Maison Law can help you or someone you care about if there’s an injury from a dog bite in Los Banos. Because they’re part of everyday life here, dogs and bites aren’t necessarily something you expect to happen. Yet, when it does, the injuries and other problems have a way of stretching into your future. We can make sure you and the rest of your family can move forward. Set up a free consultation today.
Does a Lawyer Make Sense For Me After a Dog Bite?
Even though dogs are a normal part of life in Los Banos, most people have never actually been through a dog bite or attack. They happen fast and they’re extremely scary—even when your injuries end up being relatively minor. Most of the time, you’re dealing with bite wounds, pain, stress and anxiety, and a lot of questions about what happens next.
That’s why it makes sense to talk to a lawyer when something like this happens. Our team at Maison Law can help you by:
- Explaining your options in plain language so you know what to expect
- Looking into what happened and getting the information you need
- Figuring out who might be legally responsible for your injuries and losses
- Handling the back-and-forth with the insurance company or dog owner
- Going to court if it becomes necessary
After a dog bite, the last thing you need is more stress. We try to make the process as simple as possible so you can focus on getting better. And part of that is understanding where these incidents can happen and what information you’ll need afterward.
Where Dog Bites Typically Happen in Los Banos
This sounds obvious, but dog bites can happen just about anywhere you’re around a dog. While that obviously makes the list pretty long, there are certain places where people and dogs are regularly around each other in Los Banos, including:
- Homes and other living spaces. A lot of people think dog bites happen when you come across a dog you’ve never seen before. That’s not always the case. They can happen at homes or other living spaces because that’s where dogs spend most of their time and may become protective of the people or property around them.
- Parks and outdoor areas. Los Banos has plenty of parks and outdoor spaces where people take their dogs. The Los Banos Dog Park is one example, but you’ll also see people walking their dogs around neighborhood parks and other recreation areas.
- Sidewalks and walkways. People are constantly walking, jogging, and taking their dogs around Los Banos. Around Downtown and Main Street, you can have a lot of people and dogs sharing the same space, which can sometimes lead to problems.
- Restaurants and local businesses. You can also run into dogs around restaurants, shops, and other businesses. Areas around Downtown and Pacheco Boulevard can get busy, with people, dogs, cars, and other distractions all in the same area.
Obviously, dog bites can happen just about anywhere in Los Banos. But where it happens is only part of the story. What happened, who was responsible, and what you can show about your injuries are all going to matter.
Information That Can Help You After a Dog Bite
There’s actually a lot of different situations where dog bites actually happen. They can be a split-second reaction, while others can be much more serious and prolonged.
Either way, your first priority should always be getting somewhere safe and getting medical care once you’re away from the dog. After that, though, things start to settle down. If it’s safe to do so, you’ll want to try to get a few basic things:
- Pictures or videos of your injuries and where the bite happened
- Names and contact information for anyone who saw what happened
- Notes about what you remember about the dog, the owner, or what happened before the bite
Again, only try to get these things if it’s safe. If the dog is still loose or the situation hasn’t been handled, get away first. You can always deal with the evidence afterward. Getting medical care is also important. It takes care of your immediate injuries, but it also creates a record of what happened and can help identify problems that don’t show up right away.
And the information you need doesn’t stop on the day of the bite. In the next few days and weeks, there are other things you’ll want to keep track of, like:
- Your medical records. This includes the emergency room, follow-up appointments, prescriptions, physical therapy, and any other treatment you need.
- Animal Control or police reports. These create an official record of what happened and can include information about the dog and its owner.
- Pictures of your injuries as they heal. Keep taking pictures of bruising, stitches, swelling, infections, or scarring so there’s a record of how things progress.
- Camera footage. There may be footage from a doorbell camera, security camera, or someone’s phone that captured what happened.
- Statements from witnesses. People who saw the bite or what happened immediately beforehand may be able to support your version of events.
- Bills and other records. Keep copies of medical bills, paystubs showing lost income, messages with the dog’s owner, insurance information, and anything else connected to the bite.
