Top Fredonia, NY Dog Bite Lawyers Near You

Fredonia Dog Bite Information

Did a Dog Bite You?

If you were bitten by a dog there are laws in place to help you. Dog bite laws are a mixture of city and county ordinances and state law that establishes when the dog's owner is liable to the bite victim. A few states use the "one bite rule," which shields the dog's owner from liability in that one incident, unless the owner knew the dog bites. These laws establish proper control of the dog and when the dog's owner is liable to the bite victim.

Learn Your Rights Regarding Dog Bite

Most states are strict liability jurisdictions, meaning the dog's owner or controller is liable to the victim unless the dog owner has a valid defense. Find out if you are entitled to compensation by talking to a Fredonia dog bite attorney.

Best Time to Seek Legal Help

No matter what your legal issue may be, it is always best to seek legal help early in the process. An attorney can help secure what is likely to be the best possible outcome for your situation and avoid both unnecessary complications or errors.

What to Expect from an Initial Consultation

• Seek to determine whether the attorney can represent you. There is no one-size-fits-all legal solution and it may turn out your needs are better served by an attorney in a different specialization.
• It's important to find a legal ally who is both competent in the law and someone you can trust to protect your interests.
• Discuss how the practice's billing works and discuss possible additional charges or fees that may arise during or after the resolution of your case.

An attorney consultation should provide you with enough information so that you can make an informed decision on whether to proceed with legal help.

Types of legal fees:

Bill by the hour: Many attorneys bill by the hour. How much an attorney bills you per hour will vary based on a number of factors. For instance, an attorney's hourly fee may fluctuate based on whether that hour is spent representing you in court or doing research on your case. Attorneys in one practice area may bill you more than attorneys in a different practice area.

Contingent fee: Some lawyers will accept payment via contingent fee. In this arrangement, the lawyer receives a percentage of the total monetary recovery if you win your lawsuit. In sum, the lawyer only gets paid if you win. Contingent fee agreements are limited to specific practice areas in civil law.

Flat fee: For "routine" legal work where the attorney generally knows the amount of time and resources necessary to complete the task, he/she may be willing to bill you a flat fee for services performed.

Common legal terms explained

Plaintiff - a person or party who brings a lawsuit against another person(s) or party/parties in a court of law. Private persons or parties can only file suit in civil court.

Judgment - A decision of the court. Also known as a decree or order. Judgments handed down by the court are usually binding on the parties before the court.

Lead Counsel Rated Attorneys

Lead Counsel's objective process independently verifies attorney records, conferring with state bars across the country and conducting annual reviews to confirm that the attorney practices in the legal categories as indicated, possesses a valid bar license, and is eligible to practice in the specific jurisdiction.