East Baton Rouge | West Baton Rouge | Ascension | Livingston | Iberville | Pointe Coupee | West Feliciana | East Feliciana | St. Helena
When a dog attack turns your life upside down, you need attorneys who will fight for the compensation you deserve. At Melancon, Rimes & Daquanno, we prepare every case for trial and refuse to accept lowball offers from insurance companies.
Combined Experience
Trial Lost in Over 20 Years
Dog bite injuries create problems that extend far beyond the initial wounds. The physical pain is just the beginning. Victims often find themselves dealing with mounting medical bills, emotional trauma, and insurance companies that refuse to pay fair compensation.
These challenges can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to heal. You need someone in your corner who understands what you’re going through and knows how to fight back.
Our attorneys have secured significant results for people injured in animal attacks, including a $360,000 jury verdict for a child who suffered severe facial and shoulder injuries from a neighbor’s aggressive dog. That case went to trial because the insurance company refused to offer more than $100,000.
We build strong cases by investigating the animal’s history of aggressive behavior, coordinating with your medical providers to document every injury, and refusing to settle for less than you deserve. In that child’s case, we gathered statements from multiple neighbors about the dog’s dangerous behavior and worked with plastic surgeons and social workers to show the full impact of the attack. The jury awarded more than 3.5 times the insurance company’s best offer.
We represent Clinton residents in a wide range of personal injury matters. Our experience includes:
Rear-end collisions, hit-and-runs, and drunk driving accidents are causing serious injuries
Commercial truck crashes, including cases involving defective equipment and driver negligence
Animal attacks resulting in facial injuries, scarring, and emotional trauma
Premises liability cases involving unsafe property conditions
Industrial accidents, machinery incidents, and exposure to hazardous materials
Injuries from manufacturing flaws, design defects, and inadequate warnings
Fatal accidents caused by negligence, providing families with compensation for their loss
Misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication mistakes, and nursing home negligence
Severe burns requiring specialized treatment and long-term care
Abuse or inadequate care in nursing facilities
Traumatic brain injuries with lasting cognitive and physical effects
Crashes involving motorcyclists struck by negligent drivers
Whether your injury happened on Clinton’s roads, at a local business, or at work, we evaluate your case and pursue full compensation for your losses.
When you hire our firm, you get access to the collective expertise of our entire team. Our three partners have over 50 years of combined legal experience, and we apply that knowledge to build the strongest possible case for every client we represent.
You work with experienced attorneys who know your name and your situation, not junior associates shuffling paperwork between dozens of files.
Insurance companies know our reputation. They know we don't bluff. When they lowball our clients, we take them to court and win.
We've practiced in Baton Rouge area courts since 2005. We understand local procedures, know the judges, and have the relationships that matter.
We’ve refined our process over 20 years to get results while keeping you informed at every stage. Here’s how we’ll handle your case from the first phone call to resolution.
You’ll have direct access to your attorney throughout this process. We provide regular updates and make sure you’re informed about every development in your case.
We'll listen to your account of the attack, document the details, and give you honest answers about your legal options.
We move quickly to secure witness statements, veterinary records, and any history of the animal's aggressive behavior.
We coordinate with your doctors and specialists to fully document your injuries, treatment needs, and long-term prognosis.
We present a comprehensive demand to the insurance company backed by evidence that demonstrates the full value of your claim.
If the insurance company won't pay fair compensation, we file suit and prepare your case for trial before a jury.
We coordinate with plastic surgeons, therapists, and other specialists to capture the full physical and emotional impact of the attack.
Witness memories fade and records disappear. We act immediately to secure veterinary records, neighbor statements, and other critical evidence.
We've handled hundreds of claims and know exactly how adjusters try to minimize payouts. We counter their tactics effectively.
We handle all legal details, paperwork, and negotiations so you can direct your energy toward healing and getting your life back.
Our track record demonstrates our commitment to fighting for maximum compensation. We don’t rush to settle personal injury cases for less than they’re worth, and we’re willing to go to trial when insurance companies refuse to pay fairly. Here’s an example of what we’ve achieved for clients injured in animal attacks.
A minor suffered severe facial and shoulder injuries. The insurance company offered less than $100,000. We went to trial and won more than 3.5 times their offer.
Past results don’t guarantee future outcomes. Every case depends on its specific facts and circumstances.
Let us help you!
Your initial consultation costs nothing. We’ll review your case, explain your legal options, and answer every question you have. There’s no obligation, and you’ll speak directly with one of our partners about your situation.
We handle injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Our fee is one-third of the recovery if we resolve your case without filing a lawsuit, or 40% if litigation becomes necessary. We advance all case expenses, including court filing fees, expert witness fees, and medical record costs. You never pay anything out of pocket.
"Great experience. They were very professional and were there whenever I called or needed them. My settlement was well worth the wait. I recommend them to anyone needing legal services. They will fight for you and get you what you deserve for your injuries. I didn't just gain good legal representation, I also gained friends and a law firm that cared."
