You can seek injury support after being bitten by a dog at a Santa Barbara dog park. Just because a dog is off leash doesn’t excuse a dog owner from liability when a pet bites someone.
Dog bite victims can suffer broken bones, nerve damage, and develop infections. You or your child may be bitten and you can suddenly find that emergency room bills are double, or triple what you can afford.
The Santa Barbara dog bite lawyers with Maison Law stand by you and your loved ones after a bite incident. We offer a free case consultation to discuss your options and how to hold a dog owner fully responsible for current damages. We also want to make sure you are covered for hardships that may arise with a dog bite wound in the months to come.
Dog Bite Liability at Santa Barbara Dog Parks
California is a “strict liability” dog bite state. This means that dog owners are generally fully responsible when their pets bite someone. The concept of strict liability means that pet owners are financially liable even if the dog doesn’t have a history of violence.
For victims who receive a bite wound while at a Santa Barbara dog park, there may be some questions about who is responsible. The dog owner, the city department that operates the dog park, or an apartment management group or property owner?
In most instances, it’s still the dog owner that bears most or all of the blame. Wounded victims could seek compensation from the dog owner’s homeowners insurance or renters insurance for their physical, emotional, and financial damages.
Unfortunately, these insurance providers don’t make it easy for injured victims to get the help they need. Victims of serious injuries often need the help of a Santa Barbara Dog Bite Lawyer to get fair compensation for what they and their families have been through.
Is Santa Barbara or a Property Owner Responsible for My Dog Park Bite Injury?
There are many public dog parks across Santa Barbara run by the city or county. These parks are posted as “use at your own risk” locations. This generally prevents dog bite victims from suing the city over a wound. However, cities may be exposed to liability if their employees create hazards that go beyond the normal risks you might expect at a dog park.
Of course, in these cases, the dog owners are still liable for the actions of their dogs. Make sure you can identify the owner of the dog that bit you. In some cases, you may be able to secure financial assistance from a dog owner and the operator of a park.
Dog parks have also popped up at apartment complexes. These are also usually protected by “use at your own risk” signs and waiver forms. Suing a city parks department or a landlord may be harder, but a skilled Santa Barbara dog bite attorney will help you determine just how many parties should be contributing to your support as you heal.
These are just a few of the dog parks located in and around Santa Barbara where you could suffer a scary bite that leaves you in need of support:
- MacKenzie Park Dog Park
- Tabano Hollow Open Space
- Tuckers Grove Park
- Orpet Park
- Arroyo Burro Beach County Park
- Hale Park
- Douglas Family Preserve
Compensation Available After a Santa Barbara Dog Bite
Once evidence is collected and your damages and losses have been totaled, your Santa Barbara dog bite attorney will file a claim for damages with the insurance company representing the dog’s owner.
It’s important that this claim includes a list of every hardship you or a family member have been through. This claim will include a document that lists every hardship you and your family have endured. This is just a brief list of some of the factors that can earn compensation:
- Support for hospital and physical therapy expenses for as long as necessary.
- Extended medical support for child victims. A dog bite injury can cause issues as a child matures and grows into adulthood. Development problems might require surgery during teen growth.
- Past and future lost earnings.
- Physical pain suffered by the victim.
- Emotional distress, such as depression and anxiety. Victims might have PTSD symptoms after going through an attack at a dog park.
- Loss of enjoyment of life due to an injury.
- Damage or destruction of property.
The medical costs might never end when a dog bite wound causes a permanent disability or disfigurement. Additional financial support would be sought as estimates for a lifetime of care are prepared. This would incorporate the costs of medical equipment and home renovations for patients over the years.
The victim’s return to a previous career may be impossible with a disability. Career training may be included in an insurance settlement so victims can change to a job more suitable for their disability. Without the chance to change jobs, the victim may be due a lifetime of financial support with enough to support close family members.
Contact a Santa Barbara Dog Bite Lawyer
After you or a loved one has suffered a serious dog bite, reach out to a Santa Barbara Dog Bite Lawyer to discuss your case, free of charge.
Consult with an attorney as soon as possible after a dog bite. There are benefits available to you and your family that insurance companies won’t be informing you of.
Attorney Martin Gasparian offers a free and confidential case evaluation. Mr. Gasparian works hard to make sure dog bite victims are allowed to rebuild their lives without worrying over hospital bills and lost paychecks. If you decide to hire Maison Law, you won’t need any upfront money. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement you are awarded.
