Maison Law represents San Luis Obispo County runners who have suffered a dog bite. Our dog bite attorneys assist victims in getting the support they need to make a full recovery so they can back to the runs they love. Please contact us after a bite that causes 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.
Do I Need a Dog Bite Lawyer After Getting Bit While on a Run?
After a bite that results in only superficial scratches or bruising, you may not need a lawyer’s help. But if a dog owner’s negligence leads to a serious dog bite wound while you are jogging, you should speak to a San Luis Obispo dog bite injury lawyer about your best options.
When injuries are serious, like a broken finger or a deep puncture wound, insurance companies covering dog owners will do their best to blame joggers for their bites and downplay the severity of a wound. They do this to save their companies money. Your lawyer battles back against these tactics and makes sure you receive the maximum in compensation possible. Maison Law wants you to heal and get back to the exercise routine you love as soon as possible.
Dog Bite Dangers for San Luis Obispo Runners
Local runners wanting to get in some cardio might jog around their neighborhoods or use the sidewalks around the Cal Poly SLO campus. They may put in laps around Meadow Park. Those out for a run or walk will have to watch out for tripping hazards and spots where they encounter traffic, but they may also have to beware of situations involving unrestrained dogs.
Four-legged friends like to chase things, and sometimes a dog owner can allow a pet too much freedom, leading to a runner receiving a painful bite.
A careless owner may let a dog run free or may let out too much leash allowing an aggressive or frightened dog to attack someone.
Runners can suffer a debilitating injury, like a bone fracture, torn ligaments, or a deep, infected wound. When injuries are serious and result in expensive medical bills, a dog owner’s insurance provider will fight hard to avoid having to accept the blame. An insurance adjuster may even try to blame you.
It’s a good sign that you need a skilled San Luis Obispo Dog Bite Lawyer handling your case to make sure you get everything you need to pay for recovery and rebuild your life.
Can I Hold a Dog Owner Responsible If I’m Bitten While on a Run?
Runners are fully empowered to hold dog owners responsible for a dog that causes an injury, especially a bite wound. That’s because California follows the legal concept of “strict liability.” The law makes it easy for victims to hold dog owners responsible for a bite wound, even if the dog has never bitten anyone before.
Strict liability means that in most cases, dog owners are held responsible when their pets bite.
There are generally only three circumstances where a dog owner wouldn’t owe victims help with recovery costs:
- The runner was trespassing
- The runner provoked the dog
- The runner didn’t suffer an actual bite but a bite that doesn’t break the skin still counts
Your dog bite lawyer would be collecting evidence and investigating the dog owner to make sure you had the proof necessary to win compensation through an injury claim. Your Maison Law attorney would usually file the injury claim with the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance provider or renter’s insurance provider. In some cases, dog owners might have to pay for your recovery costs out of their own pocket.
Can I Seek Support If a Dog Knocked Me Down While I Was Running?
Victims hurt by a fall caused by a dog could sue a dog owner for compensation, but they couldn’t use strict liability to prove that a dog owner was liable.
Strict liability only applies if a bite is involved. Without it, dog knockdown victims would have to have more evidence proving that a dog caused a fall and that the owner’s actions allowed it to happen.
There is more burden on the victim to prove who was at fault, but your Maison Law attorney will build a strong case for you that holds a dog owner financially responsible.
Runners can be tripped or knocked down to suffer a serious injury like a broken wrist or head trauma. A jogger may even be forced out into traffic to escape a dog in pursuit. These injuries should be the dog owner’s Pedestrians might run into a street sign, or trip over a tree root trying to get away. Joggers could also end up in the road in the path of vehicles to suffer devastating injuries.
Maison Law can collect evidence that shows the fault of a dog owner and assist you in maximizing your dog attack settlement check.
Compensation Available for Runners Bitten by a Dog
Your Dog Bite Attorney creates a full list of the hardships you’ve experienced while being off your feet and while having to miss work with an injury. Your claim will include the bills you’ve received and the emotional toll a dog attack can cause.
Your lawyer will ask for economic and non-economic damages, including a few things you may not have realized can earn victims additional support on a dog bite injury settlement check:
- Full coverage of hospital bills and emergency response fees.
- Physical therapy costs to learn to regain the use of affected limbs.
- The estimated costs of living a life with a permanent disability or long-term disfigurement.
- Physical pain the victim has endured.
- Emotional trauma the victim has suffered through, including PTSD symptoms and anxiety.
- Loss of enjoyment of life and the inability to participate in family activities. Hobbies, like running, may no longer be an option.
- Travel costs for doctor and specialist visits.
- Forfeited paychecks while the victim has missed time at work.
Contact a San Luis Obispo Runner Dog Bite Lawyer
California provides runners who suffer dog bites up to two years to bring a claim against a dog owner. But victims should act quickly. A lawyer should be notified as soon as possible so an investigation can start, fresh evidence can be collected, and witnesses can be located.
Maison Law of San Luis Obispo provides free case consultations to all runners and walkers injured by a serious dog bite. Schedule your free case review today. It’s a no-risk way to determine how to hold dog owners responsible for dog bites and how to maximize your compensation from an insurance provider. Our San Luis Obispo Dog Bite Attorneys make sure victims have the money they need to pay for the best care available so they can return to their running routine as soon as possible.
If you feel Maison Law can help you earn more for your recovery, 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 money a dog owner’s insurance must provide to you.