Even with something as traumatic as a dog bite, these details are going to be important. You might think the circumstances speak for themselves, but a claim still comes down to showing what happened, who was responsible, and how the bite affected you. That means figuring out who’s legally responsible and what you can do from there.
Who Is Liable for a Los Banos Dog Bite Injury
California is a strict liability state regarding dog bites. What that means for a dog bite victim is that the dog owner is nearly always responsible for any injuries or harm caused by their dog. The owner is also responsible for maintaining control of the dog at all times. The dog must be contained on the owner’s property, such as on a leash or in a fenced area. When in public, the dog should be on a leash, and the owner should be able to control the animal when on the leash. The general dog-bite liability rule appears in California Civil Code § 3342.
For the dog owner to be held accountable for dog bite injuries in the state, the dog must not have been provoked by the victim into the attack (such as beating or inflicting pain on the animal), and the victim must be legally present at the location of the dog bite. For example, the victim was invited onto private property, or they were lawfully in a public place. If the dog bite victim were trespassing and suffered a dog bite, the owner is typically not held accountable for the incident.
Review Civil Code § 3342 for the statute’s wording and exceptions.
Other less common factors that can be discussed at a free consultation with a Maison Law dog bite lawyer include things like:
- Assumption of risk – the dog bite victim ignored a beware of dog warning sign when entering the property
- Contributory negligence – the dog bite victim was careless or possibly injured the dog accidentally
What is the Statute of Limitations on a Dog Bite Case
The time limit to file a dog bite claim in Los Banos is two years from the date of the bite incident. The time limit is strictly enforced, and once it has passed, the victim will no longer have the right to pursue legal action against the owner of the dog in question. However, if the dog that bit you was a K9 working for a law enforcement entity, that time limit is decreased to only six months from the date of the bite because the owner of the animal is a government entity.
What is a Dog Bite Lawsuit Worth
The amount of your dog bite lawsuit will be determined by compiling all of your economic damages and a dollar value assigned to your non-economic damages. The items that you will typically include in the compensation sought in the case as economic losses or expenses include:
- All current and projected future medical bills related to the dog bite injuries
- Lost wages if the dog bite injury prevented you from working while healing
- Decreased earning capacity in the future if the dog bite leaves you with limitations that impact your future earning potential
The non-economic damages you might include in your lawsuit are:
- Pain and suffering from the dog bite incident
- Emotional distress such as anxiety or fear, inability to sleep, or PTSD after the dog bite incident
- Scarring or disfigurement that is not corrected after the incident
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Bite Injuries
Are all dog bites considered serious injuries?
The physical damage to the skin and soft tissue of each dog bite can vary. What makes most dog bites potentially serious injuries is that when the dog’s teeth break the skin and dog saliva enters the human body. Then there is a good chance of infection. If the skin is broken due to a dog bite, it is always best to have the bite evaluated and cleaned by a medical professional. They will also document the severity of the bite, which can be helpful if you move forward with legal action.
What are the signs of an infection at the site of a dog bite?
The indications of a dog bite infection include;
- Redness
- Swelling
- Warmth in the area
- Increased pain
- Puss or other drainage from the wound
- Seek immediate medical care if you see any of these indications of infection after a dog bite.
Should I worry about an infection if the dog was healthy and up to date on shots?
Even a healthy dog’s saliva can be harmful to humans. The most common issue associated with a dog bite is cellulitis, which is a bacterial infection that can harm the skin and underlying tissue. It requires immediate medical care to limit the health risk.
The CDC’s information on dogs discusses bite prevention and health considerations.
Contact a Los Banos Dog Bite Lawyer
If you have sustained a dog bite, get in touch with Maison Law to discuss the incident and your options with a dog bite lawyer. The consultation and case evaluation are always free. If you decide to pursue legal action and hire the Maison Law team, we never ask for any upfront legal fees or expenses. Instead, we work on contingency and only get paid after the case is resolved. Part of the compensation awarded to you will include funds to cover your legal fees, so you are never left with added stress and costs that add to the challenges of your Los Banos dog bite injuries.
