Of course, the dog couldn’t be held financially responsible for the accident, but the dog’s owner could. If the rider proves the dog caused a crash, the dog owner would have to help with hospital bills and other damages.
Maison Law represents California motorcyclists who have been injured after a fall or a crash caused by a dog. Our California Motorcycle Accident Lawyers assist victims in getting the support they need to make a full recovery so they can back to the rides they love. Please contact us after an accident involving a serious injury 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.
Dangers for Motorcyclists Chased by Dogs
Motorcyclists sometimes appear as a fast-moving target for over-anxious dogs. These dogs should never have the chance to chase riders, but it happens all the time when dog owners are negligent in their responsibilities.
A dog will be near the rider’s ankles and calves and may snap at the legs. A large dog might even build enough speed to knock a rider off a motorcycle and to the road surface. This can leave victims in the path of other vehicles.
Dogs may not be able to catch some motorcyclists, but their threatening presence may lead to a rider getting nervous and veering into the path of cars or into a tree. It’s fair to ask if a dog owner is responsible for these accidents as well.
Who Is Responsible for Motorcycle Crashes Caused By Dogs?
A dog attack on a motorcyclist that involves a bite falls under California’s “strict liability” dog bite law. It’s a concept that makes it easier to assign blame in a dog bite incident. In most cases, the dog’s owner would be liable for any bite wounds the dog caused unless the victim was trespassing at the time or had provoked the animal.
Unfortunately, strict liability doesn’t apply to motorcycle accidents that send riders to the ground but don’t involve a bite wound. But riders could still seek accident compensation under other personal injury laws.
The burden of proof would be higher for the bicyclist in this situation. The rider would have to prove that the actions of a dog and a dog owner caused a crash. A skilled attorney would be a major help in collecting the necessary evidence to hold an insurance company for the dog owner fully responsible.
What Is My Motorcycle Accident Caused by a Dog Worth?
A motorcycle accident caused by a dog could leave a dog owner fully liable for every hardship the rider faced. Your lawyer would be demanding a settlement check from the dog owner’s homeowners insurance or renter’s insurance provider.
The value of that check is hard to estimate until your lawyer is informed of what happened and has a chance to investigate the crash and the dog owner.
The amount you receive in an insurance settlement check will be determined by how severe your injury is and how long it takes to heal. Everyone heals at their own pace.
Your claim’s value will also depend on some non-economic factors. This can include the amount of pain you’ve had to endure and will have to put up with in the future. The emotional trauma you experience can also increase the support you should receive. This can include the anxiety caused by a dog attack and the loss of enjoyment of life while you can’t get back on your motorcycle.
These and other factors will have to be considered when determining what you’ll seek from the insurance provider:
- Hospital and rehabilitation cost totals
- Estimates on lifelong support for a long-term disability or a disfigurement
- Totals of travel costs to and from doctor visits
- Support for physical pain
- Support for emotional distress
- Totals on your lost paychecks and benefits while you miss work shifts
- Money for motorcycle repairs or a replacement
The negotiating skills of your lawyer also play a large role in the amount of money you take home. There are no federal or state guidelines for dog attack settlement amounts. The amounts are often determined by how much pressure your lawyer can place on the insurance adjuster to accept the blame for what happened. This is achieved by building a strong case, backed by evidence of the dog owner’s negligence.
Contact a California Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
California law allows dog attack victims up to two years from the date of the accident to file an injury claim. Motorcycle crash victims 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, contact a Maison Law attorney 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 our dog attack injury. Maison Law doesn’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the insurance settlement check you receive.
