Maison Law represents Salinas dog bite victims to make sure they secure everything they need to make a full recovery. Victims who suffer bites at Salinas dog parks can ask dog owners for financial support as they heal. Our lawyers work to maximize the compensation insurance companies must pay out to our clients.
If you or a loved one have been bitten, please contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. It’s a no-risk opportunity to find out what your case may be worth and how to hold dog owners and their insurance companies fully responsible.
Do I Need a Lawyer After Suffering a Dog Bite at a Dog Park?
In California, dog owners are liable when their dogs bite, even when it occurs within a dog park enclosure. If your injuries a serious, like broken hand bones or a deep wound, it’s a good idea to bring your case to a skilled Salinas Dog Bite Lawyer to discuss what you should be demanding in compensation.
It’s an important step before speaking with a dog owner’s insurance representative, because those insurance adjusters may be seeking to greatly limit the support injured victims receive. They may attempt to blame you for your dog attack or even try to convince you your injury isn’t all that serious. Your lawyer fully investigates your case so the facts can’t be changed and then demands the maximum in benefits for you and your family.
Who Is Responsible for a Dog Bite at a Salinas Dog Park
A visit to a local dog park like Natividad Park Dog Park or Claremont Manor Park can make for a great activity for dogs and their owners. But at times, dogs can become confused or frightened in a park setting and be tempted to lash out with a bite. Humans can also get bitten when getting in between two dogs who are fighting.
Dogs don’t usually intend to hurt anyone, but victims can suffer devastating wounds that may affect their ability to use their hands or feet permanently. They may suffer a permanent disfigurement that makes victims avoid going out into public. These and other hardships should never be the financial responsibilities of the victims.
California law protects those suffering dog bites by allowing them to file injury claims against dog owners. Due to the legal concept of “strict liability,” a legal claim is possible, even when it’s the first time a dog has ever bitten anyone.
Dog victims could file lawsuits unless one of the following were true:
- The victim was trespassing at the time of the bite. (most dog parks are public places)
- The victim provoked the dog into an attack.
- The attack didn’t involve a bite (although a bite that doesn’t break the skin still counts as a bite). Some dog-involved injuries don’t include a bite wound. A dog may have knocked someone down and caused a fall injury. Strict liability wouldn’t apply in these cases, but other personal injury laws would apply and a lawyer could help the victim file an injury claim.
Is the City of Salinas Liable If I’m Bitten at a Dog Park?
The city of Salinas would usually be protected from litigation if you were bitten at a public park. Most dog parks operate under a “use at your own risk” policy. You will probably see that posted on signs around the park.
It means that any hazards that would normally arise when you are around a lot of dogs in an enclosed space wouldn’t be the city’s responsibility. However, the city’s legal protections should only cover reasonable risks that dog park visitors take. A danger that goes beyond the normal risks could still leave the city liable. A broken fence that allowed dogs to escape an enclosure and bite someone could make the city liable for injuries. If someone with a dog that had been reported as dangerous wasn’t kept out of the dog park, the city might also be liable when injuries occurred.
The same “use at your own risk” protections would probably keep property management companies from being sued if someone was bitten at an apartment complex dog park. But you should take advantage of a free consultation with a real dog bite lawyer if you feel the owners and operators of a dog park put you in harm’s way.
Compensation Available for Dog Bite Victims
Dog bite victims must receive full support for their current emergency room bills and for any care expected to be needed in the future. This can include surgeries when bones broken in a dog’s grip don’t heal right and need surgical correction. It might involve the cost of months of physical therapy as victims learn to use their injured hands again or learn to walk again after healing from a bite wound on an ankle or calf.
But medical bills aren’t the only thing victims should receive compensation for. All of these and other factors would be considered when deciding how much you should receive in a settlement:
- Medical care bills now and any received in the future. Surgeries could be necessary years down the road.
- Additional support for the future for children who suffer dog bite injuries. Children may receive a bite wound and seemingly heal. But that same wound can cause issues in the years ahead. As children reach their teen years, their development may be affected by an old injury and surgery could be necessary to allow victims to mature properly.
- Physical therapy costs. Rehabilitation may be needed so the victim can restore the function of a hand or fingers.
- Full financial support for a permanent physical disability and permanent disfigurement suffered by victims.
- Reimbursement of lost benefits and income.
- Travel costs for appointments with doctors and surgeons. These bills may be substantial if a victim has injuries that prevent driving.
- Additional compensation for physical pain and emotional trauma experienced. Dog bite victims can suffer anxiety and PTSD symptoms after a frightening attack. Depression may follow a severe injury that limits the patient’s enjoyment of life.
Contact a Salinas Dog Bite Lawyer
California law allows dog bite victims up to two years from the date of the accident to file an injury claim. You 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 at a dog park, contact a Salinas 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.
You won’t need any upfront money if you decide we can help you earn the most for your dog bite wound and recovery. If you hire us, we don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the insurance settlement check you receive
