Dog parks in Fresno offer dog owner’s a chance to let their pets run free and burn off some energy. It’s a great place for humans and dogs to meet, greet, and play. Unfortunately, dogs can still become frightened or protective at any dog park and end up biting someone.
If you’re walking on a sidewalk or in a regular park and get bitten, you may already know that the dog owner can be held responsible. But after getting bit at a dog park and seeking medical care, you could be confused over who is liable for your injuries and your emergency room bills.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Fresno Dog Bite Lawyer
Dog bite victims in Fresno should never have to face their recovery from a serious wound alone. When a bite occurs at a dog park, victims are legally empowered to hold dog owners financially accountable for the cost of recovery. There may be other parties that would have to provide recovery support as well.
After you or a loved one has been bitten, schedule a free consultation session with a skilled Fresno dog bite lawyer. It’s a no-risk way to find out what you’ll need to demand in an insurance claim over your bite injury. You’ll also stay informed about some key rights and benefits you should know about before an insurance adjuster tries to tell you they owe you nothing at all.
Dog Bite Liability at Fresno Dog Parks
California is a “strict liability” dog bite state. This means that dog owners are usually held responsible when their pets bite someone. The concept of strict liability means that pet owners are financially liable even if the dog hasn’t bitten anyone before. In other states, dog owners sometimes aren’t responsible for their dog’s aggression unless they have a history of biting. That’s not the case in Fresno or California.
For victims who receive a bite wound while at a Fresno dog park, there may be some question about who is responsible. The dog owner, the city department that operates the dog park, or an apartment management group or property owner.
In most instances, it’s still the dog owner that bears most or all of the blame. Wounded victims could seek compensation from the dog owner’s homeowners insurance or renters insurance for their physical, emotional, and financial damages.
Is Fresno or a Property Owner Responsible for My Dog Park Bite Injury?
There are many public dog parks across Fresno and Fresno County run by the city or county. These parks are posted as “use at your own risk” locations. This generally prevents dog bite victims from suing the city over a wound. However, cities may be exposed to liability if their employees create hazards that go beyond the normal risks you might expect at a dog park.
Of course, in these cases, the dog owners are still liable for the actions of their dogs. Make sure you can identify the owner of the dog that bit you. In some cases, you may be able to secure financial assistance from a dog owner and the operator of a park.
These are just a few of the dog parks located in and around Fresno:
- Basin AH1 Dog Park in Fresno
- First & Bullard (O) Dog Park in Fresno
- Bob Belcher Park in Fresno
- Roeding Park Dog Run in Fresno
- Todd Beamer Dog Park in Fresno
- Woodward Park in Fresno
- Sierra Bicentennial Park in Clovis
The same legal guidelines apply to private dog parks and those mini-dog parks provided at apartment complexes. They’ll usually be posted as “use at your own risk.” In the case of private dog parks or parks that charge a fee, you may also have to sign a waiver form. This form protects the dog park owners or apartment complex owners from litigation in most dog bite cases.
These protections 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 business were extreme enough to override the protections of a waiver form.
Compensation for Fresno Dog Bite Accident Victims
A dog bite can crush the delicate bones in the ankles, hands, and wrists. Damage to tendons, organs, and other soft-tissue is a real threat in any biting incident. Permanent scars may be left by a serious bite wound.
Fresno dog bite victims will need help paying their emergency bills and could need further help covering the costs of weeks of physical therapy. They could also need restorative surgery to reduce the appearance of scars or repair a disfigurement.
Your Fresno dog bite attorney will assist you in making sure every hardship you’ve faced after a scary dog attack is listed in your insurance claim:
- Medical care bills now and any received in the future. Surgeries could be necessary years down the road.
- Physical therapy costs. Rehabilitation may be needed so the victim can restore the function of a hand and fingers.
- Full financial support for a permanent physical disability and permanent disfigurement suffered by victims.
- Reimbursement of lost benefits income.
- Travel costs for appointments with doctors and surgeons. These bills may be substantial if a victim has injuries that prevent driving.
- Additional compensation for physical pain and emotional trauma experienced. Dog bite victims can suffer anxiety and PTSD symptoms after a frightening attack. Depression may follow a severe injury that limits the patient’s enjoyment of life.
Contact a Fresno 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. Fresno 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 Fresno 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. If you decide we can help you get the most out of your dog bite case, you won’t need any money now. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you.
