Maison Law represents injury victims in Turlock, including those hurt in dog bite incidents.
You don’t have to deal with a dog bite injury by yourself. Regardless of how severe your injuries are, according to California law, you have the legal right to file an injury claim. Before you get to that point, though, contact us to schedule your free consultation.
Do You Need Our Lawyers?
No matter the circumstances, dealing with a dog bite situation alone is not ideal. Whether or not you should take legal action depends on the severity of your injuries or the dog bite itself. For minor injuries, handling the claim independently may suffice.
However, dog bites can cause significant physical and psychological trauma. If the incident occurs in a dog park or involves questions of liability, seeking legal assistance is advisable. Our team of experienced dog bite lawyers is here to help. We investigate the incident, explain legal options, gather evidence, review insurance policies to determine liability, refer you to medical experts, and guide you through the claims process.
Potential injuries
More than anything else, it’s the extent of your injuries that are going to determine your needs. So, it’s necessary to understand the possible injuries you could be facing in a dog bite. While each incident varies, usually they result in:
- Bite wounds – Probably the most obvious, these come from the dog’s teeth and jaws when they actually bite you and break through the skin. These commonly impact your:
- Arms
- Legs
- Hands
- Ankles
- Bruising – The area around the bite can become black and blue due to bleeding under the skin.
- Lacerations – These are cuts or tears in the skin caused by the dog’s teeth.
- Infection – If the skin is broken, bacteria from the dog’s mouth can get into the wound and cause an infection.
- Tissue damage – Sometimes, a dog bite can damage muscles, tendons, or nerves beneath the skin, causing pain and difficulty moving.
- Emotional trauma – An often overlooked injury from a dog bite is the emotional trauma associated with it. It’s common to experience fear, anxiety, or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after these incidents.
Because every bite incident is different, these injuries are going to vary. What doesn’t vary, though, are your legal options and what you need to do after the bite happens.
Steps to Take After a Dog Bite
No matter where it happens, a dog bite is going to require you to take certain steps to guarantee your safety and protect your potential claim. Not surprisingly, this is going to involve you getting away from the dog, first and foremost. Once you have that taken care of, make sure you:
- Seek medical help immediately – Your health is the top priority. Get medical attention right away, and make sure to document your injuries for any future claims you may need to make.
- Find the dog’s owner – If you can, gather information about the dog’s owner, like their name and contact details. This information is essential for the claims process.
- Report the incident – Let local animal control or law enforcement know about the dog bite. They might investigate to prevent similar incidents in the future. Also, inform the management at the location where the bite occurred, such as a dog park, so they can take appropriate action.
- Gather evidence – Take photos of your injuries, the place where the bite happened, and any statements from witnesses. This evidence strengthens your case.
- Document your medical treatment – Keep careful records of all medical treatments and expenses related to the dog bite, including hospital visits, surgeries, medications, and follow-up care.
No matter how severe the bite, following these steps is crucial for your safety, getting proper care for your injuries, and building a strong case if you need to make a claim for damages.
Damages in a Dog Bite Claim
The major difference between a dog bite and any other injury claim in Turlock will be your damages. While a car or bike accident is more common, a dog bite is unique in that its damages can be both sudden and long-lasting. This makes the claims process of recovering damages very important. You can either file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit, but a successful claim will allow you to recover:
- Medical expenses – Covers all costs for treatment after the dog bite, like hospital bills, surgeries, therapy, and ongoing care.
- Property damage – If the dog damages your belongings during the attack, you can recover damages for torn clothing, broken items, or other property damage.
- Lost income – If the dog bite prevents you from working, you can get compensation for the income you lose during your recovery.
- Pain and suffering – This includes both physical pain and emotional distress caused by the dog bite, including long-term effects like anxiety or PTSD.
- Emotional distress – These address psychological effects like fear or anxiety resulting from the dog attack.
- Punitive damages – Extra compensation awarded if the dog owner’s behavior was especially reckless, meant to punish and discourage similar actions in the future.
Who Pays for These Damages?
Another hugely important factor in a dog bite injury claim is who actually has to pay for your damages. California law, to its credit, makes this relatively simple: Under Section 3342 of the California Civil Code, dog owners are:
- Strictly liable for damages in an injury claim after a dog bite.
This means that, at the very least, the dog’s owner will be the one with primary legal responsibility for covering these damages. Usually, their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy is the one with the coverage, meaning you’ll have to file your claim with them.
Contact Maison Law After a Turlock Dog Bite
A dog bite is going to leave you facing at least some level of injury. This is true regardless of where it happens in Turlock, be it at a dog park or at someone’s house. While there’s no guarantee of a positive outcome in a claim, working with our experienced team can put you in the best possible position to succeed. To learn more about the process or what you can do to get the support you need, contact us today for a free consultation.
