Maison Law represents Redding motorcyclists who have been bitten by dogs or have been in crashes caused by dogs. We win support from dog owners so injured riders are able to meet their healthcare costs, support their families, and get back on their motorcycles.
Please contact us after an accident involving a dog 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 completely responsible.
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Dog Injures Me While I’m on a Motorcycle Ride?
If you suffer a serious injury caused by a dog, it’s a good idea to go over your case with a skilled Redding motorcycle accident lawyer. A serious injury might include a broken bone, a deep bite wound, or even a head injury in a crash that occurred while you were trying to escape a dog in pursuit. These injuries build up bigger medical bills and cause homeowners’ insurance providers to fight harder to avoid blame.
Insurers may say you provoked the dog or crashed because you don’t know how to ride, and not because a dog was barreling toward you. They will say these things despite what the evidence says. A Maison Law attorney fully investigates the accident and the dog owner and places the fault on the owner by relying on proof. Your lawyer can also often earn you much more from a dog bite injury claim than you could by taking on a big insurance company yourself.
The Dangers Dogs Pose to Motorcyclists
Dogs provide a surprising element of risk to many motorcycle rides. They like to chase things, and the sound of a motorcycle can also trigger their playful or aggressive natures. Of course, just like any accident involving the dog, it’s not the dog’s fault. Dog owners accept a certain amount of responsibility with pet ownership, and they often fail in their duty to keep dogs restrained and the people around them safe.
Riders can be traveling along Placer Street when a dog that’s gotten free from a backyard comes barking out of a nearby neighborhood.
A dog in pursuit can cause several different types of accidents for riders:
- Dog Bite on the Lower Body. A painful bite might land on the ankles, lower legs, or thighs. A broken bone or a deep tissue wound can result.
- Dog bite on the Upper Body. Motorcyclists can also suffer bites to their hands, wrists, and arms as they try to fend off a rampaging dog.
- Dog Bites from Leashed Dogs. A careless dog owner may simply allow a dog too much leash at a park or at a pull-off. This might allow enough freedom for a dog to jump on a rider passing by.
- Wipeout on a Motorcycle. An attempt to steer away from a dog on the loose can cause riders to crash and hit the pavement.
- Crash into an Obstacle. A frantic attempt to get away from the dog can lead motorcyclists to lose control. They may run up or down embankments. They may strike trees and bushes, guardrails, or cement barriers.
- Crash with a Car. A panicked rider might jerk the handlebars and end up in a collision with a nearby vehicle to suffer traumatic injuries.
As with all motorcycle accidents, the consequences can be severe because riders travel in the open air without much protection. Victims can end up with bone fractures and wound infections. It’s a Redding dog bite lawyer’s job to work with doctors and determine how long wounds will take to heal. It’s critical information when it’s time to determine how much the rider will need to demand from a dog owner’s insurer.
Who Is Responsible If a Dog Hurts Me While I’m Riding a Motorcycle in Shasta County?
In California, the dog owner is usually responsible for all damages caused by a dog on the loose.
In our state, we follow the legal concept of “strict liability” in dog bite cases. It means that dog owners are generally liable for every bite incident. It’s the dog owner’s responsibility, even if the dog involved doesn’t have a history of biting.
The pet owner is liable 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.
Yet, there are other ways a dog can harm a motorcyclist without the use of those fangs. Dogs can cause terrible crashes with their sudden appearance. Even though strict liability can’t be utilized to hold the dog owner liable, other personal injury laws would help.
In a case involving a crash, the victim would have to prove that the dog’s presence contributed to a wipeout or a collision. It’s a higher standard of liability that must be reached, but a skilled dog bite lawyer assists riders. The victim’s attorney would provide the needed evidence that a dog’s actions and the negligence of a dog owner caused the rider’s crash.
What Does the Dog Owner’s Insurance Have to Cover After a Motorcycle Accident?
If a dog owner is found liable for a dog attack or a dog bite, the dog owner’s homeowners or renters insurance would usually cover the damages. Unfortunately, not every victim receives the same level of support. In fact, the amounts on settlement checks can vary greatly. Some riders get all of their medical bills covered.
Others end up with only enough to cover an emergency room visit, and must cover their physical therapy costs and additional therapy costs themselves. They may have health insurance, but even the copays can grow to enormous amounts.
It’s often up to your Maison Law attorney to negotiate for enough in compensation to cover all damages. Part of this is knowing when to accept a settlement offer from an insurance company and when to reject it and demand more. It’s through experience that a lawyer knows when you can get more.
Your attorney would demand that these costs and more were taken care of:
- All hospital and rehabilitation costs
- Estimates on lifelong support for a long-term disability or a disfigurement
- Totals of travel costs to and from doctor visits
- Totals on lost paychecks and benefits while you miss work shifts
- Money for motorcycle repairs or a replacement
- Support for physical pain experienced
- Support for emotional distress endured
These last two factors, the pain you endure and the emotional trauma suffered, can be harder to put a price on, but they are just as important. Your quality of life may be affected by pain that doesn’t seem to be fading. It’s the same with anxiety and depression that might follow a major injury. You can lose your enjoyment of life when you must restrict your activities (your motorcycle rides) due to a long and difficult rehabilitation. A settlement check must reflect these hardships.
Contact a Lawyer Serving Shasta County Motorcycle Accident Victims
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury after a dog attack while riding a motorcycle, discuss your case with a skilled Redding Motorcycle Accident Attorney as soon as possible. Dog bite victims should never be left to face the costs of recovery alone.
Reach out to Maison Law to make sure you are clear on the rights you have as a victim and the benefits that are available to you and your family.
There’s no obligation for this meeting. If you do feel we can help you earn more for your injury, you won’t need any upfront money to hire us. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement check that an insurance company must provide.
