Victims of dog attacks in Fresno are permitted to file a claim for damages against dog owners and seek financial support for physical and financial recovery. California makes it easier for Fresno dog bite victims to secure compensation by allowing lawsuits to be filed even when dogs haven’t shown aggression in the past.
When insurance companies try to blame victims for the bites they receive or refuse to help pay for expensive medical care for victims, Maison Law steps in to help. To find out how much you should be receiving after a dog bite, talk to a real lawyer by reaching out to a skilled Fresno Dog Bite Attorney and scheduling a free consultation.
What Our Clients Say
Dog Bite Liability Laws in Fresno and California
California follows the concept of “strict liability” when it comes to dog bites. This means dog owners can be held accountable for the consequences of a dog bite even if the dog isn’t considered a dangerous animal. Owners are liable for bite injuries even if their dogs have never bitten anyone or shown aggressive behavior before.
A few things must also be true for a dog bite victim to seek financial support through an insurance claim or a lawsuit:
- The injury must have been caused by a bite. The “strict liability” only covers biting and not other types of injuries involving a dog.
- The victim was bitten in a public place or was lawfully in a private place when bitten. Victims can be on private property as long as they had a reason to be there, such as they were delivering a package or were invited into a yard or home.
- The victim can’t have provoked the attack.
Dog owners are often covered for bite liability by their homeowner’s insurance and by some renter’s insurance policies. The payout limits on a basic coverage plan can be quite low and leave victims paying out-of-pocket for any part of their financial hardships left unpaid.
A Fresno Dog Bite Attorney works to uncover as many liable parties as possible in order to make additional sources of insurance money available to the victims who need it.
Find out more about what to do if you are bitten by a dog in a Fresno Dog Park on our webpage.
How Maison Law Manages Your Dog Bite Case
At Maison Law, we’re here to help you after you’ve had your life transformed for the worse after a dog bite incident. The reason we practice dog bite law is to transform your life for the better. Dog bite injury victims reserve the right to hold the dog owner responsible for the damage caused by their dog. Our firm ensures you are awarded the maximum amount of compensation through:
- Accurate damage calculation: we calculate damages based on expert testimony, medical evaluations, and economic analyses to cover every aspect of your current and long-term medical needs.
- Clear reports and expert witness testimony: our firm compiles detailed reports that outline the extent of your injuries and the impact they will have on the rest of your life. We organize expert witness testimony to reinforce the credibility of your claim and the incident.
- Minimizing liability: if you file a claim or lawsuit against an at-fault party, they will most likely attempt to put some or all of the blame onto you. Our firm will analyze your case and work to minimize or eliminate liability in your personal injury accident.
- Negotiating with insurers: our experienced team of lawyers are expert negotiators and understand the tacts insurance companies will take to attempt to minimize your damages and compensation. We ensure our clients receive a fair settlement that fully covers their current and future needs.
- Court Representation: our trial lawyers will represent you in court and build a strong case, highlighting the depth of your injuries and the necessity for recovering damages.
Fresno Dog Bite Law
The city of Fresno has leash laws that dog owners are required to follow. Violation of these laws can result in a fine and is enforced to ensure dogs are under your control and safe while on public property. The Fresno Dog laws are as follows:
- Dog leashes must be no longer than six feet and are always required unless at an off-leash park or engaged in off-leash activities
- Female dogs are not permitted to have more than one litter of puppies within a year
- Puppies must be at least two months of age before being sold or given away
- All dogs over 5 months must be spayed or neutered unless the owner has a breeding license
- Dogs in Fresno are restricted to barking for only ten minutes at a time during daytime hours and five minutes at night
Comparative Negligence in a Fresno Dog Bite Incident
If another person’s dog bit you and caused you injury, you have the right to pursue compensation from them through a lawsuit. Once a lawsuit is filed with the courts and the responsible party is made aware that you’ve taken legal action, it is not uncommon for them to argue that you are partially to blame for your injuries.
For example, what if you entered your neighbor’s yard while ignoring the “Beware of Dog” sign? Or maybe you try to pet a dog after being warned not to, and you get bitten. How does this affect your case?
In these scenarios, the state of California applies Comparative Negligence Law to your case, which causes your compensation to be reduced by a certain percentage at which you are found at fault. Fault is determined by a judge or jury. So, if you are rewarded $20,000 for your damages, but you are found 25% responsible for your injuries. You will receive $15,000 as your award has been reduced by 25%.
Dog Bite Severity in Fresno Dog Bite Cases
A major factor in determining the value of a dog bite case is the level of dog bite severity. Usually, the more severe a dog bite is, the higher the settlement. Dog bite severity is graded on the Dunbar Bite Scale, which includes the following levels:
- Level 1: Aggressive behavior, but no skin contact. This could mean the dog was growling, showing its teeth, or snapping at someone.
- Level 2: Teeth make contact with a victim but does not break their skin. A dog will typically do this when it is stressed or uncomfortable. The result is usually teeth marks on the victims without breaking the skin.
- Level 3: A single bite with shallow wounds. Level 3 dog bites are defined by the number of punctures from a shallow bite, with no bite going deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth. For a level 3 dog bite to occur, a dog must move beyond warning behavior and inflict minor to moderate injury.
