Maison Law represents motorcyclists who have been bitten by dogs while on a ride. Our California Motorcycle Accident Lawyers assist victims in getting the support they need to make a full recovery from a bite wound and to return to the rides they enjoy. Please contact us after an accident involving a dog bite for a free, no-obligation consultation for you and your family. It’s a no-risk opportunity to find out what your case may be worth and how to hold dog owners responsible.
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Dog Bite While Riding a Motorcycle?
If you are on a motorcycle and chased down by a dog and bitten, you could need the help of an experienced California dog bite lawyer. It’s often the best way to hold a dog owner fully liable for your injuries. If your injuries are serious and go beyond a few scrapes or some bruising, you should talk to a lawyer about your case.
With a broken hand or a deep puncture wound, the recovery costs may skyrocket. This elevated expense often triggers a defensive reaction from the dog owner’s insurance representative. Insurance adjusters can look for ways to deny you compensation instead of trying to get you the support you need.
Your lawyer helps you reject lowball offers from an insurance company that leave you paying part of your medical bills out of pocket. Your lawyer also fires back when an insurance company tries to automatically blame a motorcyclist for an accident. Your Maison Law representative is your key to getting your bills paid and the income you’ve lost reimbursed.
Who Is Liable After a Dog Bite on a Rider?
California follows the legal concept of “strict liability” in dog bite cases. It means that dog owners are liable after a pet bites someone in most instances. It’s the dog owner’s responsibility even if the dog doesn’t have a history of aggression.
Most dogs have no intention of harming anyone, but sometimes a pet can see a motorcyclist and instincts take over. They can give chase and grab a rider’s ankle, thigh, or hand. A dog with a strong jaw can break bones, tear ligaments, and leave deep puncture wounds. Dogs can also bite and send a motorcyclist into a collision with a curb, a tree, or another car.
In each case, the dog owner would be liable under strict liability. The liability is usually clear unless:
- The motorcyclist provoked the dog.
- The motorcyclist was trespassing at the time.
Under strict liability, a bite must have occurred. If there’s no bite, then strict liability wouldn’t apply. But a bite is still a bite even if it doesn’t break the skin.
What Happens If a Dog Causes My Motorcycle to Crash With No Bite Involved?
Motorcyclists could still seek accident compensation after a crash involving a dog that doesn’t involve a bite, but strict liability wouldn’t apply. Strict liability makes it much easier to determine who was at fault in a dog bite incident (the dog owner), but that helpful advantage isn’t available to riders who are sent into accidents by an aggressive dog when no bite wound is suffered.
Other personal injury laws would apply though. The burden of proof would be higher for the motorcyclist. The rider would have to prove that the actions of a dog and a dog owner caused a crash. A skilled California Motorcycle Accident Lawyer would be securing evidence and testimony to make sure a dog owner was held fully accountable for the actions of a loose pet.
Compensation Available for a Motorcyclist Bitten by a Dog
Your Motorcycle Dog Bite Accident Attorney will create a full list of the hardships you’ve experienced while being off your bike and while having to miss work with an injury. Your claim will include the bills you’ve received and the emotional toll a dog attack can cause.
Your lawyer will ask for economic and non-economic damages, including a few things you may not have realized can earn motorcyclists additional support on a dog bite injury settlement check:
- Full coverage of hospital bills and emergency response fees.
- Physical therapy costs to learn to regain the use of affected limbs.
- The estimated costs of living a life with a permanent disability or long-term disfigurement.
- Physical pain the victim has endured.
- Emotional trauma the victim has suffered through, including PTSD symptoms and anxiety.
- Loss of enjoyment of life and the inability to participate in family activities.
- Travel costs for doctor and specialist visits.
- Forfeited paychecks while the victim has missed time at work.
- Damage or destruction of property. Money for a new motorcycle, helmet, and ripped clothing.
Contact a California Motorcycle Dog Bite Accident Lawyer
California law allows dog bite victims up to two years from the date of the accident to file an injury claim. Motorcyclists shouldn’t delay when looking into filing a case. It’s easier to collect evidence and track down witnesses in the early going.
After you or a loved one has suffered a serious dog bite while on a motorcycle, 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.
Your Motorcycle dog bite lawyer from Maison Law will thoroughly investigate what happened and build a strong case for you. You also won’t need any upfront money if you decide we can help you earn the most for your dog bite wound. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the insurance settlement check you receive.
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