Madera has enough parks and proud pet owners to be considered a dog-friendly city. Life with dogs is great, but there are certain hazards. In confusing or threatening situations, a frightened dog can bite someone to leave victims with broken bones and infections.
Victims may have surgeries and many weeks of physical therapy to look forward to. But when the bills for medical care arrive, dog owners should be held fully responsible for the costs of recovery. A Madera dog bite lawyer makes sure pet owners and their insurance companies are held liable for everything victims need to rebuild their lives.
A Free Consultation for All Madera Dog Bite Victims
After getting bitten by a dog, victims will have a lot to worry about. They’ll likely be trying to keep doctor’s appointments and physical therapy sessions all while wondering when medical bills will arrive in the mailbox.
It may be several days before victims finally stop to consider if a dog owner can be asked for help with these hardships and others.
This question is too important to leave unanswered. The best way to secure answers about your case is to contact a real Madera Dog Bite Lawyer and set up a free consultation session. Find out what you should be demanding in an insurance claim for your bite injury and the pain it’s caused.
Dog Bite Dangers and Liability in Madera
You may be walking around an apartment complex or along a path at Town & Country Park when you get bitten by a dog. Your child may be playing in a yard when a loose dog runs up to bite the child’s arm or neck. You might suffer a bite after a dog chased down your bicycle.
In these frightening incidents and others, dog owners can be held fully accountable. California law protects dog victims and permits victims to seek help with recovery bills and for the pain and emotional trauma victims endure.
Who is Responsible for a Dog Bite in Madera?
California is a “strict liability” dog bite state. It means Madera dog owners are responsible for providing financial assistance to bite injury victims in most circumstances. This is true even if their dogs have never shown aggression before.
Victims and their Madera dog bite lawyer must show that two factors are true to enforce California dog bite liability:
- The owner can be held liable if the attack occurred in a public place or on private property where the victim was invited.
- The victim must not have provoked the dog.
The attack must have involved a bite as well. That can include bites that don’t break the skin.
A dog attack that doesn’t involve a bite wound can still earn a victim compensation, but the burden of proof for those injuries will be higher. In other words, you’d have to show those non-bite injuries, such as a fall, were indeed caused by the dog’s actions and the owner’s negligence.
Dog Bite Liability at a Madera Dog Park
Madera offers the Rotary Park enclosed dog park. Residents may also enjoy mini dog enclosures at their apartment communities.
The dog owners who use these parks are still liable for bites under strict liability. The real question is if the city department that runs the dog park or a rental management company behind an apartment dog park can be held liable. Usually, these parks are marked as “use at your own risk” and you’d be prevented from suing any property owners.
It’s possible a landlord or apartment complex could bear some liability in certain dog bite incidents. A dog may have been deemed a problem or dangerous and yet a property owner or rental management company may have delayed doing anything about it. In some cases, they could be proven responsible for the victim’s safety. A Madera Dog Bite Attorney would collect evidence showing that an owner should have taken action to protect the victim.
Who Pays Over a Dog Bite Claim?
If an owner is negligent, a claim for damages is filed against the owner’s homeowner’s insurance in many cases. If the owner carries renter’s insurance, some policies cover the victims of dog bites. These policies are often called upon when a victim is bitten in someone’s home.
In some cases, homeowner’s insurance won’t cover dog bite accidents. The owner’s own savings and assets would be used to provide the victim with support in this case.
A business that caters to dogs or a Madera event that includes dogs could be the site of your bite incident. This could leave the owner of the business or the event organizers liable.
What Can I Expect Compensation for After a Madera Dog Bite
Your Madera dog bite attorney will be investigating what happened and looking into the owner of the dog. Your attorney secures all evidence and gets witness testimony to show who was to blame. Once your case is supported by strong evidence it’ll be time to file your dog bite injury claim.
At this point, you must list every hardship you’ve endured since receiving your bite wound. Your personal injury lawyer will include every economic and non-economic damage you’ve suffered. This includes some factors you may not have considered:
- Hospital and rehabilitation expenses.
- Lifelong support for victims who suffer permanent disfigurement or a permanent physical disability. Victims can lose a limb, lose their mobility, lose the use of an eye, or face other long-term effects.
- Support for child dog bite victims. A dog bite wound can affect a child’s growth and development years down the road. A Madera dog bite lawyer would make sure the child earned enough in compensation to pay for any medical procedures necessary in the future.
- Support for physical pain.
- Support for emotional distress, such as anxiety. Victims might suffer PTSD symptoms at just the site of a dog.
- Loss of enjoyment of life. The inability to participate in hobbies, travel, and other family activities due to an injury. Depression can be a difficult obstacle for injured dog bite victims.
- Loss of consortium. An injury may affect the intimacy you share with a spouse.
- Past and future lost earnings.
- Damage or destruction of property.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file an injury claim after a dog bite in Madera?
You have two years from the date of the dog bite to file an injury claim. You should take action soon so that your attorney has the best chance to collect evidence before it disappears.
What if I can’t afford a dog bite lawyer?
You won’t need any money upfront. Maison Law’s dog bite lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means they don’t get paid unless they win your case. Then, your lawyer gets paid out of the award you receive.
What happens if my friend’s dog bites me or my child?
People may feel conflicted about filing a claim against a dog owner they know. However, a friend or family member wouldn’t want you to go broke trying to pay for injury care. It’s why they pay home insurance premiums. A claim generally targets the insurance company and not the dog’s owner.
Contact a Madera Dog Bite Lawyer
After you or a loved one has suffered a serious dog bite, reach out to a Madera Dog Bite Injury Lawyer to go over your case.
Attorney Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law, offers a free and confidential case evaluation. He wants to hear about what happened and then help you determine the best path to getting the support your family needs.
Consult with an attorney as soon as possible after a dog bite. There are benefits available to you and your family that insurance companies won’t be informing you of.