"Great people who really care about your situation. They did everything possible to take care of my family. I would highly recommend Jason, Robert, and the whole team. Top notch."
"I couldn't be more pleased with choosing Jason and all of the associates at Melancon & Rimes. I was told by several people throughout the duration of my litigation that I was in good hands with one of the best attorneys in Louisiana, and the results did not disappoint. A very efficient group that worked diligently to win my case and keep me well informed along the way."
"Jason and his entire staff are terrific. They are honest, thorough, meticulous and totally professional. You could not ask for more from a law firm. Highly recommended."
The majority of our clients find us through referrals from former clients and other attorneys who trust us with their cases.
Our partners bring impressive educational backgrounds and professional recognition to every case. Jason Melancon graduated Valedictorian from Broadmoor High School, earned his Biological Engineering degree from LSU, and received his law degree from LSU Law School where he served as Senior Associate with the Louisiana Law Review. Robert Rimes earned his law degree from Loyola University in New Orleans, where he was a Moot Court Staff member and finalist in the best brief writing competition. Lee Daquanno graduated magna cum laude from Southern University Law Center.
Graduated from LSU Law School where he served as Senior Associate with Louisiana Law Review. He’s been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star (2013-2015) and Super Lawyer (2018-2021).
Earned his law degree from Loyola University School of Law where he was a member of the Moot Court Staff. He leads our personal injury section with extensive trial experience.
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Partner since 2022, graduated magna cum laude from Southern University Law Center and served as senior editor of Southern University Law Review.
Licensed in all Louisiana state courts, U.S. District Courts for Middle, Eastern, and Western Districts, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
Our attorneys are admitted to practice before the nation's highest court for significant appellate matters
Jason Melancon named Super Lawyers Rising Star (2013-2015) and Super Lawyer (2018-2021) for excellence in personal injury
Active members of the Louisiana Association for Justice and the Baton Rouge Bar Association
We’ve been fighting for injured people in Baton Rouge since 2005, building a reputation for thorough case preparation and aggressive courtroom representation.
Louisiana law generally gives you two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, waiting can seriously hurt your case. Evidence disappears quickly after an attack. Witnesses forget important details about what they saw. Veterinary records showing the animal’s history may become harder to obtain. Neighbors who knew about the dog’s aggressive behavior may move away. We recommend contacting an attorney as soon as possible so we can begin preserving evidence while it’s still available.
Victims may recover compensation for several categories of damages. Medical expenses include emergency room visits, surgeries, hospital stays, medications, physical therapy, and future treatment costs. Lost wages cover income you missed while recovering and any reduction in your future earning capacity. Pain and suffering compensation addresses the physical pain and emotional distress you’ve experienced. For attacks that cause permanent scarring or disfigurement, you may recover damages for the long-term impact on your appearance and quality of life. In our $360,000 verdict case, we worked with plastic surgeons and social workers to document both the physical injuries and the emotional trauma the child suffered.
Louisiana law does not require proof that an animal bit someone previously. Property owners can be held liable if they knew or should have known their animal posed a danger to others. We investigate thoroughly by interviewing neighbors, requesting veterinary records, and looking for any documented history of aggressive behavior. In one case, we gathered statements from multiple neighbors who had witnessed the dog acting aggressively toward children and other people in the neighborhood. This evidence helped us prove the owner knew the animal was dangerous.
Most personal injury cases settle before trial, but we prepare every single case as though it will go before a jury. Insurance companies know our track record and understand that we don’t make empty threats. When the insurance company in our child attack case refused to offer fair compensation, we followed through and took the case to trial. The jury awarded more than three times what the insurance company had offered. This trial-ready approach often leads to better settlement offers because insurers know we’ll actually go to court if necessary.
Yes. Being lawfully present on someone’s property does not prevent you from pursuing compensation. We’ve represented clients who were attacked while visiting friends, attending social gatherings, or simply walking through a neighborhood. The property owner’s responsibility to control their animal and protect visitors applies regardless of why you were on the premises. Louisiana law holds animal owners accountable for injuries their pets cause, and we’ll investigate the specific circumstances of your case to determine all potentially liable parties.
There is no upfront cost to hire us. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only receive a fee if we successfully recover compensation for you. Our fee is one-third of the recovery if we resolve your case without filing a lawsuit, or 40% if we need to file suit and litigate. We also advance all case expenses, so you never pay out of pocket for expert witnesses, court fees, medical record requests, or other costs. If we don’t win your case, you owe us nothing.
Our Baton Rouge personal injury attorneys represent attack victims throughout the greater Baton Rouge region. We’ve built relationships in these communities over two decades of practice and understand the local courts where your case may be heard.
East Baton Rouge | West Baton Rouge | Ascension | Livingston | Iberville | Pointe Coupee | West Feliciana | East Feliciana | St. Helena
If you or a family member was attacked by a dog anywhere in the greater Baton Rouge area, contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM