Maison Law represents Tulare motorcyclists who have been bitten by dogs while on a ride. Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers assist victims in getting the support they need to make a full recovery from a bite wound so they can return to the rides they love. Please contact us after an accident involving a dog bite 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 Getting Bit by a Dog While Riding a Motorcycle?
If your injury ends up being serious and a dog owner’s carelessness is to blame, you should speak to a skilled Tulare Dog Bite Lawyer. Serious injuries include something that goes beyond minor scratches or bruising. A serious injury may include broken bones, torn ligaments, or a puncture wound.
The hospital bills can pile up quickly with this level of injury. Insurance companies can see the totals on care and become reluctant to accept full responsibility for a dog owner. They’ll look for any excuse to deny a dog bite claim. A lawyer protects you from these tactics and fights to maximize your injury claim. It’s an important obligation, so you don’t have to worry about how you’ll pay your medical expenses or make up for lost time at work.
Dog Bite Hazards for Tulare Motorcyclists
Motorcyclists riding along routes like Highway 137 or Prosperity Avenue can be on full alert for reckless drivers, but they may miss another threat. A dog illegally left on the loose or able to escape from a faulty enclosure can come racing out of a yard to chase down a rider.
A motorcyclist may look like a fun target for a dog’s attention or be misinterpreted as a threat. Dogs can race alongside riders and take a swipe at an ankle or calf. A rider’s hands may be bitten through gloves as the victim tries to fend off an attacking animal.
These attacks can cause broken bones, deep puncture wounds, and even permanent disfigurement. Victims can also be sent off their motorcycles to suffer additional traumatic injuries as they strike the road surface.
Your Tulare motorcycle accident lawyer collects the evidence needed to hold those at fault financially responsible for the recovery that lies ahead for riders. Your lawyer fully investigates what happened and the dog owner’s record. Then an injury claim backed with evidence is submitted to a homeowners insurance or renter’s insurance provider. Your lawyer demands the most in benefits possible for you and your family.
Who Is Liable After a Dog Bite on a Rider?
California follows 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.
Most dogs have no intention of harming anyone, but sometimes a pet can see a motorcyclist and instincts take over. It’s up to the dog’s owner to prevent the dog from being able to get close enough to a rider to bite.
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.
If there is no bite, but a dog causes the rider to wreck, other personal injury laws would apply, and a rider would be able to file an injury claim. A skilled dog bite lawyer assists you in proving that a dog’s actions and the negligence of a dog owner caused the rider’s crash.
What Types of Things Can Be Compensated in a Dog Bite Case?
Your Motorcycle Dog Bite Accident Attorney will create a full list of the hardships you’ve experienced while being off your bike 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 motorcyclists 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.
- Travel costs for doctor and specialist visits.
- Forfeited paychecks while the victim has missed time at work.
- Damage or destruction of property. Money for a new motorcycle, helmet, and ripped clothing.
Contact a Tulare Motorcycle Dog Bite Accident Lawyer
California law allows dog bite victims up to two years from the date of the accident to file an injury claim. Motorcyclists 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 anywhere in Tulare County, contact a Tulare 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 also won’t need any upfront money if you decide we can help you earn the most for your dog bite wound. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the insurance settlement check you receive.
