One moment, you were walking normally, playing in the yard, or visiting someone’s home. The next moment, an animal was attacking you with terrifying violence. The pain was immediate and intense. The fear was overwhelming. Now you’re facing injuries that may leave permanent scars, both physical and emotional.
If a child was attacked, you’re dealing with trauma that goes far beyond the physical wounds. Children develop deep fears of animals after attacks. They have nightmares. They refuse to go outside. The psychological impact can last years, requiring therapy and ongoing support.
You’re not just dealing with medical bills and physical recovery. You’re confronting the reality that someone’s animal caused this trauma, and Louisiana law holds animal owners responsible when their animals injure innocent people. You deserve compensation for every aspect of the harm you’ve suffered.
Animal attacks create unique injuries and trauma that other accidents rarely cause. The combination of puncture wounds, tearing injuries, crushing damage from powerful jaws, and the psychological terror of being attacked by an animal creates complex medical and legal issues.
Physical injuries often include:
Psychological trauma is equally serious:
Children suffer particularly severe psychological effects because they don’t understand why the attack happened and often blame themselves.
Louisiana law makes animal owners strictly liable for injuries their animals cause in many situations. This means you don’t have to prove the owner was negligent or careless. You only need to prove the animal caused your injuries.
Louisiana Civil Code Article 2321 states that owners are responsible for damage caused by their animals. This strict liability applies regardless of whether the owner knew the animal was dangerous or had previously attacked anyone.
However, liability depends on several factors:
Different animals have different liability rules:
Dog Attacks Dogs cause the majority of animal attack injuries. Even small dogs can cause serious injuries to children, while large dogs can severely injure adults. Breeds with powerful jaws can cause crushing injuries that require extensive medical treatment and reconstructive surgery.
Dog attacks often occur without warning. Dogs may seem friendly initially, then attack suddenly when they feel threatened or territorial. This unpredictability makes dog attacks particularly traumatic for victims.
Exotic Pet Attacks. Some people keep exotic animals, including reptiles, large cats, primates, or venomous snakes as pets. These animals are inherently dangerous and unpredictable. When they attack, injuries are often severe because these animals aren’t domesticated and may carry diseases unknown in domestic animals.
Louisiana law generally holds exotic animal owners to the highest standard of liability because they chose to keep inherently dangerous animals.
Farm Animal Attacks Bulls, horses, pigs, and other farm animals can cause severe injuries through kicks, trampling, or goring. These attacks often cause broken bones, internal injuries, and head trauma.
Liability for farm animal attacks depends on whether you were lawfully present on the property and whether the owner took reasonable precautions to prevent public access to dangerous animals.
Animal Owners bear primary responsibility for their animals’ actions. This includes not only the legal owner but also anyone who has custody or control of the animal at the time of the attack.
Property Owners may be liable when attacks occur on their property, especially if they knew dangerous animals were present and failed to warn visitors or take protective measures.
Animal Keepers, including boarding facilities, veterinarians, or anyone temporarily caring for an animal, can be held responsible if the animal attacks while in their care.
Landlords may face liability when they are aware that tenants keep dangerous animals and fail to take action to protect other tenants and visitors.
Louisiana law allows you to recover both economic and non-economic damages for animal attack injuries.
Economic damages include:
Non-economic damages address:
Special considerations for child victims:
Homeowner’s Insurance typically covers dog bite injuries, but coverage varies significantly between policies. Some insurers exclude certain breeds or impose coverage limits specifically for animal attacks.
Renter’s Insurance may provide liability coverage for tenants who own animals, but coverage amounts are often lower than those of homeowners’ policies.
Umbrella Policies provide additional coverage beyond standard homeowner’s or renter’s policies, but many animal owners don’t carry this additional protection.
Policy Exclusions may eliminate coverage for exotic animals, certain dog breeds, or animals with a history of previous attacks.
We investigate all available insurance coverage to ensure you receive full compensation for your injuries.
Insurance companies often dispute animal attack claims aggressively because they involve significant medical expenses and substantial non-economic damages for scarring and psychological trauma.
Common insurance company tactics:
We handle all communications with insurance companies, allowing you to focus on medical treatment and psychological recovery.
Seek medical attention immediately, even if injuries seem minor. Animal bites can cause serious infections, and internal injuries aren’t always apparent initially. Document all injuries with photographs before and during treatment.
Report the attack to local animal control authorities. This creates an official record and may prevent future attacks on other victims.
Gather evidence, including photographs of the attack scene, your injuries, and the animal involved. Obtain contact information for any witnesses who witnessed the attack.
Preserve clothing worn during the attack, as it may contain evidence of the animal’s DNA or show the extent of the attack.
Document psychological effects by keeping a journal of how the attack affects your daily life, sleep, and emotional well-being.
