Getting in a car accident can turn your life upside down. Along with potential damage to a vehicle, you may deal with a lot of life changes at home as you heal through your injuries. For dog owners, these changes can involve a lot of different costs and schedule differences for the care of your dog. As you seek a settlement for your injuries and the associated costs, an attorney may seek additional compensation for the impact it's had on your pet. While working with an attorney, figure out if any of the following five dog care issues have impacted your case and could become a part of a potential settlement.
Dog Boarding
After the initial accident occurs, you may have to spend multiple days in a hospital or rehab facility. If the injuries make it too hard to care for your pet, then the only option may be a temporary boarding location. At a dog boarding business, your dog is taken care of and watched over while you heal through injuries. The costs for this boarding can reach hundreds of dollars depending on the length of time it takes for you to heal. Without the accident, this boarding wouldn't have been necessary and an attorney can often factor in these costs to any potential settlement.
Dog Walking Services
Car accident injuries to the legs, back, or neck may impact your ability to move and could also result in the loss of daily habits for your dog. Instead of throwing the dog's routine off and not giving them proper exercise, you may need to hire a dog walking service. These types of services will pick up the dog and take them on an extended walk to duplicate your walks in the past. Depending on the extent of your injuries, the walking service may be needed for multiple weeks. A doctor's note about your physical limitations can also help prove the need for dog walkers and help you receive compensation for these costs.
Grooming Costs
Small tasks that you used to complete at home may be a challenge with your limited mobility and injuries from a car accident. To keep up proper care for your dog, you may have to hire grooming services. These services can trim dog hair, cut nails, and give baths. Depending on how your dog is, you may have to use these services every couple of months. By using receipts and showcasing the different care you used to give your dog, your attorney can help prove your need for these grooming services during the healing time after an accident.
Dog Training Classes
Your life may have changed after a car accident and this includes the relationship you have with your dog. Instead of just being a household pet, the role of your dog may change to a helpful companion. A dog can help guide you, retrieve items, and learn all types of new commands. This training can be done through professional classes with different focuses for your dog. There are various types of classes that your dog may attend. This includes obedience classes or vocational training. A vocational training class will teach your dogs specific ways to assist and guide you through the home. These classes may last for multiple weeks and can cost hundreds of dollars. If the classes were necessary after your injury, an attorney will seek compensation to try and reimburse you for the costs.
Accessible Dog Supplies
Changes in your physical abilities due to a car accident may lead to the purchase of various supplies for your dog. For example, you may need to purchase new collars, leashes, or harnesses that help you control your dog and take them out places. You may also need kitchen supplies to help you reach cans of dog food and properly feed your dog. After the accident occurs, it's important to save receipts and add up any costs that have come because of the injury. This can have a large impact on your case and the potential outcome.
Work with an attorney to add up these costs and cover any ground you may have forgotten. This will help you get the full settlement that you deserve. To find an attorney, go to websites like the one linked to in this article.
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