- Level 4: A single bite with deep wounds. A level 4 bite consists of one to four deep punctures of a person’s skin, with at least one puncture deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth. These are dangerous bites, as the dog may shake its head while biting, refusing to let go.
- Level 5: Level five bites are similar to level four, only they have multiple bites that occur during the attack. Dogs responsible for level 5 bites are considered dangerous and may need rehabilitation.
- Level 6: This level results in the death of a victim, or flesh consumed. Dogs who commit level 6 bites are not safe to be around humans or other animals. In these rare cases, authorities will determine if euthanasia is necessary.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
Dog bites remain a significant public health issue as they become more frequent each year. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, an estimated 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs every year in the United States, with an estimated 800,000 requiring medical attention.
If you’re bitten by a dog, the most important thing you can do is remove yourself from the dog’s presence. Next, you should check yourself for injuries. The most common injuries that result from a dog bite include:
- Lacerations
- Abrasions
- Puncture wounds
- Organ damage
- Nerve damage
Even if you’ve only discovered that your injuries are minor, it is always important to seek immediate medical attention and contact animal control or the police. Even minor dog bites can contain bacteria that could lead to serious health problems if left untreated.
If you have questions about your legal standing after a dog bite, or need help accessing medical care, contact Maison Law today. Our door is always open to those in need in the Fresno community.
How Maison Law Helps Fresno Dog Bite Victims
At Won And Done, we understand how important it is for victims to receive fair compensation after a dog bite injury. We know this is your one chance at recovering financial security after going through a traumatic event, which is why we exercise every legal avenue available to ensure you receive the maximum amount of compensation. At Won And Done, we provide our clients with:
- Accurate damage calculation: we calculate damages based on expert testimony, medical evaluations, and economic analyses to cover every aspect of your current and long-term medical needs.
- Clear reports and expert witness testimony: our firm compiles detailed reports that outline the extent of your injuries and the impact they will have on the rest of your life. We organize expert witness testimony to reinforce the credibility of your claim and the incident.
- Minimizing liability: if you file a claim or lawsuit against an at-fault party, they will most likely attempt to put some or all of the blame onto you. Our firm will analyze your case and work to minimize or eliminate liability in your personal injury accident.
- Insurance negotiation: our experienced team of lawyers are expert negotiators and understand the tacts insurance companies will take to attempt to minimize your damages and compensation. We ensure our clients receive a fair settlement that fully covers their current and future needs.
- Court Representation: our trial lawyers will represent you in court and build a strong case, highlighting the depth of your injuries and the necessity for recovering damages.
Public and Privately Owned Dog Park Attacks
Public dog parks maintained by a city or county government do carry protections for government departments from litigation.
If you are bitten while at a public dog park, you can file a claim against the dog’s owner, but you won’t be able to sue the government in most cases.
This would apply to several public dog parks in Fresno and Clovis such as:
- Basin AH1 Dog Park in Fresno
- Roeding Park Dog Run in Fresno
- Todd Beamer Dog Park in Fresno
- Sierra Bicentennial Park in Clovis
Private dog parks like those provided in apartment complexes aren’t protected against litigation. You could sue the company that maintains a dog park, but you’d have to prove something the operators did caused you to get bitten. Otherwise, you could still file a claim against the dog’s owner.
If you are bitten in a private dog park that requires a membership you probably will be signing a waiver form in order to use the park. This could make suing the group operating the park difficult but not impossible.
You’d have to speak with an experienced Fresno Dog Bite Lawyer to determine if the circumstances of your case and the negligence of the company were extreme enough to override the protections of a waiver form. We have more information about what to do after getting bitten at a Fresno dog park here.
Dog Bites Involving Children in Fresno
Children are especially vulnerable to dog attacks. They often play outside and are attracted to furry friends. They often don’t realize the dangers of approaching an unknown dog.
The consequences of a dog attack on a young body can be that much more devastating. Children’s bodies are still growing and any damage to soft tissue or organs can create development problems in the years to come.
Parents must do everything they can to ensure enough insurance support is secured to provide the best medical care now and when necessary in the future. Permanent disfigurement will also affect a child’s life as they mature. This is another factor that should multiply the amount of compensation families receive from insurance companies.
We have further information on our website about what to do if your child is bitten by a dog in Fresno.
Compensation for Fresno Dog Bite Accident Victims
Dog bite victims of any age often face hand injuries. A bite can sever tendons and cause other soft-tissue damage. Long-lasting effects could include numbness and a lack of control of fingers. This type of injury serves to prevent victims from returning to their jobs for weeks or months at a time.
A correctly prepared dog bite injury claim will request financial support for these hardships and more:
- Medical Care now and any required in the future.
- Physical Disability and Permanent Disfigurement support if necessary.
- Reimbursement of lost income.
- Travel costs for appointments with doctors and surgeons.
- Additional compensation for physical pain and emotional anguish experienced.
Contact a Fresno Dog Bite Accident Lawyer
Consult with an attorney who understands the emotional trauma that comes along with the physical damage caused by a dog 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 California 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. As a respected Fresno personal injury law firm, we will only take on the case if we think it is in your best interest.
