC Dog Bite Lawyers: Compassionate Representation for People Injured in Animal Attack Cases

A relaxing walk through the Greensboro Arboretum or a visit to a friend’s house can end tragically if you’re attacked by a dog, often leaving both physical and emotional scars. In the days and weeks that follow, you might face mounting medical bills, time away from work, and uncertainty about your rights. If you, or a loved one, have been injured by a dog, a Greensboro dog bite lawyer can help you understand your options and fight for the compensation you might be owed.

At the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, we help people who have been injured. We understand the challenges you are facing and are prepared to stand up to the dog owner’s insurance company on your behalf.

Why Choose the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin for Your Greensboro Dog Bite Case?

When you choose a Greensboro dog bite lawyer from our firm, you are getting a formidable team dedicated to putting you first. We have recovered over $2 billion in gross for over 78,000 clients since 1997, and counting.¹ Our success comes from a combination of experience, strategy, and a deep commitment to our clients’ well-being.

We offer:

• A Powerhouse of Experience: Our team includes many attorneys who are North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialists in their fields. We also have former insurance adjusters and defense firm attorneys on staff, giving us valuable insight into how the other side operates.
• A Commitment to You: We operate on a contingency fee basis. This means there is no fee unless we obtain compensation for you.² Guaranteed. We take your case only if we believe we can get you a better result than you would without us.
• A Focus on Results, Fast: We use proprietary technology and streamlined systems to keep cases moving forward. Our goal is to fight for you to get as much as possible, as quickly as possible.

We call this the James Scott Farrin Advantage. From your first call, you will notice our dedication to providing excellent legal representation and clear communication.

What Are North Carolina’s Dog Bite Laws?

In North Carolina, the laws surrounding dog bites can be complex. Unlike some states with a “strict liability” rule (where an owner is automatically responsible), North Carolina generally requires proof that the owner was negligent in some way.

One key statute is N.C.G.S. § 67-4.4, which addresses “dangerous dogs.” A dog might be legally defined as dangerous if it has, without provocation, killed or inflicted severe injury on a person. If an owner’s dangerous dog attacks someone, the owner can be held strictly liable for the harm caused.

However, many cases don’t involve a legally-declared dangerous dog. In these situations, we must often build a case around the concept of negligence. This means we try to prove that the owner failed to use reasonable care to control their animal, leading to your injury.

What Types of Compensation Can I Seek After a Dog Bite?

People injured in a dog attack often endure significant physical, emotional, and financial burdens. A personal injury claim seeks to recover compensation for these harms and losses, which are often called “damages.”

While every case is different, a Greensboro dog bite lawyer can help you try to identify and calculate the full value of your possible damages, which might include:

• Medical Expenses: This can include everything from the initial emergency room visit and stitches to physical therapy, reconstructive surgery, and counseling for emotional trauma.
• Lost Wages: If your injuries prevent you from working, you might be able to recover compensation for the income you have lost and future earning capacity.
• Pain and Suffering: This can compensate for the physical pain and emotional distress you may have endured due to the attack.
• Scarring and Disfigurement: Dog bites often leave permanent scars, especially on the face, hands, and arms, which can have a lasting psychological impact.

Our attorneys fight to account for every single way the injury may have affected your life, both now and for the future.

The “Three-Legged Stool:” How We Build a Compelling Dog Bite Case

Instead of getting bogged down in complicated legal doctrines, we find it helpful to think of a strong personal injury case as a three-legged stool. If any one of the legs is weak or missing, the stool will fall over. The same is true for your case.

1. Liability: This leg answers the question, “Who is at fault?” We work to gather evidence to try to show that the dog’s owner was negligent. This could involve showing they violated a Greensboro leash ordinance, knew their dog had aggressive tendencies, or failed to secure their yard.
2. Damages: This leg establishes what you may have lost. We meticulously document all of your possible harms, from medical bills and lost paychecks to the non-economic cost of pain and suffering.
3. Source of Collection: This leg answers, “How will the damages be paid?” In most dog bite cases, the source of collection in a successful case is the dog owner’s homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policy.

