Settle Before A Lawsuit Is Filed
As with most types of personal injury cases, those involving a dog bite can be resolved at almost any point between the time of the incident and the moment a jury or judge renders a judgment. However, there are specific phases where a resolution is most likely to occur. Below, a personal injury attorney from Paine Kilpatrick Coleman & Mahoney PC in Tacoma, WA discusses the possibilities.
Settle Before a Lawsuit Is Filed
If you and the owner of the animal share an understanding about the incident – i.e. who is liable, as well as the extend of the resulting damages and injuries – then a dog bite claim may be settled without legal intervention.
Discovery & Motions
Once a dog bite lawsuit is filed, the case enters the discovery phase, where each party …show more content…
If the defendant and his or her attorneys believe the plaintiff has not provided enough evidence to warrant a claim, they may file motions requesting the judge to issue a summary judgment in the defendant’s favor.
Mediation
After discovery is completed, the court will likely schedule parties for mediation to encourage a resolution with the aid of a neutral third party. The mediator will help each side understand the most likely trial outcome and steer them towards a fair and appropriate settlement.
In a dog bite case, the mediator will help each party understand the validity of their evidence and arguments when presented before a jury or judge. The process of mediation may last anywhere from a few hours to several days. If successful, the case may be resolved and the claim dismissed within a year of the incident.
Trial
Only a small percentage (2-5%) of personal injury claims reach the trial stage. This is viewed as a last resort after all prior resolution attempts have failed. Trials are time consuming and expensive, and offer no guarantee of success. Some parties are forced to wait two years or more before their claim is brought before a judge or
Settle Before a Lawsuit Is Filed
If you and the owner of the animal share an understanding about the incident – i.e. who is liable, as well as the extend of the resulting damages and injuries – then a dog bite claim may be settled without legal intervention.
Discovery & Motions
Once a dog bite lawsuit is filed, the case enters the discovery phase, where each party …show more content…
If the defendant and his or her attorneys believe the plaintiff has not provided enough evidence to warrant a claim, they may file motions requesting the judge to issue a summary judgment in the defendant’s favor.
Mediation
After discovery is completed, the court will likely schedule parties for mediation to encourage a resolution with the aid of a neutral third party. The mediator will help each side understand the most likely trial outcome and steer them towards a fair and appropriate settlement.
In a dog bite case, the mediator will help each party understand the validity of their evidence and arguments when presented before a jury or judge. The process of mediation may last anywhere from a few hours to several days. If successful, the case may be resolved and the claim dismissed within a year of the incident.
Trial
Only a small percentage (2-5%) of personal injury claims reach the trial stage. This is viewed as a last resort after all prior resolution attempts have failed. Trials are time consuming and expensive, and offer no guarantee of success. Some parties are forced to wait two years or more before their claim is brought before a judge or