Maison Law represents California dog bite victims. Our skilled Dog Bite Lawyers assist victims who suffer broken fingers, deep puncture wounds, and other serious injuries. We stand by our clients through a difficult recovery and make sure they receive the support they need to heal and rebuild their lives. Victims should contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. It’s a no-risk opportunity to find out what your case may be worth and how to hold a dog owner and insurance companies fully responsible.
Do I Need a Dog Bite Lawyer?
If your injuries after a bite incident turn out to be very minor, such as only some bruising or superficial scratches, you may not need the help of a lawyer.
But when you suffer serious injuries, like fractured bones or nerve damage, the recovery costs will be higher and insurers for the dog owner will fight harder to avoid blame. Insurance adjusters will attempt to blame you for the attack. They will question how serious your dog bite wounds are. These are tactics meant to limit the support you receive.
Your California dog bite lawyer is there to safeguard your case and make sure you receive every benefit available. Your lawyer fully investigates your accident and collects all evidence to build a strong case. This is the best way to keep insurers from creating excuses to reject your claim.
Dog Bite Dangers and Injuries
California dog owners love their pets. They can be a great addition to the California lifestyle, but there’s also a responsibility for dog owners to keep other people safe from harm caused by a pet. A dog that isn’t supervised or restrained can get close enough to innocent victims to hurt them. A dog might become confused or frightened in certain situations and instinctively bite.
These devastating bite wounds can occur on sidewalks around neighborhoods, at dog parks, and at a place of business where pets are allowed in. Victims could suffer wounds while at a party or a family gathering. Victims might be in their own yards when a dog that’s been allowed to roam free attacks them.
Dogs can bite with tremendous force. Their jaws may crush bones and their teeth can sever tendons and pierce muscle tissue.
These are just a few of the types of dog bite wounds and side effects treated in California emergency rooms:
- Hand Injuries – The hands and fingers are the most commonly targeted body parts. Victims may be attempting to pet dogs or the dog’s head may just be closer to the hands and the dog decides to latch on. Patients often need physical therapy to learn how to use their hands again after healing. Amputations can also occur or be necessary through surgery.
- Ankle and Foot Injuries – The ankles, feet, and calves are always within striking distance of a frightened or aggressive dog. Mobility can be affected by a broken bone or nerve damage.
- Puncture Wounds and Avulsion – Bite wounds can go deep and tear soft tissue. Avulsion is the medical term for when an attack leaves layers of skin torn back and sometimes completely removed.
- Eye Injuries and Facial Injuries – Victims may be bent over where their face tissue is exposed to a bite. They may fall and be vulnerable to repeated bites. Eyes and skin can be torn away. Scarring may be permanent.
- Nerve Damage – A dog’s teeth can sever nerves that carry information throughout the body. A severed nerve could affect sensory functions and the control of body parts.
- Infection Threat – A dog’s bite can spread harmful bacteria to victims and cause infections that make healing all the more difficult.
- Rabies Threat – This virus leads to nerve damage, confusion, and weakness in victims. A round of shots may be necessary after a dog bite occurs.
Child Dog Bite Injuries
It should be noted that children are often the victims of dog bites and their smaller, more vulnerable bodies will suffer the worst injuries. Their bodies are also closer to the ground where dogs can reach the neck, head, face, and even internal organs of young victims.
Unfortunately, the effects of a dog bite wound can be long-lasting for children. As they mature, their old wounds like a broken arm or leg can cause problems in their development. An experienced child dog bite lawyer will be seeking additional support for victims to cover their needs in the years ahead. This support may be needed to pay for surgery in a patient’s teen years to make sure growth can continue normally.
Can I Hold a Dog Owner Responsible for a Dog Bite?
Yes. California law protects those suffering dog bites by allowing them to file injury claims against dog owners. Due to the legal concept of “strict liability” a dog owner is usually accountable, even when it’s the first time a dog has ever bitten anyone.
Dog owners would be liable for every medical bill the victim received. The dog owner’s homeowners or renters insurance policy could be held responsible for some non-economic damages too, such as emotional trauma and the physical pain victims endure.
Dog bite victims could file lawsuits against dog owners to demand this support unless one of the following were true:
- The victim was trespassing at the time of the bite.
- The victim provoked the dog into an attack.
Contact a California Dog Bite Attorney
California law allows dog bite victims up to two years from the date of the accident to file an injury claim. You shouldn’t delay when you’ve suffered a serious injury. It’s easier for your lawyer to collect evidence to prove the fault of the dog owner in the early going.
After you or a loved one has suffered a serious dog bite at a dog park, contact a California Dog Bite Lawyer to discuss your case, free of charge. It’s a no-risk opportunity to find out about all the benefits available to you and how to hold an insurance company fully responsible.
You won’t need any upfront money if you decide we can help you earn the most for your dog bite wound and recovery. If you hire us, we don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the insurance settlement check you receive
