If you’re shopping at any of the 10 Hobby Lobby stores in California, you will likely come across other customers that bring their dogs. As a company, Hobby Lobby allows leashed, well-behaved dogs to accompany their owners at many locations. While this depends on local ordinances or store management, the chances that you encounter a dog at a Hobby Lobby in California is quite likely.
In these situations, it’s also possible that you will be bitten by the dog. Usually, this means you’ll need to figure out who’s responsible. Luckily, in California, there are laws that decide who’s responsible when a dog bite happens at a Hobby Lobby or any other store.
Dedicated Legal Support From California Dog Bite Lawyers
At Maison Law, our team of experienced California dog bite lawyers understands how traumatic and difficult a dog bite can be. When these unfortunate incidents happen at a store, our team can help you figure out who is responsible and what you need to do to get the available benefits and support provided to you by California law. Don’t hesitate to get the help you need. Contact us today for a free consultation.
What Happens When a Dog Bites You at a Hobby Lobby in California?
No matter where it happens, a dog bite incident in California is extremely unfortunate. No matter how well-trained or behaved a dog is, it can fall prey to its natural instincts when it’s in an environment like a Hobby Lobby. With its crowded aisles and numerous people, the dog can quickly become overwhelmed or feel threatened, which frequently leads to bite incidents.
However, when a dog bite happens at a Hobby Lobby, there are several things that happen in the aftermath of the incident:
- Immediate care – Whether your injuries are minor or severe, you should seek immediate medical attention. Your health and safety are the top priority.
- Medical treatment – If you haven’t already, make sure to get appropriate medical treatment for your injuries. This may involve cleaning and treating the wound, getting stitches, or any other necessary medical procedures.
- Report the incident to the store – You should inform the store management about the dog bite incident. They might have specific protocols for handling such situations.
- Gather information – If possible, try to collect information about the dog owner, the dog itself, and any witnesses to the incident. This information could be helpful later on.
Because these incidents have the potential to be quite impactful, California has laws regarding dog bites. However, the circumstances that surround the incident are very important in terms of what your options are.
What Does California Law Say About Dog Bites?
In California, there is a legal framework in place that covers cases of dog bites and assigning accountability. This framework, referred to as “strict liability,” holds that an individual or entity may be held responsible for injuries, even if the harmful event was unintentional.
So, if a dog bites someone in California, the owner of the dog is considered responsible for paying for the harm that was caused. There are more rules about this:
- The owner is still responsible if the dog bite happens in a public place or on private property (such as a store) where the person who got bitten was allowed to be.
Basically, in most cases when a dog bites, the owner has to take care of the problems their dog caused. However, in cases where the dog bite happens at a Hobby Lobby, the store itself also shares some responsibility.
Insurance
The main question you probably have is how will the owner of the dog–along with Hobby Lobby–actually cover your injuries or damages. The answer here, the same as any other injury you suffer, is that an insurance company will get invovled.
Even though strict liability is in place, there’s still a process for seeking payment from the dog owner’s insurance company. If you’re the person who got bitten by the dog, you need to prove these things:
- The owner truly owns the dog that bit you or had control over it.
- The owner had a responsibility to take reasonable care to prevent the dog from biting you or others.
- The owner didn’t meet that responsibility.
- The owner’s failure to do so caused the dog to bite you and cause harm.
If these facts are established, it means negligence is proven. In terms of insurance, if the owner doesn’t have specific coverage for dog bites, their homeowner’s insurance will need to cover the costs of any damage.
Further, if the bite happened at a Hobby Lobby, you’ll also need to show that:
- You were lawfully on the premises, meaning you were shopping at the store during regular business hours.
- The Hobby Lobby had policies or signs regarding pets on their premises
- Hobby Lobby staff or management took any steps to address the presence of the dog
Just like any other situation where you’re injured and want compensation, you’ll have to consider California’s comparative negligence law. This means if you’re found partially responsible for the dog bite incident, the amount you’re at fault for will be taken out of the money you get. For example, if you’re deemed 20% at fault, that same percentage will be subtracted from the benefits you’re awarded overall.
Insurance Challenges to a California Dog Bite Claim
Negotiating with an insurance company, even in a case as typically straightforward as a dog bite, can be challenging and require experience. By working with our team of experienced California dog bite lawyers, you can stand a better chance at getting what you’re owed from both the dog’s owner and Hobby Lobby.
The ultimate goal of any insurance company is to protect the interests of their policy holders. In practical terms, this means that they want to pay you as little as possible. Through our experience, insurance companies typically approach dog bite claims in the following ways:
- Delaying the process – Initially, the insurance company might try to make things slow down by taking a long time to process your claim. They could ask for a lot of paperwork or tell you to fill out forms incorrectly. Some companies even have a short time limit for making a claim. They could also offer you a small amount of money first, expecting you to say no and make the process take longer.
- Denying your claim – Another tactic the insurance company takes is they might just say no and not give you any money. This is hard to do in a dog bite case, but they’ll still try to make things unclear. Even though the law holds dog owners responsible, they might try to make it seem like the bite wasn’t their fault. They could say that you didn’t get medical help fast enough or that you didn’t report the bite on time.
- Defending against your claim – If the first two strategies don’t work, the insurance company might use a lot of money and resources to fight against you if you take them to court. Going to court is a big risk for anyone, even in cases involving dog bites. And going to court takes a lot of time and money. Insurance companies usually have more money to spend on court cases.
So, you can see that dealing with an insurance company in a dog bite case is quite similar to other cases where people are hurt. They use these strategies to make sure they don’t have to pay a lot. That’s why it’s really important for you to act quickly after a dog bite, so your claim stays strong.
What Damages Are Available in a California Dog BIte Claim?
When you decide to move forward with a claim for damages after a dog bite, it’s very important to understand what is available under the law. Chances are, you’re facing significant injuries, losing time at work, and mental trauma from the incident. All of these thigns are taken into account when calculating potential damages. That said, every situation is unique. Thus, when you file a dog bite claim, the following damages are generally available:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages or lost earning potential if you can’t work
- Costs relating to any personal property that was damaged in the incident
- Costs relating to your emotional distress
Aside from comparative negligence, getting paid for a dog bite is usually clear in California. But each situation is different, so it’s not guaranteed. However, our team will be with you to help make your claim strong.
Contact Maison Law Today If You’ve Been Bitten By a Dog at a California Hobby Lobby
At Maison Law, our dedicated team of dog bite lawyers in California is here to assist you. Dogs can be wonderful companions, but there are always scenarios that can lead to a dog bite. When you encounter a dog at a Hobby Lobby and are bitten, it can cause serious injuries that change your life.
Our experienced lawyers have dealt with many dog bite cases and know how to work with insurance companies. We’ll help you through this challenging time and make sure that your rights are protected as you move forward with your recovery. To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today for a free consultation.
