Los Angeles mail carriers and pizza delivery drivers used to be the most frequent visitors to our front doors. But nowadays, packages arrive, sometimes hourly, from many different delivery companies. Amazon and UPS drop-offs bring delivery employees to our front steps more often than ever.
These visits are usually fast, but drivers are increasingly finding unfriendly dogs in their paths. Pet owners can forget to bring a dog inside and a confused guard dog can pose a real threat to unsuspecting Amazon drivers.
Once a bite has occurred and medical treatment has been received, delivery drivers will wonder who will help them pay their bills and help them make up for the time they miss at work.
Contact a Los Angeles Delivery Driver Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Case Consultation
Dog owners are usually held liable in California when their dogs bite. It’s also possible that UPS or Amazon bears some blame for sending their workers into a dangerous situation. Drivers with bite wounds should not forfeit any potential compensation to pay for the best medical care available and to support themselves while they can’t work.
Maison Law of California provides free case consultations to all victims. Schedule yours today. It’s a no-risk way to determine every party that should be providing financial support to you and your family and how much you should be demanding.
There’s no obligation, but if you do need to hire our Los Angeles Dog Bite Attorneys to get the most out of your claim, there’s no money required at the start. We don’t get paid unless we win your case.
California Dog Bite Laws Protecting Amazon and UPS Drivers
Fortunately, California holds pet owners responsible for most dog bite incidents. UPS drivers are protected by “strict liability” dog bite laws. This means that in California, the dog owner is held accountable even if the dog has never bitten anyone or shown aggression before.
In other states, delivery drivers may not be able to sue dog owners over bites if it’s the dog’s first instance of an attack. These states basically let dog owners off the hook for their dog’s first bite. That’s not the case in California.
California law protects Los Angeles dog bite victims by holding pet owners liable for attacks, even on the very first time a dog behaves aggressively. Owners covered by homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance are forced to help the victim pay medical bills and deal with other damages.
Strict liability is used in dog bite cases involving delivery drivers as long as the following is true:
- The attack must happen in a public place or on private property where the victim was allowed to be. Delivery drivers operate under an implied permission to enter someone’s property to deliver packages the homeowner has ordered.
- The driver must not have provoked the dog into the attack.
- The driver cannot have been attacking the dog’s owner at the time of the bite or “strict liability” may not hold up.
- A bite must have occurred.
Dog bites can be proven even in some cases where the teeth do not break the skin. Victims can still suffer muscle, bone, and nerve damage.
A dog attack that knocks a UPS or Amazon driver down or produces an injury other than a bite could still leave the victim in line for compensation. However, cases that don’t involve a bite require a higher standard of proof to earn a settlement. It would have to be made evident that the dog’s actions and the dog owner’s actions caused an injury to the delivery employee.
Do I Need a Los Angeles Dog Bite Lawyer After Suffering an Injury on the Job?
In any dog bite case, the benefits for victims are not guaranteed. Insurance companies will be looking for ways to downplay a UPS employee’s injuries. They could also falsely blame the Amazon driver simply to avoid having to help a dog bite victim with emergency room costs and physical therapy.
A California Dog Bite Lawyer collects evidence, investigates what happened, and interviews witnesses, all to build a strong case an insurance company can’t deny. In cases where Amazon and UPS also bear some blame, a skilled attorney would look into the training (or lack of training) these employers provide and their liability when they ask delivery personnel to risk their safety to get jobs done.
Common Dog Bite Wounds Experienced in Amazon Driver Attacks
Seeking fair compensation is critical in Amazon and UPS employee dog bite cases. It’s impossible to know how long a dog bite injury to a hand, arm, or leg will prevent you from driving. That small wound could leave a painful injury that requires surgery years down the road.
It could also result in painful arthritis in the future. These possibilities must be considered when an insurance company extends a dog bite settlement offer. Any hardship that isn’t covered in the settlement would end up having to be paid out of your pocket.
All injuries and how they could affect your personal and professional life in the years ahead must factor in. With dog bites, a full recovery isn’t always possible, especially with such severe consequences.
This is only a partial list of some of the severe injuries possible in a dog attack:
- Punctures Wounds and Cuts: Dog bites can penetrate deep into the skin and do damage as the teeth sink through the layers of muscle and bone. The hands, particularly the right hand are commonly targeted. Delivery workers need their hands to drive, carry packages, and operate their computers.
- Tissue Damage: A bite may be close to a vital organ. Tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissue can’t withstand the pressure of a bite.
- Nerve Damage: Numbness in hands and feet is a symptom of nerve injuries. This numbness can make it impossible for a UPS driver to hold a steering wheel or a scanning device securely.
- Crushing Injuries: The force of a bite might be enough to crush the bones in hands and ankles. Hands, ankles, and even throats can end up crushed.
- Infections: Dog teeth are covered in bacteria that might cause a wound to become infected. Rabies, Tetanus, are examples of harmful bacteria. Delivery drivers may experience fever, fatigue, breathing difficulties, and tremors.
How Long Can I Wait to File a Dog Bite Claim?
California delivery drivers are permitted up to two years to file a claim over a dog bite incident. This may seem like a long time, but it’s important that workers for Amazon and UPS speak with a Los Angeles dog bite lawyer as soon as possible.
The sooner a lawyer can begin work on your dog bite case, the easier it will be to secure fresh evidence and track down witnesses. There may be security footage from nearby cameras that should be secured before it’s erased. The sooner your attorney is able to file your claim, the sooner you can hope to receive the money you need to pay your bills.
What Kind of Compensation Can Amazon and UPS Drivers Earn in a Dog Bite Injury Claim?
UPS and Amazon employees can seek reimbursement for every hospital and doctor bill they receive. Their attorneys will also estimate the cost of care they may need in the future and physical therapy costs to make sure they are included in any settlement.
The time workers must be away from their Los Angeles delivery jobs and the paychecks they forfeit must also be compensated.
A Los Angeles dog bite attorney would also seek financial support for the delivery driver for the pain they have endured and the emotional trauma suffered. Dog bites often leave victims struggling with anxiety and fear. They may not even be able to return to their jobs or be able to find the courage to walk into unfamiliar front yards.
Contact a UPS and Amazon Los Angeles Dog Bite Lawyer
If you’ve suffered a dog bite while making deliveries for companies like UPS or Amazon, speak with a skilled Los Angeles Dog Bite Lawyer as soon as possible.
Make sure you are not left with thousands of dollars in medical bills over a scary incident that was a careless dog owner’s fault. It can easily happen if you don’t have an experienced California attorney protecting you from insurance agents who will be working to discredit your injury so they can save money.
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 Amazon and UPS employees heal without the worry of financial burdens.