Children require special protection under Louisiana law, and courts recognize that animal attacks affect children differently than adults.
Medical considerations:
Legal protections:
Medical evidence documenting the extent of your physical injuries, including emergency room records, surgical reports, and treatment records from all healthcare providers.
Photographic evidence showing your injuries immediately after the attack and throughout your recovery process, demonstrating both healing and permanent scarring.
Witness testimony from anyone who saw the attack occur, including their observations about the animal’s behavior and the severity of the attack.
Animal control records showing whether the animal had previously attacked other people or had been reported as dangerous.
Expert testimony from medical professionals about your injuries and prognosis, and from animal behavior experts about the animal’s actions.
Psychological evidence documenting the mental health impact of the attack, including therapy records and expert testimony about trauma effects.
Louisiana requires personal injury lawsuits to be filed within one year of the attack date. This statute of limitations is firm with very few exceptions. Animal attack cases require time to fully document both physical and psychological injuries, making early legal representation important.
Evidence preservation is critical in animal attack cases because:
Immediate Investigation: We investigate the circumstances of the attack, interview witnesses, and gather evidence while it’s still available. We work with animal control authorities and obtain all relevant reports.
Medical Coordination: We work with your medical team to ensure proper documentation of both physical and psychological injuries. We arrange consultations with specialists including plastic surgeons and trauma counselors.
Insurance Navigation: We handle all communication with insurance companies and investigate all available coverage sources. We ensure you receive proper medical treatment while pursuing your claim.
Expert Development: We work with medical experts, animal behavior specialists, and psychological professionals who can explain your injuries and their long-term effects.
Family Support: We understand that animal attacks affect entire families, especially when children are involved. We work with families to document the full impact of the attack on everyone’s lives.
Free Consultation: We review your case, explain your legal rights, and outline our approach to proving your claim. This consultation costs nothing and creates no obligation.
No Fees Unless We Win: We advance all case expenses and charge no attorney fees unless we recover compensation. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing for legal services.
Comprehensive Case Development: We handle all aspects of your case while you focus on medical treatment and psychological recovery. We coordinate with your medical team and keep you informed about case progress.
Settlement or Trial: We prepare every case for trial while pursuing fair settlement negotiations. Animal attack cases often settle when insurance companies face comprehensive evidence of liability and damages.
Evidence in animal attack cases must be preserved quickly. Animal control reports may be discarded after certain periods. Witnesses’ memories fade. The animal involved may be moved or disposed of before proper investigation.
Louisiana’s one-year statute of limitations means you have limited time to file suit. Animal attack cases require months of medical documentation and expert analysis, making immediate legal representation essential.
The insurance company’s adjusters are already working to minimize your claim. Shouldn’t you have legal advocates working just as hard to protect your rights?
The animal attack you experienced was traumatic and life-changing. The physical injuries may heal, but scarring and psychological trauma can last forever. Louisiana law requires animal owners to compensate you fully for every aspect of the harm their animal caused.
We understand the unique medical, psychological, and legal issues involved in animal attack cases. We know how to investigate these cases thoroughly and prove the full extent of your damages.
Call (318) 221-1508 now for your free consultation. We’re available 24/7 because we understand that trauma from animal attacks doesn’t follow a schedule.
Don’t let insurance companies minimize the serious impact this attack had on your life and your family’s well-being. We’re ready to start protecting your rights immediately.
Your consultation is completely free. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation. Call now – we’re here to help you through this difficult time.
“We look at your case as a whole. Not just what’s happened since the wreck or since the time that your life has changed. But also, what it’s going to look like in the future.”
"I quickly, learned two rules in this business.
First, defendants in an injury suit put up obstacles and barriers. They want the case to take as long as possible, because it wears the plaintiff down. I have learned that if you run at those barriers hard enough, and fast enough, many of them will disappear.
Second, "The fastest way to settle a case is to prepare for trial. Insurance companies know which firms will go to court, which will not, and who can win. It is important to choose a firm that is committed to the results you want.”
Our team of intake specialists is ready to listen to you and gather all the information for a free, confidential case evaluation. We will hear you out, take what you say seriously, and then round up with our legal team.
Our lawyers will provide you with no-obligation feedback on your case, usually on the same day, but no later than 24 hours. We will give you the appropriate course of action for your situation.
If your case is a good fit for our firm and you graciously allow us to represent you, our team will begin working immediately. We will investigate, send the appropriate letters to stop insurance companies from harassing you, and start your medical recovery.
Our internal process is transparent with high levels of communication from the opening of your case to the final handshake. Our firm will promptly return your phone calls and keep you informed. You will know the exact status of your case. Our case managers and attorneys are committed to making a difficult situation as stress-free as possible.
