Clovis residents love their pets and, in many cases, their dogs become full-fledged members of the family. Dogs add a lot of enjoyment to many people’s lives, but in certain situations, they can present the threat of a bite wound. Negligent dog owners can let a dog roam free or enter a frightening or confusing situation that ends with someone getting bit.
Those with hand injuries, ankle injuries, and even damage to the face should seek support from a careless dog owner. A Clovis dog bite lawyer holds dog owners and their insurance providers fully accountable for the consequences of an animal bite.
A Free Consultation for All Clovis Dog Bite Victims
After getting bitten by a dog, victims will have a lot to worry about. They’ll likely be trying to keep doctor’s appointments and physical therapy sessions all while fearing the day that medical bills arrive in the mailbox.
It may be several days before victims get a chance to wonder if a dog owner can be asked for help with these hardships and others.
This question is too important to leave unanswered. The best way to secure answers about your case is to contact a real Clovis Dog Bite Lawyer and set up a free consultation session. Find out what you should be demanding in an insurance claim for your bite injury and the pain it’s caused.
Are Dog Owners Responsible for Dog Bite Injuries in California?
Yes, in most cases. California is a “strict liability” dog bite state. The legal concept means that dog owners are liable for the injuries a dog bite causes. They are accountable even if the dog has never bitten anyone before.
In many states, a dog has to have shown aggressive tendencies or bitten someone in the past before the dog’s owner can be liable for a bite wound. But California law doesn’t let dog owners off the hook.
California Civil Code 3342 explains the liability for dog owners. As long as the dog bite victim was in a public place or was legally on private property, a dog’s owner can usually be held fully responsible for a bite wound. However, the victim can’t provoke a dog and then expect compensation from the dog’s owner.
The concept of strict liability only applies to dog bites. But the bite doesn’t have to have broken the skin. It simply must have caused damage.
A dog attack that doesn’t involve a bite wound, such as a dog knocking someone down, can still earn injured victims compensation, but the burden of proof for those injuries will be higher. Strict liability wouldn’t apply. In other words, you’d have to prove those non-bite injuries were indeed caused by the dog’s actions and the owner’s negligence.
Dog Bite Liability in Clovis Neighborhoods and Dog Parks
Dog bite victims may be bitten in their own yards after a dog is carelessly set free to roam. Victims could suffer injuries while running or walking at a park, like Cottonwood Park. After a serious wound, victims would need to file a claim for damages filed against the dog owner and the owner’s insurance provider.
Homeowners insurance and sometimes renter’s insurance would be called upon to provide help to the victim with hospital bills and many other hardships as they heal. If the dog’s owner didn’t carry insurance, owners may have to provide support out of their own savings.
Dog owners are responsible for the bites their dogs inflict under most circumstances. They are liable even in the confines of a city dog park or a dog park at an apartment complex. If you suffer a bite on a trip to Sierra Bicentennial Dog Park from someone else’s dog, you can still file an injury claim against the dog owner.
Victims may wonder if they can also sue the City of Clovis for an incident at a public dog park or the property management team that operates a private dog park on a residential property. This is harder to do because these parks are usually protected by “use at your own risk” type understandings. Municipalities, like Clovis, are also safeguarded by powerful legal protections for government departments. However, if a dog park is unreasonably unsafe due to the actions of a property owner or operator, a lawsuit may be filed.
What Can I Expect Compensation for After Suffering a Clovis Dog Bite?
Your Clovis dog bite attorney fully investigates what happened and looks into the history of the dog owner and the dog. Your attorney secures all evidence and gets witness testimony to show who was to blame. Once your case is supported by strong evidence it’ll be time to file your dog bite injury claim.
An important part of your filing will be a complete list of the hardships you and your family have faced since the bite. Your personal injury lawyer includes every economic and non-economic damage you’ve suffered because anything left off won’t be eligible to earn you compensation.
This includes some factors you may not have considered:
- Hospital and rehabilitation expenses.
- Lifelong support for victims who suffer permanent disfigurement or a permanent physical disability. Victims can lose a limb, lose their mobility, lose the use of an eye, or face other long-term effects.
- Support for child dog bite victims. A dog bite wound can affect a child’s growth and development years down the road. A dog bite lawyer would make sure the child earned enough in compensation to pay for any medical procedures necessary in the future.
- Support for physical pain.
- Support for emotional distress, such as anxiety. Victims might suffer PTSD symptoms at just the site of a dog.
- Loss of enjoyment of life. The inability to participate in hobbies, travel, and other family activities due to an injury. Depression can be a difficult obstacle for injured dog bite victims.
- Loss of consortium. An injury may affect the intimacy you share with a spouse.
- Past and future lost earnings.
- Damage or destruction of property.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file an injury claim after a dog bite?
In California, you have two years from the date of the dog bite to file an injury claim. You should take action soon so that your attorney has the best chance to collect evidence before it disappears.
What if I can’t afford a dog bite lawyer?
You won’t need any money upfront. Our Clovis dog bite lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means they don’t get paid unless they win your case. Then, your lawyer gets paid out of the award you receive.
Should I speak with the dog owner’s insurance adjuster after a dog bite incident?
Only give basic information. An insurance company will call you asking to get a recorded statement about what happened. Decline. They are hoping you’ll say something they can twist to hurt your case later.
Contact a Clovis Dog Bite Lawyer
After your or a loved one is bitten by a dog, contact a Clovis Dog Bite Injury Attorney as soon as possible to discuss your case. There are benefits available to you and your family that an insurance company may never mention.
Contact Attorney Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law, for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. It’s a no-risk way to find out what your injury should be worth and how to demand that support from an unhelpful insurance provider.
