People like to pamper their pups in Glendale. It’s a dog-friendly city in most respects, but dog owners must realize the enormous responsibilities that come along with pet ownership.
A confused or frightened dog, or a dog with too much freedom, can pose a bite threat to others. It’s the owner who has to be held responsible for the serious injuries caused to victims.
California holds pet owners responsible for bite wounds in most situations, but sometimes insurance companies try to limit the support they provide. It’s a good idea to have a strong Glendale Dog Bite Lawyer on your side fighting to make sure you have what you need to make a full recovery.
Contact a Glendale Lawyer for a Free Dog Bite Case Consultation
Dog bite victims may be nursing a wound after a painful bite and be unsure about where to turn for recovery support. Luckily, in California, a dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance and renter’s insurance can be called upon to provide victims with the help they need in recovery.
Unfortunately, insurance companies don’t make it easy for dog bite victims to earn compensation after a personal injury. You should go into an insurance claim negotiation well-informed of the benefits available to you.
The best way to arm yourself with knowledge is to schedule a free consultation with a Dog Bite Personal Injury Lawyer serving Glendale and all of Los Angeles County. We offer a free case evaluation to victims and their families. It’s a chance to find out what your injury is worth and how to avoid some of the tactics insurance providers use to limit the care you receive.
Dog Bite Injury Liability in Glendale CA
In California, dog owners are held legally liable for dog bites, even if it’s the first incident of a bite or aggression in the dog’s history. Other states don’t hold people responsible for a dog bite incident unless their dogs have a history of aggression or biting. California follows a different legal concept.
It’s called “strict liability” and it means that dog bite victims can expect dog owners to help with their medical costs and financial losses after an injury.
Pet owners are held accountable in most instances, but you and your Glendale dog bite lawyer will have to prove a few things are true to hold a dog’s owner liable:
- A bite must be proven to have occurred. A bite counts even if it doesn’t break the skin but still causes damage. A dog attack that injures someone but doesn’t involve a bite would fall under different personal injury laws.
- Victims must have been on public property or on private land where they were legally permitted to be.
- Victims can’t have trespassed.
- Victims can’t have provoked the dog.
Can I File an Injury Claim After a Dog Bite at a Dog Park
Yes. Dog owners are still responsible for the actions of their pets, even when those pets are off-leash at a dog park. Strict liability still applies.
This ability to ask a dog owner’s insurance provider for compensation for doctor bills and other hardships would apply to several popular public dog parks in and around Glendale such as:
- Griffith Park Dog Park
- Crescenta Dog Park
- Eagle Rock Dog Park
- Laurel Rock Dog Park
Unfortunately for victims, public dog parks maintained by a city or county government do carry protections that generally prevent you from suing government departments. You would have a much more difficult time trying to hold the City of Glendale responsible for a bite wound at a dog park. But there are exceptions and you should speak with a Glendale Dog Bite Attorney to get your questions answered in a free case review.
Dog parks at Apartment Complexes often come with posted “use at your own risk” signs. You may even sign a waiver before moving in that you accept responsibility for the dangers a neighborhood dog park presents. But if the management company made mistake in their duty to keep tenants safe, a lawsuit may be winnable.
What Can I Receive Compensation for after a Dog Bite?
Dog bite wounds can be more serious than some other common personal injury accidents. The teeth often puncture skin, muscle, and other tissue and can also cause nerve damage. The infectious nature of dog teeth can leave wounds taking longer to heal and they are also prone to leave permanent scars.
To secure the best chance for a full recovery, these are a few of the factors that victims must seek compensation for:
- Full coverage of hospital bills and emergency response fees.
- Physical therapy costs to learn to regain the use of affected limbs.
- The estimated costs of living a life with a permanent disability or long-term disfigurement.
- Physical pain the victim has endured.
- Emotional trauma the victim has suffered through, including PTSD symptoms and anxiety.
- Loss of enjoyment of life and the inability to participate in family activities.
- Travel costs for doctor and specialist visits.
- Forfeited paychecks while the victim has missed time at work.
- Damage or destruction of property.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I can’t afford a dog bite injury lawyer?
You won’t need any upfront money to hire strong representation from Maison Law. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you and then our fee comes out of the settlement you are awarded.
What if my child suffers a dog bite?
You must fight to get your child the most possible in a dog bite injury settlement. A bite wound suffered at a young age can affect development and growth years down the road. Victims must earn support for the future.
How long do I have to file a dog bite injury claim in California?
Two years. California’s statute of limitations on a dog bite claim is 24 months. You should act as soon as possible though. Waiting can mean evidence disappears and witnesses become hard to locate.
Contact a Glendale Dog Bite Lawyer
After you or a loved one has suffered a serious dog bite, contact a Glendale Dog Bite Lawyer to discuss your case, free of charge. It’s a no-risk opportunity to find out about all the benefits available to you and how to hold an insurance company fully responsible.
Your dog bite lawyer from Maison Law will thoroughly investigate what happened and build a strong case for you. The goal is to leave insurance companies no room to deny your claim and get away with providing you nothing after a dog attack.
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