Maison Law represents California 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.
Dog Bite Dangers for Tulare Runners
Local runners get their exercise by jogging through neighborhoods along Pleasant Avenue or around Blaine Park. They may know to watch out for careless drivers and tree roots in the path, but they may not be watching out for a four-legged risk chasing behind, ready to deliver a painful bite.
It’s not something runners should have to be concerned with, but careless dog owners might let their dogs loose or a dog might jump a fence to suddenly pose a threat. A runner’s movement may appear as a threat to the dog or entice a pet to chase someone down. Dogs might clamp onto an ankle or fingers as runners try to fend them off.
A bite might leave a victim with a serious injury, like a broken bone, torn tendons, or a deep 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 Tulare Dog Bite Lawyer handling your case to make sure you get everything you need to pay for recovery and rebuild your life.
Who Is Responsible After a Dog Bite on a Runner?
In California, dog owners are liable for almost all dog bite incidents. California is a “strict liability” dog bite state. It means that dog owners are held responsible for bites, even if it’s the first time the dog has ever attacked a person.
This clear-cut law makes it much easier to determine who is liable after a jogger is bitten by a dog.
Dog owners would be fully responsible for bite injuries except in these and a few other circumstances:
- The victim can’t have been trespassing.
- The victim must not have provoked the dog.
- The victim must have suffered a bite. That can include a bite that doesn’t break the skin but causes damage internally from the crushing force.
In cases involving a bite, Strict liability may make it easier to pin the blame on the right party, but that doesn’t mean dog owners will willingly accept responsibility. Your lawyer works to gather all the evidence necessary to force homeowners insurance providers to do the right thing and help runners recover physically, emotionally, and financially from a dog bite.
What Types of Injuries Can Runners Suffer in Dog Attacks?
Runners out to improve their heart rates or lose weight can suffer debilitating injuries in a dog attack that may set them back years.
They may suffer mobility issues that will affect their ability to go out and enjoy the runs they love.
These are some of the most common dog bite injuries treated by Adventist Health Tulare Emergency Room doctors:
- Punctures Wounds and Cuts: Dog bites can penetrate deep into skin and muscle tissue, perhaps cutting all the way through a limb, doing long-lasting damage.
- Tissue Damage: Tendons and ligaments, and even vital organs can be damaged by a powerful bite.
- Nerve Damage: Numbness in hands and feet is a symptom of nerve injuries. Victims may lose full control of their limbs.
- Broken Bones: Finger, wrist, ankle, and foot bones can be broken in the crushing force of a bite.
- Infections: Dog teeth are covered in bacteria that might cause a wound to become infected. Rabies and tetanus are examples of harmful bacteria. Patients may experience fever, fatigue, breathing difficulties, and tremors. Infection can make wounds slower to close and heal.
- Emotional Damage: Victims can develop a real fear of dogs after a bite incident. The anxiety around animals may be a lifelong issue. PTSD symptoms can be long-lasting for victims who suffer through a scary attack.
Your Maison Law dog bite doesn’t want you to face a challenging recovery alone. You should be able to afford the best care available without worrying about the cost. Your lawyer makes sure you receive what you need to rebuild your life and get back on your feet again.
Compensation Available for Runners Bitten by a Dog
Your Running Accident 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 Tulare Dog Bite Running Accident Lawyer
California law allows dog bite victims up to two years from the date of the accident to file an injury claim. Runners 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 while jogging, 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. We serve victims across Tulare County.
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.
