Unfortunately, dog bites can have lasting physical and emotional consequences. When someone else’s dog attacks you, you have legal rights. Call a Grand Island dog bite lawyer at Steffens Law to learn how we can help you recover compensation and a sense of justice.
Why Choose Us for Your Dog Bite Case In Grand Island?
No legal process can erase the pain and trauma of dog bites, but it demands financial accountability from the dog’s owner. With our firm behind you, you can expect the following:
- A personally tailored legal strategy based on the unique circumstances of your case
- A legal team that has deep compassion for injury victims and will take the time to get to know you and see the full impacts of the injury, making a more compelling claim
- Access to medical experts and other resources to strengthen your case
After your free case consultation, our Grand Island personal injury lawyers work for you at no cost until after we’ve obtained your compensation.
Understanding Dog Bite Injuries and Trauma
Dogs have sharp, jagged teeth that can cause serious injuries as well as emotional trauma from the terrifying attack. Common injuries in dog bite claims include the following:
- Abrasions and contusions
- Punctures and lacerations
- Soft-tissue damage and nerve injuries
- Scalp, facial, and throat injuries
- Degloving injuries (flesh torn away from digits or extremities)
- Traumatic amputations
Dog attacks also cause emotional trauma, often with lasting consequences, such as PTSD, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression.
What Are Nebraska’s Dog Bite Laws?
Some states have a “one-bite rule” that requires a bite victim to prove the owner’s negligence unless the dog has bitten at least once before. Fortunately, Nebraska isn’t a one-bite state. Instead, under NE Code § 54-601 (2025), the state has a strict liability law that holds a pet owner accountable for all damages their pet causes, including injury damages to a bite victim, unless the injury victim was trespassing or committing a crime.
Under the doctrine of strict liability, a dog bite victim in Grand Island does not need to show that the dog’s owner was negligent. Still, a claim requires careful navigation. Most claims are filed against the dog owner’s property insurance. Unfortunately, insurers are not on your side and may try to undermine your case or undervalue your financial losses unless you have legal representation.
What Can I Recover In a Dog Bite Claim In Grand Island, NE?
Dog bites are costly to treat. In the worst cases, they cause infection, permanent scarring, facial disfigurement, or disability. A successful claim demands financial accountability to recover damages such as:
- Reimbursement for medical expenses
- Anticipated future medical expenses for further care, reconstructive surgery, or physical therapy
- Lost earnings
- Future income loss or diminished future earning ability
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Compensation for emotional damages, such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances
- Compensation for catastrophic injury if the dog attack caused permanent scarring, loss of limb, disfigurement, or disability
If you lost a loved one due to a devastating dog attack, wrongful death damages may be available to a close family member under Nebraska’s wrongful death law.
It’s crucial to hire an experienced Grand Island dog bite lawyer before communicating with the dog owner’s insurance company.
Contact a Grand Island Dog Bite Lawyer
You don’t have to take on a challenging legal endeavor alone, or leave your case in the hands of an insurance company that’s not on your side. Instead, call the compassionate legal advocates at Steffens Law for assertive representation that achieves exceptional results.