In California, dog owners are responsible for most dog bites and the costs of medical care afterward. This liability is present, even in bites that happen in dog park enclosures. Victims can ask for help with their hospital bills, their rehabilitation expenses, and other damages that a scary bite incident can cause.
How Can I Get Compensation After a Dog Bite?
Victims can file personal injury claims and ask dog owners for financial help in recovery. Homeowners and renters’ insurance policies often cover dog owners and provide money to dog bite victims. However, when a wound is serious or broken bones are involved, insurance adjusters can be hesitant about the final price tag and look for ways to avoid blame.
A skilled Chico dog bite lawyer is a safeguard against insurance tactics meant to rob dog bite victims of support. Maison Law fully investigates what happened and the dog owner, and the dog’s past histories. We hold insurers fully responsible and demand everything the victim needs to heal and get back to normal life.
Contact Maison Law of Chico for a free, no-obligation case consultation to find out the best course of action for getting your recovery bills and other damages covered.
Can I Sue a Dog Owner for a Dog Bite Wound at a Dog Park?
Yes. You can seek financial compensation from a dog owner after getting bitten while at a dog park like Degarmo Dog Park in Chico.
Dog owners are liable for most bite accidents because California follows the legal concept of “strict liability.” It means dog owners are held accountable even if it’s the dog’s first time biting someone. Dog owners can’t escape blame for the dog’s first aggressive incident, like in some other states.
The dog owner is generally financially liable, even in a dog park. The pet owner would have to provide support to victims unless one of the following were true:
- The victim was provoking the dog
- The victim was trespassing
In the case of a public dog park, all are welcome, and no one would likely be considered to have trespassed.
Can I Sue the City of Chico for a Dog Bite at a Dog Park?
If you are bitten at a public dog park, you could usually seek compensation from the dog owner, but not a city or county department. Dog parks are generally marked as a “use at your own risk” place. There will be signs posted that state this.
It means anyone entering a public dog park would accept the risk of being inside a place with dogs on the loose and wouldn’t be able to sue the property owners or operators. The same protection could prevent victims from suing a landlord or property management company after a bite at a private apartment dog park.
However, if clear negligence on the part of owners and operators created a danger that was well beyond the understood risk of being around dogs at play, a lawsuit may be possible. It’s a good idea to speak to a skilled dog bite lawyer to find out if you have a strong case.
What If I’m Knocked Down and Injured by a Dog at a Dog Park?
An injury caused by a dog that doesn’t involve a bite can still earn you compensation, but strict liability doesn’t apply. This might include an injury caused by a dog running free at a dog park, knocking you down.
The burden of proof for those injuries will be higher. You and your lawyer would need to demonstrate that your 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.
Contact a Chico 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 park 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 Dog Bite Lawyer, 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.
And if you require our help to get full support for your injuries, you don’t have to stress about how you’ll pay an attorney. Maison Law doesn’t get paid unless you win your case. Then our attorney’s fee comes out of the settlement check that the insurance company must send to you.
