In Redding, dog bites may seem like an uncommon occurrence, but they happen more often than you think. Each day, nearly 1,000 people require emergency medical treatment for dog bite injuries, and roughly 12,480 dog bite victims are hospitalized from a preventable dog bite injury, according to DogsBite.org.

Fortunately, in Redding, dog owners can be held liable under strict liability laws, and the Dog Bite Lawyers at Maison Law can use these laws to protect your right to compensation. Our firm specializes in helping dog bite victims receive financial compensation for medical bills, missed time at work, and mental trauma experienced from the incident.

Don’t spend another second wondering what you could have done after suffering a dog bite at a dog park. Contact the Maison Law today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation and see what legal options are available.

Do I Need a Lawyer for a Dog Bite Injury?

If you suffered a dog bite injury at a dog park in Redding, it is advisable to discuss your dog bite incident with a Dog Bite Attorney at Maison Law to protect your right to compensation, as well as from liability in the incident. However, if your injuries were minor cuts or bruises, then you may not need the help of one of our attorneys. But if you’re unsure about your situation, feel free to give us a call, and we’ll go over your legal options free of charge.

Dog owners who fail to keep others safe around their dog can be legally held responsible for compensating you for your damages. To recover the full extent of your damages, it is recommended to take legal action through one of our attorneys. Taking legal action in a dog bite incident seems like it would only complicate an already stressful situation, but not with Maison Law. With our legal representation, we ensure you are fully compensated for the following damages:

Present and future medical expenses
Loss of income, as well as the reduction in your earning capacity that you’ve suffered from your injuries
Cost of living with your injury, such as making your home disability accessible, purchasing a wheelchair or crutches, hiring a nurse or housekeeper
Damage done to your property during the accident
Pain and suffering caused by your injuries
Stress and anxiety due to the nature of your accident
Your mental state after a life-changing accident

Steps You Should Take After Suffering a Dog Bite Injury in Redding

Dog bite incidents in Redding are most common in off-leash dog parks. These parks often feature no-leash areas surrounded by fencing, but are large enough to allow even the most energetic dogs to run around to their heart’s content. Leash-free dog parks in Redding include:

Turtle Bay East Open Space
Benton Dog Park

After suffering a dog bite injury, we recommend taking the following steps to ensure you have a strong case:

Collect Medical Records: Even if your injuries seem minor, they can manifest into something much worse weeks later. So, it is recommended to check in with a doctor and get a record of your injury. An MRI or an X-ray can reveal substantial damage that you might not be aware of. These documents will be essential to building a strong case.
Get a Police Report: Failing to alert the police does not help your case, especially if the case comes down to your word over the person responsible for your injuries. A police officer will file an incident report and assign blame based on their assessment. A police report is critical evidence in any claim and will play a key role in ensuring you are fully compensated.
Gather Evidence: You should document the dog bite as thoroughly as possible. Take pictures of the property where the accident occurred. Take a video of yourself recounting the accident while it is still fresh in your mind.
Collect Eye Witness Statements: if there are any eyewitnesses, try and get a statement from them. Or, at least, get their names and numbers, as they can testify on your behalf or provide a statement to corroborate your story later.
Collect General Information: Exchange insurance information with the party responsible for your injuries, and be sure to get their name, phone number, and contact information.
Contact Maison Law: Our firm is standing by to help dog bite accident victims in Redding physically and financially recover. Call, text, or email. Our door is always open to the community, and we’d love to help you through this difficult time.

What You Need for an Initial Consultation With a Redding Dog Bite Lawyer

Most personal injury lawyers offer free initial consultations. Personal injuries typically encompass injuries from car accidents, slip-and-falls, dog bites, bicycle injuries, and pedestrian injuries. During an initial consultation, you are under no obligation to hire the attorney or pay them a fee for their services. In the same breath, an attorney is under no obligation to represent you in your personal injury case. Before your first meeting with a potential lawyer, you should be prepared. You can present your case to a lawyer in a professional manner by:

Jotting down the key points in your case to share with them, or give them a written copy
Bring the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of everyone connected with the case
Bring all papers related to the case as they might be helpful for the lawyer to review
Prepare questions for the lawyer such as:
- Have they handled similar cases to yours?
- Did they settle or go to trial?
- How many clients have they represented in court?
- How many trial cases have they won?

Dog Bite Liability Law

California Civil Code Section 3342(a) states that the owner of any dog is liable for damages caused by a dog bite. Even if the dog has not shown any aggressive behavior in the past, the owner is still liable. California is a strict liability state, so it does not matter whether the dog owner was careless or not; they are still liable if their dog bites another person. The law also states the owner is liable if the victim is bitten on public or lawfully private property.

Basically, if someone else’s dog bites you, the dog owner is most likely going to be financially responsible for your dog bite injuries. This is true regardless of whether the dog owner was acting carelessly or not. However, there are exceptions to this rule. If you were provoking or harassing the dog in any way, then your financial recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. Fault does not keep you from receiving compensation if you are injured in a dog bite incident, as stated in Comparative Negligence Law.

When is a Dog Owner NOT Liable for Their Dog Biting Someone?

If someone is bitten while lawfully on another person’s property or in a public space, they can take legal action against the dog owner. However, there are exceptions when dog bite victims are not entitled to compensation. These exceptions apply if:

The victim was trespassing or was not legally permitted to enter the property: trespassers may not be entitled to compensation for a dog bite, but the owner may still be at fault if they failed to restrain the dog or provide proper warning, even for trespassers.
The victim provoked the attack: victims who are bitten due to harassing, striking, or annoying the animal may not be entitled to full compensation.
The victims knew there was a risk of being bitten: veterinarians, kennel workers, and other dog-care professionals may not be entitled to compensation after a dog bite because they assume the risk by working in that specific field.
The dog was a law enforcement dog: dogs operating at a crime scene or helping law enforcement are considered government entities and are protected from personal injury lawsuits. Unless the victim was an innocent bystander, it will be difficult to receive compensation for a dog bite from a government dog.

Comparative Negligence in Dog Bite Incidents

If you’re bitten by a dog in California, the state’s Comparative Negligence Law allows for your compensation to be reduced by a certain percentage at which you are found at fault. For example, your compensation can be reduced if you are found liable for any of the following:

Provocation: if the dog bite victim provoked the dog or engaged in aggressive behavior
Trespassing: if the victim was bitten due to unlawful trespassing on the property
Assumption of risk: if you’re aware of the risk of interacting with a dangerous dog
Contributory negligence: you acted in a careless manner, which resulted in the dog bite
Lack of causation: the owner’s actions did not cause the bite to occur

If you are partially at fault for any of the above reasons, then a jury or judge will assign you a percentage of fault to both you and the dog owner, reducing your compensation accordingly. For example, if you’re found 30% at fault, and you’re awarded $100k, then you’re reward will be reduced by 30%. This will leave you with $70k in compensation. So, even if you are partially to blame for your dog bite injury, you should not be dissuaded from seeking legal representation through Maison Law.

Contact a Redding Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog bites can be extremely traumatic and costly. Fortunately, injured dog bite victims have the right to hold dog owners responsible for damages done to their lives through a lawsuit. The word “lawsuit” tends to have a negative connotation, implying years of legal battles and “going after” other individuals for compensation. But at Maison Law, we make the process of reaching a successful outcome simple, quick, and easy.

We have the legal resources to get your case resolved in a timely manner and get the financial results you need without exhausting years of your life. If you’ve been injured in a dog bite incident at a dog park in Redding, take the first step toward getting your life back on track today by contacting us for a free consultation and case evaluation.

Redding Dog Bites at Dog Parks