If you or someone you love has been bitten by a dog in Maui, Hawaii, now’s the time to call the Maui personal injury attorneys at Singleton Schreiber for help. You have rights as the victim of a dog attack, but getting compensation can be an uphill battle – especially when the dog owner’s insurance company gets involved. Working with our experienced Maui dog bite attorneys can level the playing field and help you fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
At Singleton Schreiber, we’re fearless advocates for the injured. Fighting on behalf of catastrophic injury victims and families across the nation, our personal injury law firm has successfully obtained more than $3 billion in damages. After a dog bite in Maui, our local Hawaii trial attorneys are ready to invest the firm’s national resources into helping you demand the kind of case results you deserve, too.
There’s no charge for an initial case review. Contact our law office in Maui to discuss your dog bite case today.
Understanding Your Rights Under Hawaii’s Dog Bite Law
As a dog bite victim in Maui, you may have the right to take legal action against the dog’s owner for any injuries you suffer.
Hawaii’s dog bite law, found in HRS Section §663-9, provides that “the owner or harborer of an animal, if the animal proximately causes either personal or property damage to any person, shall be liable in damages to the person injured regardless of the animal owner's or harborer's lack of scienter of the vicious or dangerous propensities of the animal.”
This essentially provides that a dog’s owner is strictly liable for harm caused by their animal unless the victim was trespassing or provoked the attack. To sue successfully under HRS Section §663-9(a), you don’t have to prove that the dog’s owner knew or should have known that the dog had a history of aggression or had bitten anyone in the past.
You can also sue a dog’s owner for a dog bite on the grounds that the owner was negligent.
How can you prove that a dog’s owner was negligent?
Possibilities include:
- Showing that the owner violated Maui leash laws
- The dog was not properly confined or restrained
- Demonstrating that the dog was permitted to roam freely in public
Ultimately, you have to show that the dog’s owner didn’t take reasonable steps to protect you from harm.
What Are the Most Common Dog Bite Injuries?
Millions of Americans are bitten by dogs every year. Many of these dog bite injuries are severe enough that they warrant emergency medical care and/or hospitalization. Roughly one-half of all dog bite victims are children, most between the ages of 5 and 9.
While dog bite victims can suffer a wide range of physical injuries, the most common include:
- Crushing injuries
- Puncture wounds
- Nerve damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Brain injuries
- Eye injuries
- Facial injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back injuries
- Paralysis injuries
- Infections and disease
- Leg injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
It’s critical to document your dog bite injuries, report the attack to the local police, and seek prompt medical care. These steps will be critical when you begin to build a legal claim for damages against the dog’s owner and any other liable parties.
How Long Will I Have to File a Dog Bite Lawsuit in Maui?
State law provides a two-year window in which a dog bite victim can sue a dog’s owner or a negligent property owner in Maui. The statute of limitations has some exceptions, especially when a child is bitten by a dog in Maui. In these situations, the child’s right to seek damages can be tolled until they turn 18.
You have to file your dog bite claim before the two-year time limit runs out, or you’ll lose the ability to recover compensation for your injuries.
What Compensation Can I Recover After I’ve Been Bitten by a Dog in Maui?
As the victim of a dog attack in Maui, you’ll have the ability to seek compensatory damages in a personal injury lawsuit.
Compensatory damages fall into two categories: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages cover the financial costs of your dog bite injuries, which might include:
- Hospitalization, emergency room treatment, corrective surgery, hospitalization, and other current medical bills
- Plastic surgery, medication, medical devices, prosthetics, specialist consultations, and other reasonable future medical expenses
- Lost wages and job benefits
- Disability
- Reduced earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
Non-economic damages acknowledge the hardships you experience because of the traumatic event you’ve been through and often include money for:
- Pain and suffering
- Physical disfigurement
- Scarring
- Chronic pain
- Loss of consortium
- Reduced quality of life
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Inconvenience
Your claim’s value will depend largely on the extent of your dog bite injuries and the impact being bitten by a dog has had on your life. The more severe the trauma, the higher your financial burdens will likely be, and the more difficult it can be to go on with your day-to-day life without substantial change. In turn, the more our personal injury attorneys in Maui, HI, can likely help you demand financial justice from the dog’s owner.
Call Singleton Schreiber to Schedule a Free Consultation With a Trusted Maui Dog Bite Attorney
At Singleton Schreiber, we appreciate just how much of an impact a dog bite can have on your life – now and for years to come. We also know that you’ll have one shot at recovering compensation from the dog’s owner. Our Maui dog bite attorneys can help you make the most of it.
We have a thorough understanding of Hawaii dog bite law and decades of hands-on experience litigating complex, high-value legal claims. We’ll be here to offer the insight, resources, and strategies required to not only win your dog bite lawsuit, but also help you achieve the very best case results.
We’ve won millions for Hawaii injury victims. Now, it’s time for our award-winning legal team to step into your corner as you take on a fight for damages, too.
Call our Maui law office to learn more about the benefits of working with our top-rated Hawaii litigators. Your initial case review is absolutely free.
