It was an average day on the job for Sandra*, an experienced vehicle appraiser for an auto insurance provider. She was visiting an auto repair shop she’d been to before to assess a vehicle for an insurance claim she was handling. She knew the shop owner kept several dogs, but on that fall day, one visit changed everything.
Soon after she arrived, Sandra realized a Neapolitan Mastiff, a massive, muscular dog, was loose on the property. Within seconds, the dog lunged, knocking her to the ground and mauling her before she could even react.
A large dog owner herself, she instinctively protected her face and neck, curling her body and using her arms and hands to shield herself from further harm. While she was lucky to survive, the damage was already done.
Long Road to Recovery Following Dog Attack
Immediately following the attack, emergency services rushed Sandra to Roper St. Francis Hospital, where doctors treated deep puncture wounds and serious trauma to her right hand. Within two days, her condition worsened. She developed septic arthritis, flexor tenosynovitis, and doctors discovered a fracture in her right small finger. Surgeons had to act fast, performing emergency surgery and starting her on IV antibiotics under the care of infectious disease specialists.
Sandra spent days in the hospital and then months recovering at home. For five months, she endured IV treatments, home health visits, and physical therapy just to regain basic movement.
To make matters worse, the shop owner refused to cooperate with state health investigators, forcing her to undergo painful rabies immunoglobulin injections, a treatment no one should have to endure.
Even after months of therapy, her injuries didn’t fully heal. She was later diagnosed with knee injuries, including a partial tear of the iliotibial band and bone bruising of the patella, requiring another eight months of grueling physical therapy. Despite the expert medical intervention she received, Sandra was left with 12% permanent impairment in her right hand, her dominant hand for work and daily life.
Since the incident occurred while she was performing duties for work, she received a workers’ compensation settlement and medical care through her workers’ comp benefits. That’s when Sandra knew she needed legal help.
The Fight for Legal Accountability
When she came to Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers, Attorney Milt Stratos immediately got to work on a personal injury claim. The business owner responsible for the attack couldn’t be tracked down, and ignored every attempt to resolve the claim. Despite the obstacles, Attorney Stratos refused to back down.
Given the defendant’s refusal to cooperate, Stratos felt he had no choice but to file a motion with the court to hold the shop owner in default. The motion was accepted, and a judgment by default was issued. This meant the defendant was legally responsible for Sandra’s injuries and that the focus of the case shifted to determining damages, the financial compensation owed for her medical bills, pain, and suffering.
A default judgment is not granted lightly. Courts prefer to give defendants a chance to respond. In this case, however, it was clear that the business owner was deliberately avoiding accountability. After preparing detailed evidence and medical documentation, Stratos filed a motion for a damages hearing, where the judge reviewed the full extent of Sandra’s losses and the impact of her injuries.
Our client’s medical bills alone totaled over $81,000, not including the pain, trauma, and months of lost independence she faced. After over four years of waiting, our client received a $500,000 Order of Judgment from the court.
Standing Up for Victims of Negligence
Through every challenge, Sandra never gave up, and neither did we.
Her case is a powerful reminder that justice is possible, even when those at fault try to disappear or deny fault.
At Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers, our attorneys fight tirelessly for victims of dog attacks and other preventable injuries. We hold negligent property owners accountable and help our clients secure the compensation they need to heal and move forward.
If you or a loved one has been attacked by a dog or injured on someone else’s property, don’t wait to get help. Call Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers today at (888) 324-3100 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation.
*Client’s name has been changed to protect her identity
Disclaimer: Past results do not guarantee future results
