Maison Law can help you and your family when there’s an injury from a dog bite in Bakersfield. All across Bakersfield, you’ll see dogs. But no matter how well-trained they are or how comfortable you are with them, the wrong situation can lead to a bite or injury in some other type of attack. When that happens, our team will be there to explain what comes next and help you through it. Set up a free consultation today.
Why It Makes Sense to Talk to a Lawyer After a Dog Bite
Even though pretty much everybody in Bakersfield is familiar with dogs, very few have actually been through a dog bite or attack. They happen fast and they’re extremely scary—even if your injuries end up being relatively minor. Most of the time, you’re dealing with bite wounds, pain, ongoing stress and anxiety, and a lot of questions.
That’s why it makes sense to talk to a lawyer when something like this happens. Our team at Maison law can help you by:
- Explaining your options in plain language so you know what to expect
- Looking into what happened and getting the information you need
- Figuring out who might be legally responsible for your injuries and losses
- Handling the back-and-forth with the insurance company or dog owner
- Going to court if it becomes necessary
After a dog bite, the last thing you need is more stress. We try to make the process as simple as possible so you can focus on getting better. And that starts with understanding where they can happen to you.
Where Dog Bites Typically Happen in Bakersfield
This sounds obvious, but dog bites can happen anywhere you interact with a dog. While that obviously broadens things, there are certain places where they’re more likely simply because that’s where people and dogs regularly cross paths in Bakersfield, like:
- Homes and other living spaces. A lot of people think these incidents happen with a dog they’ve never seen before. That’s not always true. They frequently happen at homes or other living spaces because that’s where dogs live and have territorial instincts.
- Parks and outdoor areas. Bakersfield has plenty of places where people bring their dogs outside. Hart Memorial Park, Centennial Dog Park, Mesa Marin Dog Park, Bridle Creek Park, and Highgate Dog Park are all popular spots where you’ll find a lot of different dogs interacting.
- Sidewalks and walkways around town. From Rosedale to Southwest Bakersfield and the neighborhoods around Downtown, people are constantly walking, jogging, and taking their dogs outside.
- Restaurants and local businesses. Bakersfield has plenty of restaurants, shopping areas, and businesses where people spend time outside with their dogs. Areas around The Marketplace, River Walk, and Stockdale Highway can get especially busy, with people, animals, and other distractions all sharing the same space.
Obviously, dog bites can happen just about anywhere in Bakersfield. But your options aren’t based solely on where it happens—it has a lot to do with the circumstances, which means information is going to be important.
What Information Helps a Dog Bite Claim?
One thing that a lot of people don’t think about with a dog bite is how scary it can be. Some bites happen as a split-second reaction, while others can be much more serious and prolonged. Either way, your first priority should always be getting somewhere safe and getting medical care once you’re away from the dog.
At that point, though, things will start to settle down. At that point, you’ll want to try to get a few basic things:
- Pictures/videos of your injuries and where the bite happened
- Names and contact information of anyone who saw what happened
- Notes about what you remember about the dog, the owner, or what led up to the bite
Again, only try to get these things if it’s safe, the dog is back under control, or you’ve gotten away and are on the way to the ER or urgent care. That takes care of your immediate injuries and will be important for avoiding any longer-term health issues. But it’s not the end of the information. In the next few days/weeks, there are other things to keep track of, like:
- Your medical records from the emergency room, follow-up appointments, prescriptions, and physical therapy.
- Animal Control or police reports, which create an official record of what happened and also usually include important information about the dog’s owner or whether the dog has bitten someone before.
- Progress pictures of your injuries, especially any stitches, bruising, infections, or permanent scarring.
- Camera footage from bystanders, security cams, or doorcams
- Statements from bystanders that help support your version of what happened.
- Copies of any medical bills, paystubs, messages with the owner, insurance information, and anything else connected to the bite.
Even with something as traumatic as a dog bite, these things are going to make up the foundation of a potential claim. And while you might think it speaks for itself, the claims process is still about figuring out responsibility and then holding them accountable.
How Liability Works With a Dog Bite in Bakersfield
Dog bites seem pretty random. Even if you don’t know the dog you see that’s running loose at a dog park, you don’t necessarily expect it to attack or bite you. But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen or that you (or someone you care about) will get hurt.
Because dog bites happen in a lot of different types of situations, the law in California is pretty clear when it comes to legal responsibility. It uses what’s called “strict liability,” which just means that:
- The dog’s owner is responsible for any injuries caused by their dog.
Generally, that clears up a huge hurdle in terms of a claim, but the details also matter. The owner is going to carry most of the responsibility, but others could also share some of it depending on what happened. That could bring in people like:
- Someone caring for the dog. If they were in charge of the dog when the bite or attack happened.
- A landlord or property owner, if they knew about a dangerous dog and didn’t do enough to make sure you weren’t injured.
- A business or property owner, If they knew about an aggressive dog or another unsafe condition and did nothing about it.
Even with strict liability, your actions also matter. If you were trespassing somewhere or intentionally provoking the dog, it could factor into how your claim plays out. But the good news is that these situations are the exception—not the rule. And once you have liability, you have the starting point for a claim.
Getting Damages With a Dog Bite Claim
The injuries that come with a dog bite vary from situation to situation, but they’re pretty easy to understand. Bite wounds, broken bones, scarring, and nerve damage can all result from even a quick bite. But it’s the other things about a dog bite that people sometimes don’t think about. Many people experience PTSD and anxiety just being around a dog for a long time after a bite.
All of this is what the claims process is designed to help you with and is a part of your “damages.” But to get them, you have to file either:
- An insurance claim outside of court
- A personal injury lawsuit
Insurance-wise, the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy is usually the one that covers bites. While that can help with your physical injuries or damaged property, there’s also the option of filing a lawsuit to take care of your more long-term losses that can include:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Repair costs for damaged property, like clothing, shoes, or a phone
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Reduced quality of life
California generally gives you two years from the date of the bite to file a personal injury claim. That may seem like plenty of time, but waiting can make it harder to get information about the dog and its owner, gather evidence, and find witnesses. But one way or the other, you don’t have to go through this alone.
Reach Out to Maison Law After a Dog Bite in Bakersfield
When you’re out for a run in Hart Memorial Park, visiting a friend’s house, or walking your own dog through your neighborhood, a dog bite can happen in a split-second. But the aftermath can last much longer. Our Bakersfield dog bite lawyers at Maison Law will be there to guide and support you through the claims process. Set up a free consultation today to talk over your options.
