Animal attacks and dog bites can cause serious physical injuries and lasting trauma. They also tend to produce a predictable response: the animal's owner, or their homeowner's or renter's insurer, moves quickly to minimize the incident, question the victim's role, and limit legal exposure.
Childs & Curreli Trial Attorneys represent individuals across Middle Georgia who have been injured in animal attacks. Wes Childs and Christy Curreli spent more than a decade defending insurance companies in civil litigation. That background provides direct insight into how personal injury claims, including those involving animal attacks, are evaluated and contested.
That experience shapes how every animal attack case is prepared from the start.
Dog bite and animal attack claims are frequently covered under a pet owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance policy. When a claim is filed, the insurer evaluates it closely, often seeking reasons to reduce or deny liability.
Common defense arguments in these cases include:
Years spent on the defense side have given our attorneys firsthand knowledge of how these arguments are developed and where they tend to succeed or fall short. Preparation built with that understanding allows us to address those arguments directly, before the insurer has the opportunity to frame the narrative.
Georgia law holds animal owners responsible when their negligence allows an animal to cause injury. Liability can attach when an owner knew or should have known that an animal had dangerous tendencies, or when local ordinances, such as leash laws, were violated and that violation contributed to the attack.
The circumstances of each case matter. Where the attack occurred, how the animal was being controlled, and whether the owner had prior notice of the animal's behavior are all relevant to liability. Early investigation helps establish those facts while evidence and witness recollections are still fresh.
Childs & Curreli is intentionally structured as a small firm. Clients are not passed through intake staff or case managers while waiting to speak with an attorney.
When you hire the firm after an animal attack:
Once representation begins, the animal owner's insurer is directed to communicate with the firm. That shift protects you from recorded statement requests and pressure tactics while your legal team manages the claim.
Every client's priorities are different. Some want an efficient resolution when a fair offer is available. Others are prepared to pursue litigation if the insurer refuses to take full responsibility. Wes Childs and Christy Curreli discuss those options early and build a strategy around your goals and the facts of the case.
Conditions and evidence can change quickly after an animal attack. Animal control reports, veterinary records, prior bite history, and witness accounts all contribute to the liability picture. Neighborhood ordinance violations, leash law records, and any prior complaints about the animal may be relevant depending on the circumstances.
After representation begins, the firm promptly gathers documentation and identifies evidence supporting the claim. Clients can send photographs of injuries, the location of the attack, and any visible conditions by text for direct upload into the file.
Animal attack injuries sometimes require ongoing treatment beyond initial wound care, including follow-up procedures, physical therapy, or treatment for infection. Psychological effects, including anxiety, fear responses, and trauma-related symptoms, can also be significant, particularly for children.
The firm stays in contact with clients throughout treatment. The full picture of the injury, including both physical and psychological impacts, is documented in a way that reflects the full value of the claim.
When treatment reaches a stable point, a structured demand package is prepared. It includes certified medical records, documentation of lost income when applicable, and a clear presentation of liability and damages.
Because both attorneys understand how these claims are evaluated inside insurance companies, the presentation is organized to address the factors adjusters use when assigning real settlement authority. If the offer reflects the documented harm and aligns with your goals, the resolution makes sense. If it does not, you receive a direct explanation of your options and the practical realities of proceeding.
Both attorneys have real courtroom experience and understand how the defense prepares its side of a personal injury case. If litigation serves your interests, the firm files suit and guides you through each stage of the process. The same attorneys who accepted your case remain involved throughout, and preparation from the start reflects trial standards.
Animal attack injuries vary widely in severity. Some involve puncture wounds and soft tissue damage. Others result in serious lacerations, nerve damage, scarring, infection, or injuries that require surgical treatment or produce lasting physical and psychological effects.
The firm represents clients injured by:
Not every animal attack claim produces the same outcome. The severity of the injury, the availability of insurance coverage, and the strength of the liability evidence all affect value and strategy. Wes Childs and Christy Curreli provide candid assessments of what the evidence supports and what challenges exist.
If complications are present, those are discussed openly alongside available options. That straightforward approach reflects how the firm was built: honest counsel, deliberate preparation, and strategy shaped by your goals.
If you or a family member has been injured in a dog bite or animal attack and you want direct access to attorneys who understand how these claims are built and defended, Childs & Curreli Trial Attorneys is ready to listen.
Share what outcome matters most to you. The firm will outline the path forward and provide a clear assessment of what pursuing your claim entails.
