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Dog Chase Bicycle Accidents in Fresno

Under any circumstances, a dog bite accident is extremely unfortunate. Dogs can provide companionship and even protection, but the tradeoff is that sometimes a dog can give in to their instincts. When these instincts kick in and a dog chases you while you’re riding your bike, the results can be harmful.

California law has specific statutes in place for both dog bites and bicycle accidents, but what about when a dog chase or bite causes a bicycle accident? The answer depends on the situation, but generally speaking, the same laws that govern responsibility for dog bites and bicycle accidents also apply in these situations.

But the risks and consequences that come from dog chase bicycle accidents can be serious. That’s why it’s important to know what to do when you’re chased by a dog while riding your bike, as well as what you can do if this causes an accident.

Experienced Fresno Dog Chase Bicycle Accident Lawyers

At Maison Law, our team of experienced Fresno bicycle accident lawyers has seen firsthand how devastating and unfortunate these accidents can be. No matter how domesticated or docile a dog may seem, it can instinctually chase moving objects, such as you on your bike.

When these accidents do happen, having our team by your side can help in the recovery process, both financially and emotionally. We can help you determine who is responsible for your injuries and what you need to do to get the support you need. If you would like to learn more about our process, contact us today for a free consultation.

Why Do Dogs Chase Bicycle Accidents Happen in Fresno?

When you consider the factors involved in a Fresno dog chase bicycle accident, it becomes a little easier to understand why they happen. Dogs instinctively chase moving objects that they either consider to be a threat or are just wanting to play with. Thus, a person on a bicycle that is riding by them can kick these instincts into gear. While different breeds of dogs are less likely to chase you on your bicycle, there are still common factors that answer the question of why a dog will chase a bicyclist, including:

  • Natural instinct – By nature, dogs want to chase things. Anything that moves faster than the dog may appear to the animal as prey, and they consider that prey to be fleeing from them. When this happens, like when you ride by on your bike, the dog’s instincts to chase kick in and it chases you down. From there, the dog could jump and grab you with its jaws or you could lose control of your bike trying to outrun it.
  • The dog wants to play – Boredom or socialization can also factor into dog chase bicycle accidents. If the dog’s owners never take it on walks or have it chained up in the yard for long stretches of time, the dog can build up energy and aggression. When you ride by on your bike, chasing you becomes an outlet for this energy. Depending on how excited the dog gets, they could react more harshly.
  • The dog views you as a threat – Some dogs, especially ones that are not as socialized or have had a turbulent past, may view a bike rider as a threat. While most dogs are used to people walking on foot at a normal pace, a quick moving bicycle could pose a threat or cause the dog to think that you are on the attack and they respond accordingly.
  • The dog is trying to protect its territory – Probably the most common reason a dog chases you on a bicycle is that it is trying to protect its territory. This is especially true when you ride by on a sidewalk in front of the yard or house where the dog is kept. All of the dog’s instincts kick in when it’s trying to protect its territory and owners, so when you ride by on your bike, be careful to maintain a safe distance between yourself and the dog’s yard.

While all of these factors play into dog chase bicycle accidents, the fact remains that you have a right to ride by someone’s house on your bike. But these factors also illustrate how a dog reacts in these situations and why owners must take proper precautions.

Who Is Responsible For Damages In Fresno Dog Chase Bicycle Accidents?

In Fresno, and throughout California, dog owners are “strictly liable” for any bite attacks that their dog inflicts on a person, regardless of the situation or circumstances involved. This means that a dog’s owner is responsible for any injuries that occur from a dog bite.

Strict liability has two exceptions in dog bite cases:

  • The person provoked the dog
  • The person was trespassing on the owner’s property

However, the situation is a bit different in a dog chase bicycle accident. When a dog is chasing you on a bicycle, strict liability would only apply if the dog bites you and injures you. However, if the dog doesn’t bite you, but forces you to crash your bike or into another type of accident with a car or object, the dog’s owner would still be responsible for your injuries because of California’s negligence law.

For a dog’s owner to be considered negligent, all four of these elements must be established:

  • Duty of Care – The dog’s owner has a legal duty to not to cause an accident.
  • Breach of Duty – The dog’s owner breached that duty when the dog ran after you.
  • Causation – The dog chasing after you caused the accident in question.
  • Damages – You or someone else suffered an injury in a bicycle accident because the dog was chasing after you. This is known as “proximate cause.”

With liability determined, the focus could turn to the actual damages regarding your accident. Often in dog chase bicycle accidents, the person on the bicycle has both dog bite and bicycle crash injuries to deal with.

Available Damages In a Fresno Dog Chase Bicycle Accident

When attempting to recover damages from your Fresno dog chase bicycle accident, you generally have two options: file an insurance claim or a lawsuit. Regardless of which option you choose, there are procedures in place that you’ll need to follow.

Policy-wise, your claims for damages will come from the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance. This policy covers accidents that either occurs on the owner’s property or are caused by a hazard-in this case, the dog on the owner’s property. Typically, damages available in dog chase bicycle accidents include the following:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of companionship
  • Property damage
  • Punitive damages

These same damages and policies are applicable in a lawsuit. As with any other injury lawsuit in California, there is a statute of limitations in place to properly file your claim. The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in California is two years from the date of your injury.

As to the number of damages that you can potentially recover, the more extensive and permanent your injuries from the accident are, the more compensation you can potentially recover. This includes any pre-existing conditions that the dog bite or accident may have exacerbated.

Fresno Dog Chase Bicycle Accident Lawyers Can Help You

Dogs can be some of the most faithful companions that a person can have. But unfortunately, the same qualities that make a dog a faithful protector and companion can also lead to them creating a dog chase bicycle accident.

These accidents can create medical and financial challenges for you and your family. Still, our team of experienced and dedicated Fresno dog chase bicycle accident lawyers at Maison Law can help put you in a position to focus on your recovery.

If you have suffered an injury from a dog chase bicycle accident in Fresno, contact us today for a free consultation.

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