When it comes to convenience, there’s no better one-stop shopping destination in California than Walmart. Internal company data shows that there are 309 retail locations in the state. At any one of these locations, there is a no-pet policy. This means that under normal circumstances, you probably won’t encounter a dog that’s with its owner in a Walmart.
However, Walmart’s responsibility to its customers doesn’t start as soon as they walk through the doors of a store. Thus, there are many areas at a typical Walmart–parking lots, outdoor areas, garden centers–where you may run into a customer with their dog. And any encounter with a dog could potentially lead to a bite incident.
Committed California Dog Bite Lawyers
No matter where it happens, a dog bite can leave lasting physical, mental, and emotional trauma for you or your loved ones. That’s why it’s crucial to have the support of experienced California dog bite lawyers to help you seek compensation for your injuries.
At Maison Law, we are dedicated to serving California residents and providing compassionate assistance in every aspect of your injury case. Our proven approach is focused on ensuring you receive fair compensation for medical expenses, future medical needs, and the pain and suffering caused by the dog bite. If you’ve been injured in a dog bite incident at a Walmart, contact us for a free consultation. We’re here to help you.
What Would Cause a Dog Bite at a California Walmart?
The fact is, no matter how well-behaved or trained a dog is, being in an environment like a Walmart can be overwhelming for the animal. Further, just because Walmart has a no-pet policy doesn’t mean that every customer is going to follow the rules. While this raises some issues of liability that we’ll get into later, it means that you may come into contact with a dog while you’re shopping at a store. So, the question then is, what would cause a dog to react by biting you or a loved one at a Walmart? The answer can be a variety of factors, like:
- Lack of restraint – If a dog is not properly restrained or kept on a leash, it can pose a risk to others, including customers and employees at Walmart.
- Aggressive behavior – Some dogs may display aggressive behavior due to fear, anxiety, or territorial instincts. If a dog feels threatened or cornered, it may lash out and bite.
- Lack of supervision – If a dog owner fails to supervise their pet adequately while inside the store, it could lead to an unfortunate encounter with other shoppers or employees.
- Poor training or socialization – Dogs that have not been properly trained or socialized may react negatively in new and busy environments like a Walmart, leading to a potential bite incident.
- Previous aggression history – If a dog has a history of aggressive behavior or has bitten someone before, it may be more likely to bite again, especially if it feels threatened.
After you’ve been bitten, it’s important to get medical attention right away and report it to a Walmart employee so the store can make sure to take care of the situation. Getting medical help after a dog bite is extremely important, even for minor injuries. A doctor will assess and treat the wound, and it creates a record for any future legal claims.
California Law and Dog Bite Liability
California law is fairly straightforward when it comes to dog bite incidents. Under Section 3342 of the California Legal Code, dog owners are:
- Strictly liable for any injuries or damages caused by their dog when they bite someone, regardless of the dog’s history.
Moreover, this law applies whether the bite happens on public property, such as a dog park, or private property, like a Walmart. When a bite incident happens at a Walmart, you or any other victim will have to show that:
- The owner of the dog that bit you was, in fact, the owner or was responsible for the dog.
- You were lawfully on the store’s property
- The bite caused your injuries or other damage
Walmart’s Liability
Thus, when there’s a dog bite incident at a Walmart, the owner of the dog is primarily responsible for covering your injuries. That said, Walmart itself has to take some responsibility as well, even though they have a policy that doesn’t allow dogs in their stores.
Walmart–and any other business in California–has a legal duty to keep its customers safe by providing an environment free of hazards. Part of this duty means taking measures to make sure that a dog either can’t bite someone or if employees or management encounters the dog, they remove it from the store.
With that said, it’s difficult to police an entire Walmart store. This means that, despite the store’s efforts, you could still be bitten by a dog while you’re at Walmart. If that happens to you, it’s crucial to understand what you need to do next.
What Do You Need To Do If You’re Bitten By a Dog at Walmart in California?
Among the most important aspects of a dog bite incident, no matter where it happens, is how you should respond. While a dog bite inside a Walmart is a bit unique, there are still appropriate actions you can take to make sure you’re needs are taken care of–and that your legal rights are protected. This includes doing the following:
- Seeking medical attention immediately to check for injuries and possible infections like rabies or tetanus.
- Documenting the bite wound and incident details, such as where it happened and if the dog was secured.
- Following your doctor’s wound-cleaning instructions to avoid infections.
- Reporting the incident to Walmart management and local animal control officers for documentation.
- Identifying any witnesses to the incident
Evidence
Another important aspect of a dog bite is any evidence you can gather. Luckily, if the bite happens at a Walmart, there will probably be plenty of witnesses, as well as other pieces of evidence that you can go about getting, like:
- Usually, store management will write down what happened when a dog bit someone. This report includes the date, time, and where it happened. If there were people who saw the incident, what they say can be in the report too.
- Walmart often has cameras that record what’s happening in the store. They might have video footage of the dog bite or how the dog was behaving before it happened. This can help figure out who is responsible for the bite.
- If there were people around when the dog bit someone, what they saw and their contact information can be important. It helps to show exactly what happened and who should be held responsible.
- If possible and safe, taking pictures or videos of the injuries, where the bite happened, and the dog itself can show what took place during the incident.
With all of this evidence, which our team can assist you in gathering, you can then file a claim for compensation that covers your injuries and other damages from the bite. Additionally, our team of California dog bite lawyers can help identify just who is responsible and to what level Walmart will be involved.
Damages in a California Dog Bite Claim
Whether you decide to file an insurance claim or lawsuit after a dog bite at a California Walmart, the law allows you the opportunity to recover certain things from the responsible parties. In legal terms, these are known as “damages.” In a typical California dog bite claim, damages include:
- Medical expenses and ongoing care, such as physical therapy or rehabilitation
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Damages for emotional distress
- Reimbursement for lost income
- Payment for any property damage resulting from the incident
- Punitive damages, if the dog owner’s behavior was especially negligent
Every dog bite case is unique, and there are no guarantees of a positive outcome for your claim. However, working with experienced and dedicated dog bite lawyers at Maison Law can relieve the burden on you and your family. We handle the day-to-day responsibilities of your claim, so you can focus on recovery.
Contact Maison Law If You’ve Been Bitten By a Dog at a California Walmart
When you go shopping at Walmart anywhere in California, you shouldn’t have to face the trauma and damage that comes from being bitten by a dog. While it’s usually clear who is responsible for your injuries, our team of experienced California dog bite lawyers at Maison Law can make sure your rights are protected and you have every opportunity to get the benefits and support available to you under the law.
If you’ve suffered a dog bite at a Walmart or anywhere else in California, contact us today to set up a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you.
