Broken Hands Caused By Dog Bites in Tulare

Maison Law stands up for dog bite victims in Tulare. There’s a number of potential injuries in these incidents, but one of the most common is a broken hand or similar injuries. These are largely defensive in nature, as you’re just trying to fend off the dog. Still, it can cause problems as you try to heal. When this happens, contact us for a free consultation to talk about your legal options.

Do You Need a Lawyer?

Like any injury in Tulare, you’re not legally required to have a lawyer after a dog bite. However, when there’s hand injuries, it can be wise to fully explore your legal options. We can help in that regard. Here’s how we can assist:

• Gathering evidence – We’ll investigate, gather documents and photos, and collect witness statements and medical records.

• Insurance claim – We’ll help file your claim with the other party’s insurance.

• Negotiating settlements – If the insurance offers too little, we’ll negotiate for more.

• Filing a lawsuit – If needed, we’ll guide you through filing a lawsuit for full damages.
  
  

More than anything, our team can make the process easier for you and your family. A dog bite can be traumatic, particularly if you have a broken hand. But every case is different, so it’s important to know what to do.

What You Need to Do After a Dog Bite Hand Injury

No matter where you come into contact with a dog in Tulare, there’s a chance that a bite incident can happen. Getting bitten by a dog can be really scary, especially if it affects your hands. It’s important to know what steps to take to make sure you’re okay physically, emotionally, and legally. Here’s what you should do after a dog bite injures your hands:

• Get medical help right away – Even if the bite seems minor, it’s crucial to see a doctor or go to the hospital. This helps prevent infections and other complications.
  
  

• Document everything – Take photos of your injuries and where the bite happened using your phone or camera. This evidence can be really important later on. If possible, try to gather information about the dog and who owns it.
  
  

• Report the incident – Let local animal control or the authorities know about the dog bite. This helps document what happened and could lead to further investigation, making sure others stay safe from the same dog.
  
  

• Get witness details – If anyone saw the attack, ask for their names and phone numbers. Their accounts could strengthen your case. Also, try to remember any important information about the dog’s owner, like their name or where they live.
  
  

Hand Injuries

When it comes to a dog bite, your hands are one of the most vulnerable parts of your body. Your hands are often the first line of defense in these situations. Not surprisingly, this frequently leads to not only broken bones, but a host of other injuries:

• Fractures or broken bones – Dog bites can cause fractures or breaks in the bones of the hand, including the bones in your palm and fingers.
  
  
• Crush injuries – Some dog bites may result in crush injuries, causing damage to bones, tissues, and blood vessels in the hand.
  
  
• Soft tissue injuries – These may include lacerations, puncture wounds, and tears in the skin, muscles, tendons, or ligaments of the hand.
  
  

• Nerve damage – Dog bites can injure nerves in the hand, leading to numbness, tingling, weakness, or loss of sensation and function.
  
  

• Infections – Dog bites carry a risk of bacterial infections, such as cellulitis or osteomyelitis, which can affect the bones, joints, and soft tissues of the hand.
  
  

• Tendon injuries – Damage to tendons, which connect muscles to bones, can occur in severe dog bites, leading to difficulty moving the fingers or hand.
  
  

If you get hurt, it’s really important to see a doctor right away. This helps treat your injuries, lowers the chance of infection, and makes a record of what happened and how you got hurt. This record is super important if you need to make a legal claim later on.

What’s the Claims Process After a Dog Bite Injury?

When you’re dealing with a dog bite in Tulare, things work a bit differently under the law. The big thing to know is that in California, dog owners are legally responsible for any harm their dog causes. This is called “strict liability.” So, if you get bitten by a dog, you’ll be dealing with the owner when you make a claim for damages.

While that answers the question about liability, there’s another important aspect: damages. This usually refers to your losses from the injury itself. And in order to make one of these claims, you have to either file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. With that taken care of, you can possibly recover:

• Medical expenses – This covers all the costs of treating your injuries, like doctor visits, surgeries, medications, and any other medical needs because of the bite.
  
  

• Ongoing care needs – If you need ongoing medical care, like therapy or follow-up treatments, you can also get support for that.
  
  

• Medical devices – Any devices or aids you need because of the bite, like splints or braces, can also be covered.
  
  

• Lost wages – If you have to miss work because of your injuries, you can claim for the wages you’ve lost during that time.
  
  

• Pain and suffering – This is for the physical and mental pain caused by the bite, like discomfort and mental anguish.
  
  

• Emotional distress – It’s also about the emotional effects of the bite, like feeling anxious or scared afterwards.
  
  

• Scarring and disfigurement – If you’re left with visible scars or disfigurement, you can claim for the physical and emotional impact.
  
  

• Reduced quality of life – If the bite affects your ability to enjoy life or your relationships, you can get support for that.
  
  

• Punitive damages – Sometimes, if the owner was really negligent or meant to harm you, you can get extra financial support as a sort of punishment.
  
  

Remember, you need to file your claim within two years of the bite. If you miss that deadline, you can’t file a claim and recover these much-needed damages. So, it’s crucial to act quickly. At the same time, you’ll want to make sure you have the right legal support. Maison Law and our team of experienced Tulare dog bite lawyers can give this to you.

Recover From a Broken Hand in a Tulare Dog Bite With Maison Law

Any dog bite injury is unfortunate, no matter how well-behaved or trained the dog is. But the fact remains that a broken hand or similar type injury can have a huge impact on your life. At Maison Law, we understand how difficult this situation can be and will be there to help you recover. Contact us today to set up your free consultation.