A dog bite at the home of an old friend or a family member can cause severe injuries. Those could be permanent nerve and muscle damage, scarring, disfigurement and serious infection. A victim might be apprehensive about bringing a claim and possibly ruining a valued personal relationship though. Seeking compensation for damages suffered under the circumstances can indeed turn into a sensitive topic. However, assuming there is insurance coverage like homeowners or renters insurance, that fact likely takes the edge off for all of the parties. California’s dog bite statute likely does the same thing.
California’s Dog Bite Statute
In the context of dog bites, California’s legislature has made the state a strict liability state pursuant to section 3342 of the California Civil Code. So long as the bite victim was in public or lawfully on a private premises, the statute deems the biting dog’s owner liable for the injuries and damages that are suffered by a victim. This rule applies even if the dog never displayed any aggressive tendencies or bit anybody else the past. The only defense to such a case might be if the victim somehow assumed the risk of being bitten like provoking the dog.
Most Dog Owners Would Recognize Your Right to Compensation
In most cases, a responsible and conscientious friend or family member is going to recognize the victim’s right to compensation for their injuries and damages and encourage him or her to bring an insurance claim or lawsuit. Don’t be concerned about the biting dog being euthanized either. That rarely happens. Los Angeles Animal Control will likely recommend or mandate certain protective measures so that no future bites occur.
Don’t Give a Statement
If your friend or family member voluntarily reports the bite to their insurer, don’t give its representative any type of a statement. It’s a common defense tactic to use your own words against you in the future to try and attack your credibility and devalue your claim. California doesn’t require you to give an opposing insurer any type of statement at all. Rather than innocently clouding the issue, preserve and protect your right to compensation for your injuries and damages by confidentially consulting with our Los Angeles dog bite lawyer here at Maison Law. It won’t cost you a single penny to confer with him either.
An experienced and effective Los Angeles dog bite lawyer may be able to avoid a personal injury lawsuit by dealing directly with your friend or family member’s insurance company. It would be handled much like an auto accident personal injury claim. If you or your child suffered a dog bite at the home of a friend or family member, contact our Los Angeles dog bite injury lawyer here at Maison Law for that free consultation and case evaluation.
Not only do we recognize your right to the compensation that you deserve for your injuries and damages, but we also recognize the value of your friends and family members. If we’re retained to represent you, all of your best interests will be kept at the forefront of our efforts. Contact us as soon as you can after suffering dog bite injuries and damages at the home of a friend and family member.
Contact a Los Angeles Dog Bite Lawyer Today
If a dog bites you or a loved one to cause a serious injury, make sure your family is not left to cover the costs of the recovery. Holding a negligent dog owner responsible is vital when you want to ensure you don’t lose everything while trying to pay medical expenses.
The dog owner’s insurance company may try to get you to take some of the blame for the dog bite. However, don’t fall for this “bad faith” tactic. They simply want to reduce the amount of money they’ll have to provide as you recover.
After a bite, contact an experienced Dog Bite Lawyer such as Martin Gasparian for a free and confidential case evaluation. Mr. Gasparian takes a hands-on approach to every case and works to help victims get their lives back on track as quickly as possible without the worry of financial burdens.
