Comments by Users

Since February 2007, we no longer permit users to post comments directly on the blog. We were overwhelmed by more than 4500 automated posts that included links to sites that sell products related to sex. Obviously those links are inappropriate and intolerable on a legal blog. After spending hours deleting them by hand, we decided that we no longer could afford the time to do so. Users who want to comment legitimately are encouraged to contact us, and we will post your remarks to the blog.

Getting Legal Help

In the United States, lawyers who handle personal injuries, including dog bites, usually do so on a "contingency fee basis." This means that they do not charge anything unless and until money is recovered for you. At that time, they charge a percentage of the recovery as their fee. In states that permit attorneys to advance the costs of making the claim (most states permit it), the lawyer's advances are repaid from the settlement too. In other words, hiring a lawyer costs nothing. If you or a loved one were bitten by a dog, you can get legal help several different ways.

• If the bite was to the face of a person or caused disability, send E-mail to Attorney Kenneth Phillips, the author of Dog Bite Law and this blog. Tell him what happened, the city and state where it happened, and what injuries were sustained. He will write back to you within 24 hours, telling you what your options are in your city and state. There is no charge for this service.

• If the bite was to a dog, read What To Do If Your Dog Is Injured Or Killed, by Attorney Phillips. It is a self-help book for dog owners that you can download in minutes.

• If the bite was to a person, but not to their face, and there is no current disability, and the bite cannot be said to be very, very minor, then it is highly, highly recommended that you contact either a lawyer in your area, or Attorney Phillips. You can find a lawyer by asking friends and family members if they can recommend a lawyer who personally helped them. Make sure that the attorney will give you a free consultation, which is a benefit that lawyers traditionally give to an injury victim.