After children are hurt in dog bite incidents, parents can seek money for their child’s medical bills, and the physical pain and mental trauma they go through. Maison Law of Glendale stands up for young victims and holds dog owners fully responsible for a frightening attack.
We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to all Los Angeles County families. It’s a no-risk way for parents to understand the level of support their children will need to rebuild their lives.
Child Dog Bite Dangers in Glendale
Children often lead active lives, and their energy and curiosity can put them in harm’s way when a pet is around. A dog bite can happen at a party at someone’s house when a dog becomes cornered. It’s likely a sign that the dog should have been placed in a room behind a closed door for the event.
A child might be at risk from a dog given a lot of leash at a park like Fremont Park in Glendale. Children might just be playing in their own front yards in a neighborhood like Riverside Rancho when a dog carelessly allowed to roam free attacks.
A study of young dog bite victims admitted to the Children’s Hospital of Orange County found that children 1 to 5 years old were at the highest risk of bites. Researchers also report that in child victims, 61.7% of bites targeted the head and neck. 20.6% of the injuries involved the hands or arms, and 13% were inflicted on the feet or legs.
The severity of injuries and time to heal often takes a huge financial toll on families. With child victims, medical care is often needed for longer, and that care comes with bigger medical bills for parents. This triggers insurers for the dog owner to fight harder to avoid accepting blame. It’s often necessary to get a local attorney involved to make sure dog owners can’t slip away from blame and that insurers can’t shortchange young victims.
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Dog Bites My Child?
If somehow your child comes out of a bite incident with only a few minor nicks and scratches, you may not need a lawyer to handle your case. But if a child’s injuries are any more serious, such as puncture wounds or broken bones, a lawyer is a vital safeguard for your child and your family’s finances.
Insurers for the dog owner might try to put the blame on a young victim or the parents. They may also try to question the severity of the child’s injuries as an excuse for providing less in support. Families can require a skilled Glendale Dog Bite Lawyer to protect their child’s case. A lawyer also oversees the claims process to make sure the child receives everything needed to pay for a full recovery.
These are just a few of the ways a family with an attorney can benefit:
- A Maison Law attorney fully investigates the dog bite incident, the dog owner, and the dog’s history
- Your attorney has evidence ready when insurers try to change the facts of what happened
- Your attorney has medical charts and doctors’ testimony ready if insurers want to downplay your child’s injuries
- Your attorney handles the negotiations over a settlement while giving you and your child time to focus on healing
- Your attorney fights to get the maximum in support available
The most important benefit of a Maison Lawyer is in the support earned for your child. A skilled dog bite attorney can often earn a child much more in support than parents could by taking on an insurance company themselves.
Who Is Responsible for a Child Being Bitten in Glendale?
California law makes it as easy as possible for dog bite victims to hold dog owners at fault in most cases. If someone owns a dog and the dog bites a child, the dog owner is usually financially liable.
A dog bite falls under the concept of “strict liability.” It means that dog owners are generally liable for the damage a dog causes with a bite, even if the dog has never bitten anyone. Victims don’t have to prove negligence on the dog owner’s part. If the bite occurred, the dog owner will be liable under most circumstances.
There are only a few exceptions to “strict liability,” but young children would usually not be held responsible for them:
- The victim couldn’t have been trespassing at the time they were bitten. Younger children probably wouldn’t be held responsible for trespassing. The dog owner would be liable for doing everything possible to keep curious children out of their homes or out of a dog enclosure in a yard.
- The victim can’t be found to have provoked the dog. Young children probably wouldn’t be subject to this exception either. A judge wouldn’t expect a child to have the capacity to use good judgment and stay away from a frightened or aggressive dog. The dog owner would usually be liable for allowing a child to get too close to a pet.
A Maison Law attorney would back a claim with strong evidence showing why a dog owner was responsible for acting to protect children and failed.
Dog Bite Injury Risks and Winning Child Victims More in Support
Unfortunately, children are at risk of major injuries in a dog attack. Their smaller bodies and less developed muscles don’t withstand the force of a bite as well as an adult’s.
Their weaker bones are much more likely to break. A dog can also usually reach a child’s more vital and vulnerable areas, such as their heads and necks, and even vital organs.
This additional risk is why young patients commonly require more financial support. Then there’s the support they could need in the future. A child’s injuries are a threat in the years ahead. As the victim grows and matures, injuries that were thought to be healed can flare up again. A broken bone can suddenly cause issues with the natural development into adulthood.
Young victims could need surgeries and additional physical therapy years after a frightening dog bite. A skilled attorney would demand this additional support now to make sure a child didn’t have to worry about the cost of any care in their teenage years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a child need a dog bite settlement to cover?
The immediate medical bills of young victims must be covered. An estimate of the care victims may need throughout their childhoods and teen years should also be accounted for in a settlement check. Healthcare costs for any restorative surgery to fix a scar or a disfigurement should definitely be included. The income parents may lose while caring for a child patient should also be replaced. The emotional and physical pain experienced by a child should earn compensation. That can include the PTSD symptoms caused by a frightening encounter with a dog and help with paying for counseling. A lawyer would factor in several other hardships to increase the value of your claim.
How long can I wait to file an injury claim for my child?
In California, children have until they are considered adults to file a claim. Parents can file at any time, but when a child turns 18, they have an additional two years to file a lawsuit over an accident and injury.
What if I can’t afford to hire a lawyer for my child’s case?
If you need a lawyer to secure more support for your child, you can afford to hire Maison Law. Our Child Injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. It means we don’t ask for anything up front, and only get paid if we win your case for your child. Then our fee is paid out of the money the insurance company turns over to your family.
Contact a Glendale Child Dog Bite Lawyer
Consult for free with an attorney who understands the emotional trauma that comes along with the physical damage caused by a dog bite. Families and young victims will need financial help as they receive emergency room and physical therapy bills. Parents and their children could also use some time to recover without having to deal with frustrating insurance companies.
When you contact Maison Law for a free consultation, you’ll talk to a real Glendale Dog Bite Lawyer, and you’ll get our full attention. We will help you decide your best options for securing the maximum in support as your child begins to heal and rebuild their life.
