After a scary dog bite incident in Visalia, victims will need the dog owner’s insurance information so they can file a claim and get help with their medical expenses.
If they’re up to it, victims may need to track down a dog’s owner and seek insurance and contact information themselves. Police and animal control officers might also help in finding the owner and recording details.
A skilled attorney will also have the investigative skills to determine the insurance status of a dog owner and win the victim the most possible in a dog bite injury claim.
Steps to Take to Get Insurance Information from a Dog Owner After a Bite
California’s strict liability dog laws usually hold a dog owner fully responsible for dog bites. Victims don’t need much evidence. They just need to show there was a bite and there was a dog owner responsible for preventing the bite. The owner is liable even if the dog has never bitten before.
Dog bite victims may be in their own yards or at a park like Mill Creek Park when they are bitten. If getting important information from a dog owner is challenging, victims may need to take action.
- If the dog owner is present, get contact information, homeowners or renters insurance information, and a policy number if possible. If you have a name, address, and the name of an insurance company, it may be enough to make an inquiry and file a claim.
- If the dog owner isn’t around, it may be time to go door to door to find out where the dog came from. Only do this if you are feeling strong enough after the incident. Talk to witnesses to get help in tracking down the dog’s home. If anyone mentions previous issues with the dog, get contact information.
- You should contact 911. If the dog is still a threat, the Visalia police could respond. The police may also show up if the injuries are serious. Officers would likely want to locate the dog owner and would record important owner information they could share with you.
- A dog bite incident should also warrant a response from animal control officers. The officers would want to find the owner to issue any citations for violations involved. That could include violating a leash law or dog restraint ordinance. In some cases, the dog would need to be quarantined. Animal control officers would probably record the information about the dog owner you’d need.
- Take photos. You should get photos of the dog, the scene, and the dog owner, if around. These photos may help you identify a dog owner if the owner takes off. They’ll definitely serve as good evidence. While you’re at it, take pictures of your injuries and any damage to clothing.
- Get contact information from all witnesses at the scene. Your attorney can contact them later to get powerful testimony for any accident claim or lawsuit.
- Contact a Visalia dog bite lawyer if your injuries are serious. A serious injury can include a deep bite wound, ligament damage, or a broken bone. When a case involves a lot of hospital bills, you’ll need to protect your case from unhelpful insurance adjusters looking to avoid blame. Your lawyer is also ready to conduct a full investigation into what happened and locate a dog owner if necessary.
What Should I Be Getting Support for After Suffering a Dog Bite?
Dog bites can take a long time to heal. Victims can face a long period before they regain feeling and strength back to a damaged limb. A wound may also resist healing due to the infections that a bite wound can develop.
Victims should receive support for their recoveries for as long as healing takes. That should include any potential costs for future surgeries involving injury flare-ups. It should include funds to pay for physical therapy that might go on for years.
Your attorney would be seeking the maximum in support for these and other factors:
- Totals on medical care now and any that may be required in the future.
- Lifelong support for a dog bite victim who suffers a physical disability.
- Full support for a victim who suffers a permanent disfigurement.
- Reimbursement for travel costs for appointments with doctors and surgeons.
- Compensation for the physical pain victims may suffer for months, years, or a lifetime.
- Support for emotional distress. This type of compensation can be substantial, especially for a victim left with PTSD symptoms from a scary attack. Depression may set in if a victim loses enjoyment of life due to an injury that limits participation in hobbies and family activities. These very real emotional damages must factor into a dog bite settlement agreement.
- Wrongful death benefits for families. In the most tragic cases, a life is cut short by a severe dog bite or attack. Nothing can replace a precious life, but families should seek justice on behalf of the family member and protect their financial future. The family would be able to seek financial support to make sure they don’t have to cover bills left behind, such as funeral costs. If the loved one has supported the family with a weekly income, that money must be replaced.
Contact a Visalia Dog Bite Attorney Today
We offer a free and confidential case review to all dog bite and dog attack victims.
If your injuries are serious, please contact us today to schedule an appointment. It’s a no-risk way to determine what your case is worth and how to hold a dog owner fully liable. A Maison Law dog bite lawyer is a critical protection when insurance companies try to blame you for what happened or attempt to devalue an injury.
And if you do need Maison Law’s help to secure more in support, remember that you don’t need to worry about having the money to hire a lawyer. We don’t get paid unless we win your dog bite case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement check that an insurer must provide.