A skilled Greensboro dog bite lawyer from the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin knows how to investigate and build up each of these three legs to create a compelling case for compensation.

Proving Owner Negligence in a Greensboro Dog Bite Claim

Proving that a dog owner was negligent is often the key to a successful claim in North Carolina. This is a critical area where having an experienced attorney can make a significant difference. The rules surrounding fault in our state are very strict, and some insurance companies may look for any reason to deny a claim.

An insurance adjuster might try to argue that you provoked the dog or were trespassing, even if that isn’t true. Even a small, unintentional mistake in how you describe the incident could potentially be used against you to argue that you share some of the blame. This is why it is so important to let a legal professional handle communications with the insurance company.

Your Greensboro dog bite lawyer will investigate the incident to seek out evidence of negligence, which can include:

• Prior Aggression: Did the dog have a known history of biting, growling, or lunging at people? We can interview neighbors and check animal control records.
• Leash Law Violations: Was the dog running loose in an area like Center City Park where leashes are required?
• Failure to Contain: Did the owner have a broken fence or consistently leave a gate open, allowing the dog to escape and roam the neighborhood?

We focus on building a strong case for our clients based on the at-fault party’s negligence so you can focus on your recovery.

Common Injuries and Long-Term Effects of Dog Attacks

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than millions of people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States. While some bites are minor, many result in serious injuries that require immediate medical attention and can have long-lasting consequences.

Common physical injuries include:

• Puncture wounds and lacerations
• Torn muscles and nerve damage
• Broken bones, especially in the hands, arms, and legs
• Serious infections, such as rabies or cellulitis
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement

Beyond the physical pain, the emotional trauma can be just as debilitating. Many people who endure a dog attack develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and a persistent fear of dogs. This is especially true for children, who are far too often the recipients of dog bites. We believe that potential compensation should reflect these invisible injuries as well.

What Should You Do After a Dog Bite in Greensboro?

After you have received immediate medical care and reported the bite to Guilford County Animal Services, there are several steps you can take to help protect your health and your potential legal claim.

• Follow All Medical Advice: Attend all follow-up appointments with your doctor. It is vital to follow your treatment plan as prescribed. This not only aids your physical recovery but also can create a clear record of your injuries.
• Document Everything: Start a journal to record your pain levels, your emotional state, and how the injuries are affecting your daily life. Keep a file with all medical bills, receipts for prescriptions, and any correspondence from insurance companies.
• Take Photographs: Take clear photos of your injuries as they heal. These images can provide powerful visual evidence of what you have been through.
• Preserve Evidence: Keep the clothing you were wearing during the attack in a safe place without washing it. It might contain evidence that could be useful later.
• Avoid Social Media: Do not post about the dog bite incident, your injuries, or your activities on social media. Some insurance companies may routinely scan social media profiles for anything they can use to try to devalue or deny a claim.

Taking these steps can help provide a strong foundation for your case if you decide to seek compensation.

How Can a Greensboro Dog Bite Lawyer Help You?

Trying to handle a dog bite claim on your own can be a difficult process, especially when you are trying to heal from your injuries. Insurance companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers whose job is often to pay out as little as possible. A Greensboro personal injury lawyer from the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin can level the playing field and fight for your best interests.

Here is what we can do for you:

• Manage the details: We can complete complicated paperwork, make sure procedures are followed correctly, and meet strict legal deadlines on your behalf.
• Advise and communicate: We listen to your questions, tell you the truth, and update you on your case every step of the way, providing peace of mind.
• Protect your rights: We will address and negotiate any medical liens to try to put more money in your pocket.
• Handle the insurance company: We communicate and negotiate with the dog owner’s insurance company, countering any lowball tactics.
• Build your case: Our team gathers and examines evidence, interviews witnesses, and works with investigators as needed to establish how the attack happened.
• Fight for maximum compensation: We work to identify all possible sources of compensation and calculate the full value of your potential harms and losses to seek a great result.

Our team is dedicated to seeking great results, fast. We push back against insurance company delays so you can focus on what matters most — your recovery.