Maison Law represents injured dog bite victims in Los Banos. After a dog bite incident, you may face health complications, resulting in expensive medical bills, missed time at work, and a loss of enjoyment of life. Dog bites can happen in less than a second, but they can carry a lifetime of trauma and physical damage.

Fortunately, dog owners can be held liable under strict liability laws, and the attorneys at Maison Law will use these laws to protect your right to compensation. We specialize in helping dog bite victims get past this traumatic event in their lives by negotiating a firm settlement on their behalf, as well as building a strong case if the dog bite incident goes to trial.

Contact us today to receive a no-cost, no-obligation consultation and see what legal options are available for your situation.

Do I Need a Lawyer for a Dog Bite Injury?

Whether you were injured on someone else’s property or in a public place, it is advisable to discuss your dog bite incident with a Personal Injury Attorney. If you were injured as a result of a dog owner failing to keep others safe around their dog, they can be legally held responsible for compensating you for your damages. This happens more often than you might think, as there are over 3.3 million households with dogs living under their roof, according to the Los Angeles Almanac.

To recover the full extent of your damages, it is recommended to take legal action through a Personal Injury Attorney. Taking legal action in a dog bite incident seems like it would only complicate an already stressful situation. This is probably true for most dog bite victims, but not with Maison Law. At our law firm, we ensure you get a lawyer, get connected to medical resources, and get you fully compensated for the following damages:

Present and future medical expenses
Loss of income, as well as the reduction in your earning capacity that you’ve suffered from your injuries
Cost of living with your injury, such as making your home disability accessible, purchasing a wheelchair or crutches, hiring a nurse or housekeeper
Damage done to your property during the accident
Pain and suffering caused by your injuries
Stress and anxiety due to the nature of your accident
Your mental state after a life-changing accident

What You Need for an Initial Consultation With a Personal Injury Lawyer

Most personal injury lawyers offer free initial consultations. During an initial consultation, you are under no obligation to hire the attorney or pay them a fee for their services. In the same breath, an attorney is under no obligation to represent you in your personal injury case. Before your first meeting with a potential lawyer, you should be prepared. You can present your case to a lawyer in a professional manner by:

Jotting down the key points in your case to share with them, or give them a written copy
Bring the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of everyone connected with the case
Bring all papers related to the case as they might be helpful for the lawyer to review
Prepare questions for the lawyer such as:
- Have they handled similar cases to yours?
- Did they settle or go to trial?
- How many clients have they represented in court?
- How many trial cases have they won?

Dangers of Dog Bites

A dog bite injury can range from minor scratches to permanent damage. If a dog bite is deep enough, it can damage blood vessels, nerves, muscles, and bones. Deeper bites also carry the risk of infection, which can be detected by the following symptoms:

Swelling and redness around the wound
Pain that lasts longer than 24 hours
Drainage from the wound
Difficulty moving the affected body part
Warm feeling around the wound
Fever
Shaking
Night sweats

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 1 out of 5 dog bites requires medical attention. So, even the smallest cuts or scratches can lead to serious health complications. For that reason, it is recommended to seek immediate medical attention for even the slightest dog bite. If you need access to medical attention and need help pursuing compensation for treatment, missed time at work, or mental trauma, Won And Done can help. To get connected to one of our attorneys today, fill out our free case review.

What Is Considered a Dog Bite in California?

California law defines a dog bite as any incident where a dog’s teeth comes into contact with a person and causes them bodily injury. Contrary to popular belief, an attack does not have to break the skin or leave a visible wound to be considered a dog bite. For example, a dog may attack a person and cause them to take a nasty fall and break their arm. In most cases, this person would be eligible for compensation under California dog bite law.

Dog Bite Liability Under California

California Civil Code Section 3342(a) states that the owner of any dog is liable for damages caused by a dog bite. Even if the dog has not shown any aggressive behavior in the past, the owner is still liable. California is a strict liability state, so it does not matter whether the dog owner was careless or not; they are still liable if their dog bites another person. The law also states the owner is liable if the victim is bitten on public or lawfully private property.

California has such a strict dog bite liability law because, according to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, it has more dog bite injury-related claims than any other state.

Exceptions to Dog Bite Liability in California

A dog owner may not be found liable for their dog biting someone if the following factors occurred:

Provocation: if the dog bite victim provoked the dog or engaged in aggressive behavior
Trespassing: if the victim was bitten due to unlawful trespassing on the property
Lack of injury: if the victim was not significantly harmed and no medical treatment was required
Assumption of risk: if the victim was aware of the risk of interacting with the dog
Contributory negligence: the victim was careless, which resulted in the dog bite
Lack of causation: the owner’s actions did not cause the bite to occur

Also, it is important to note that California Civil Code Section 3342 (b) removes dog bite liability from government agent dogs, stating:

“Nothing in this section shall authorize the bringing of an action pursuant to subdivision (a) against any governmental agency using a dog in military or police work if the bite or bites occurred while the dog was defending itself from an annoying, harassing, or provoking act, or assisting an employee of the agency in any of the following:

In the apprehension or holding of a suspect where the employee has a reasonable suspicion of the suspect’s involvement in criminal activity.
In the investigation of a crime or possible crime.
In the execution of a warrant.
In the defense of a peace officer or another person.

Proving Dog Bite Liability

In order to recover damages from a dog bite, the victim must prove:

The dog was owned by the defendant
The bite took place on public property, or the victim had a lawful right to be on private property when they were bitten
The victim suffered an injury as a direct result of the dog bite

When a claim is filed for a dog bite incident, evidence is typically how these cases are determined. At Maison Law, we understand that evidence is the foundation on which your dog bite case stands. It provides a factual baseline to establish liability against the dog owner, demonstrate the extent of your injuries, and justify the compensation you are owed. The evidence we gather for the majority of our injured dog bite victims includes:

Documentation from animal control
Police reports
Eyewitness statements
Video surveillance of the attack
Medical records (pre and post-dog bite)
Copy of the dog owner’s insurance policy
Prescription drug costs, bank statements, and other out-of-pocket expenses
Pictures of the wound and where the incident occurred

What to Do Right After You’re Bitten By a Dog

If you’re bitten by a dog, the most important thing you can do is remove yourself from the dog’s presence. Once the dog is no longer a threat, you should immediately start treating your injury by performing the following steps:

Look over the wound to note if the skin is broken or not
Wash the wound with non-scented soap and warm water for 10 to 15 minutes. If the wound is dirty, it may require an extended cleaning time
Stop the bleeding by putting pressure on the wound with a clean cloth until it has stopped
Apply antibiotic ointment if available; it will help decrease infection
Dress the wound with a clean, dry bandage

Contact Maison Law | Los Banos Dog Bite Lawyer

After years of advocating on behalf of dog bite victims in California, we understand that dog bites not only result in physical injuries but also often cause victims to suffer long-lasting mental trauma. That’s why, at Maison Law, we help injured dog bite victims get a lawyer, get paid, and get back to living a normal life. We don’t allow your case to drag on like most law firms. We have the legal resources to get your case resolved and get the financial results you need quickly and efficiently. Don’t wait until it’s too late to take legal action. Contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation.

Los Banos Dog Bite Lawyer