Maison Law of Bakersfield is committed to helping children recover and get back to their normal lives after a frightening dog bite incident. Our lawyers aggressively protect young patients and make sure a dog owner is held fully responsible for the consequences the child faces now and in the years ahead.
We want child victims to get the best care possible, and we fight to make sure parents have the money to pay for that care. Please contact us after a dog attack involving a child in Kern County for a free, no-obligation consultation for you and your family.
Should My Child Have a Lawyer for a Dog Bite Claim?
If your child suffers a serious injury in a dog bite incident, like a deep wound or a broken bone, it’s a good idea to go over your case with a skilled Bakersfield dog bite lawyer.
Dog owners and their insurers are usually liable for all damages. However, insurance adjusters won’t make it easy to earn that much-needed support. They’ll try to blame the child or the parents for what happened. They can also downplay the injuries the child suffers, simply to get away with offering much less compensation.
Your Maison Law legal representative fully investigates what happened and collects evidence to hold insurance companies 100% accountable for a dog owner’s negligence. Your lawyer uses the evidence to force insurance companies to turn over the maximum in support. Our attorneys can often earn children much more than their parents could by filing a claim themselves.
Who Is Financially Responsible for My Child’s Dog Bite?
California has special legal options for dog bite victims. It makes the fault in dog bite cases easier to determine and makes it easier for injured victims to get support.
California is a “strict liability” dog bite state. Strict liability means that dog owners are generally fully responsible when their pets bite someone. The circumstances don’t usually matter, and victims don’t have to show proof of the owner’s negligence.
Under California law, pet owners aren’t let off the hook if this was the dog’s first bite incident. This is true in some other states, though.
The dog owner’s homeowners insurance or renters insurance provider would be accountable as long as the victims can show:
- They weren’t trespassing at the time of the dog attack.
- They didn’t provoke the dog.
Neither of these factors would likely affect a child’s dog bite case. A California judge wouldn’t hold a curious child responsible for finding his or her way into a yard that held a dangerous dog. A child isn’t generally considered to have the judgment needed to make a responsible decision. Instead, the dog’s owner would often be held responsible for allowing a child to too easily access a dog in a house or in an enclosure.
Kern County Dog Bite Injury Hazards for Children
A child’s energy and lack of better judgment can often put them in conflict with pets.
Most children don’t have the mental capacity to know when they are in danger of being bitten or are stressing a dog out. It’s why dog owners must be careful when they have children visiting their homes or when they are walking their dogs. A child may take a dangerous action, but it’s still up to the dog owner to do everything possible to prevent a bite incident.
These are just a few of the situations that often lead to dog bites involving children:
- Dog bites at parks like Silver Creek Park. Dogs may be allowed off their leash, or children may be allowed to run up to a dog that’s given too much leash.
- Dog bites at someone’s home. Children might be visiting a friend or at a family party when they are bitten by a dog.
- Dog bites in a child’s yard after a neighbor allows a pet to roam free.
- Dog bites on someone else’s property where a child can easily wander into an unsecured yard or dog pen and approach a dog.
These are just a few of the situations where a dog owner would be held liable for a bite. A skilled attorney can help file a claim against a dog owner’s insurer and secure whatever support is needed for as long as needed.
What Should Children Receive in a Dog Bite Settlement Check?
Child victims can suffer much worse injuries in a dog attack than an adult. And their injuries can be problematic for much longer in some cases, especially as their bodies develop into adulthood.
A child has less body tissue to fend off a dog’s teeth. The bones in their arms are easier to break. They are usually shorter than an adult, and their vital areas are more exposed to a dog’s mouth.
Children’s injuries also don’t always heal as expected. Injuries, especially broken bones, can flare back up during rapid growth periods as they mature into adulthood. Developing children may require additional surgeries and physical therapy years after a bite.
A skilled lawyer would be working with the child’s doctors to determine what level of support they’ll need in the coming months, years, and decades. Then, Maison Law lawyers file a claim that demands help with every hardship.
These are a few of the factors your attorney will make sure are considered when the insurance company writes an accident settlement check:
- Medical expenses, to cover past, current, and future medical costs.
- Restorative support for children left with scars and disfigurements.
- Support awarded for the pain children must cope with and manage.
- Support for the emotional trauma caused by a frightening accident. This can include the anxiety and depression caused by a serious dog bite and a long, difficult recovery. Children should also get the support they need to overcome any PTSD symptoms they carry away from an accident, especially after a scary dog attack.
- Loss of enjoyment of life, which will deal with reduced ability to enjoy activities.
- Wrongful death support. When the unthinkable happens, and a dog bite claims a precious child’s life, families must get justice and support. Parents can receive help with funeral costs and with remaining medical bills. They should also receive support for the loss of companionship they’ll have to cope with the rest of their lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my child is knocked down by a dog and injured?
Children can receive support after being knocked down by a dog and hurt. If a bite wasn’t involved, strict liability couldn’t be used. But parents and children could still seek damages under other personal injury laws. More evidence would be needed to show the dog owner was negligent in allowing the dog close to the child. Proof would be needed to demonstrate that the dog’s actions led to the fall as well. A skilled attorney can help you prove that a dog owner is liable for a child’s medical costs.
How long can I wait to file an injury claim for my child?
In California, children have until they are considered adults to file a claim. Parents can file at any time, but when a child turns 18, they have an additional two years to file a lawsuit over an accident and injury.
What if I can’t afford to hire a lawyer for my child’s case?
If you need a lawyer to secure more support for your child, you can afford to hire Maison Law. Our Child Injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. It means we don’t ask for anything up front, and only get paid if we win your case for your child. Then our fee is paid out of the money the insurance company turns over to your family.
Contact a Bakersfield Child Dog Bite Attorney
Consult with an attorney who understands the emotional trauma that comes along with the physical damage caused by a dog bite. Families and young victims will need financial help as they receive emergency room and physical therapy bills. Parents and their children will also need time to heal away from the frustrating negotiations with unhelpful insurance companies.
When you contact Maison Law for a free consultation, you’ll talk to a real Bakersfield Child Dog Bite Lawyer, and you’ll get our full attention. We will help you decide your best options for securing the adequate support you’ll need to rebuild your lives.
