California’s Civil Code 3342 explains that dog owners are responsible when their dogs bite people, regardless of whether the dog has a former history of viciousness. In California, dog owners are liable for dog bites in almost every situation.
Maison Law represents Bakersfield dog bite victims who suffer frightening hand injuries. We make sure they can pay every medical bill and receive support while they can’t go to work. Victims should contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. It’s a no-risk opportunity to find out what your case may be worth and how to hold a dog owner fully responsible for a hand injury.
Do I Need A Lawyer After a Dog Bite?
If a dog bite results in only minor scratches, you might not need the help of your lawyer over such a very minor injury. But when puncture wounds are deeper or bones are fractured, a lawyer can be a valuable protection for your case involving a serious injury.
In most cases, you’ll be able to seek compensation from the dog owner’s homeowners or renter’s insurance policy. However, insurance adjusters won’t accept responsibility without a fight. They will try to blame you for what happened or find doctors who will testify that your injuries aren’t as serious as they seem. Your Bakersfield dog bite lawyer blocks these shady tactics and aggressively seeks the maximum in benefits available for you and your family.
Who Is Responsible After a Dog Bite in Bakersfield?
In many states, dog owners are protected by a “first bite” law. It means pet owners wouldn’t be liable for a bite if it was the first instance of the dog showing aggression. That’s not the case in California.
In our state, the concept of “strict liability” is applied to dog bite cases. It means California dog owners are responsible for bite injury support under most circumstances. This is true even if their dogs have never bitten someone before.
It’s a law that ensures that patients can easily prove who was at fault and hopefully secure the support they need to pay for recovery. However, victims are obligated to prove that two factors are true to enforce California dog bite liability:
- Victims must not have been trespassing on private property when they get bitten.
- The victim must not have provoked the dog.
The attack must have involved an actual bite as well. That can include bites that don’t break the skin.
A dog attack that doesn’t involve a bite wound can still earn a victim compensation, but strict liability doesn’t apply. This might include an injury caused by a loose dog knocking you down.
The burden of proof for those injuries will be higher. In other words, you’d have to show those non-bite injuries were indeed caused by the dog’s actions and the owner’s negligence.
A skilled dog bite lawyer fully investigates your case and collects all evidence available. It’s the best way to ensure an insurance provider can’t find a way to wiggle out of taking responsibility for what you’ve been through.
Who Pays Over a Dog Bite Claim?
If a dog owner is negligent, a claim for damages is filed against the owner’s homeowner’s insurance in some cases. If the owner carries renter’s insurance some policies cover the victims of dog bites. These policies are often called upon when a victim is bitten in someone’s home. Dog owners are also liable if their dogs bite someone inside an off-leash dog park, like at Coffee Road Dog Park.
In some cases, homeowner’s insurance won’t cover dog bite accidents. The owner’s own savings and assets would be used to provide the victim with support in this case.
It’s also possible a landlord or apartment complex could bear some liability in a dog bite incident. A dog may have been deemed a problem or dangerous and yet a property owner or rental management company may have delayed doing anything about it. In some cases, they could be proven responsible for the victim’s safety.
A business that caters to dogs or an event that includes dogs could be the site of your bite incident. This could leave the owner of the business or the event organizers liable.
Compensation for Bakersfield Dog Bite Accident Victims
Bite victims are often left with debilitating physical injuries and devastating physical and emotional scars. Dog bite victims will need help paying their emergency room bills and could need further help covering the costs of weeks of physical therapy.
They could also require restorative surgery to reduce the appearance of scars or repair a disfigurement. It’s these potential future medical costs that victim’s must hold insurers fully responsible for.
Your dog bite attorney will assist you in making sure every hardship you’ve faced after a scary dog attack is listed in your insurance claim:
- Medical care bills now and any received in the future. Surgeries could be necessary years down the road.
- Physical therapy costs. Rehabilitation may be needed so the victim can restore the function in injured limbs.
- Full financial support for a permanent physical disability and permanent disfigurement suffered by victims.
- Additional compensation for physical pain and emotional trauma experienced. Dog bite victims can suffer anxiety and PTSD symptoms after a frightening attack. Depression may follow a severe injury that limits the patient’s enjoyment of life.
- Reimbursement of lost benefits and income while the victim misses work.
- Travel costs for appointments with doctors and surgeons. These bills may be substantial if a victim has injuries that prevent driving.
Contact a Bakersfield Dog Park Bite Lawyer
Consult with an attorney who understands the emotional trauma that comes along with the physical damage caused by a dog bite. Dog bite victims need sufficient financial and emotional support in order to recover from such a traumatic experience.
When you contact Maison Law for a free consultation, you’ll talk to a real Bakersfield Dog Bite Attorney and you’ll get our full attention. We will help you decide your best options for receiving the support you and your family will require to rebuild your lives. There’s no obligation, but if you decide we can help you get the most out of your dog bite case, you won’t need any money now. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the insurance settlement you receive.
