Bakersfield Amazon delivery drivers bitten by dogs can seek help with their recovery costs from the dog owner. If Amazon sent drivers to an address with a known dog bite risk, the corporation itself might be held partially liable for injury hardships.
Victims must demand help with every medical bill that’s delivered to their mailboxes. They must also get assistance with supporting their families while they are unable to return to work.
Are Dog Owners Responsible When a Dog Bites an Amazon Delivery Person?
California sticks to the legal concept of “strict liability” for all dog bite cases. The concept makes it easier for victims to prove who was at fault (usually the dog owner) and collect support to help through recovery.
Under “strict liability,” the owner is held responsible in most circumstances. Owners are liable even if the dog has no previous record of biting.
A few factors could excuse the dog owner from blame, but they usually wouldn’t apply to delivery drivers just doing their jobs:
- The victim can’t have been trespassing when the bite occurred. Amazon drivers usually wouldn’t be considered trespassers when called to an address to make a delivery. There’s implied permission from any owner who places an order.
- The victim can’t have provoked the dog.
- A bite must have occurred for strict liability to apply. But the bite doesn’t have to break the skin. If there wasn’t a bite, but a delivery driver was knocked down by a dog, other personal injury laws apply.
As long as these exceptions weren’t a factor, the Amazon driver could usually hold the dog owner responsible without proving any negligence on the part of the owner.
Who Else Can Be Held Responsible for a Dog Bite on an Amazon Driver?
Delivery drivers who are considered full-time Amazon workers would usually be able to file a Workers’ Compensation claim after getting injured. Injured delivery employees could receive checks every two weeks to help cover their medical bills and support their families while they can’t get behind the wheel. This is critical support for workers with hands with torn tendons or broken bones, making driving impossible for weeks or months.
The California Division of Workers’ Compensation’s (DWC) administrators decide how much money injured workers need as they heal, but they don’t assign every worker the same level of support. If they don’t understand how much the worker’s life has been affected by a dog attack, they may provide far less than the injured driver needs to recover. A Bakersfield Workers’ Compensation Attorney can represent dog bite victims and make sure their stories are heard. Maison Law often earns workers much more in Workers’ Comp benefits than victims could earn by filing a claim themselves.
Usually, injured delivery drivers would need to hold dog owners responsible and get help from Workers’ Comp. But in some cases, where Amazon shows a true lack of care for its employees, a claim against the delivery giant could be successful. A case involving a driver being forced to deliver to a house that had been identified as a place with an out-of-control dog could leave Amazon liable. If you had complained about an unsafe situation and were still made to return to the address for another delivery, you may have a claim.
Maison Law attorneys have experience standing up to major companies and corporations and winning support for our clients. Let us investigate your case and gather evidence to allow us to win compensation from every party that should have kept you safe.
Can I Seek Support If a Dog Knocks Me Down on a Delivery?
If a dog knocks a delivery employee down to cause an injury, the victim could still seek damages. However, without a bite involved, the case would be resolved as a normal personal injury case. Strict liability wouldn’t apply.
Without strict liability to fall back on, the victim would need to present stronger evidence to hold the dog owner fully accountable. This would include demonstrating that the dog owner’s actions allowed the accident to occur, i.e., not putting a dog on a leash, or failing to put it in a crate when a delivery person was expected. A Maison Law Attorney would also help prove that the dog’s behavior caused a fall and, in turn, caused the delivery driver to get injured.
The dog may have just been friendly and didn’t intend to harm, but dog owners must share in any harm done to the victim’s wellbeing and ability to earn a paycheck.
Do I Need a Lawyer After Getting Bitten While on a Delivery?
If your injuries are more than just some minor scratches, it’s wise to talk over your case with a skilled Bakersfield dog bite lawyer. A serious injury with major medical bills sends insurance companies looking for excuses to deny claims and full coverage.
Insurers for dog owners, for Amazon, and even Workers’ Comp administrators will look for ways to blame you for what happened, and try to shortchange you on support for your hospital bills. Your lawyer protects you from false accusations and then demands the full support you need for as long as it takes you to recover and get back in an Amazon van.
Contact Maison Law of Bakersfield after suffering a serious dog bite while on the job. Our attorneys often get victims much more in compensation than they could by handling a claim themselves. We can also fight an insurance company or Amazon for you, while giving you time to focus on healing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a claim over a dog bite suffered during a delivery?
California extends the statute of limitations to two years for most dog bite cases. However, it’s not a good idea to delay starting your claim. Evidence can disappear, and witnesses can become harder to locate if you wait months or years. Contact a lawyer as soon as possible and take advantage of a free consultation to go over your best options.
What if I can’t afford to pay for a dog bite lawyer?
And at such a difficult time, you don’t need to worry about finding the money to hire strong legal representation. If you require our help, Maison Law works on a contingency basis for dog bite victims. It means we don’t get paid unless we win the case for you and your family. Then our fee is paid out of the money a car insurance company is forced to provide.
What type of support can be offered in a dog bite injury settlement?
Your attorney would demand compensation to pay all current medical bills and to cover any future care that’s needed. The paychecks and job benefits lost while you can’t make Amazon deliveries must be reimbursed. You should also expect assistance with non-economic hardships, like the pain they are left with and the emotional trauma caused by a frightening dog encounter while at work.
Contact a Bakersfield Amazon Dog Bite Lawyer Today
We offer a free and confidential case review to all Amazon employees in Bakersfield who have suffered a dog bite while on a delivery. If your injuries are serious, please contact us today to schedule an appointment. It’s a no-risk way to determine what your case is worth and how to hold a dog owner and others fully liable.
