Not all dog bites occur while people are outdoors. Some painful incidents occur in the homes of the victim’s closest friends and relatives. Visalia victims may suffer a bite from a friend’s dog or a family pet. Victims may be confused about whether they should ask for help with the medical costs.
But victims can seek financial help to pay their medical bills without targeting an acquaintance.
If you are injured in a dog attack, you should seek help with emergency room and doctor bills before you’re in danger of bankruptcy. A skilled Visalia Dog Bite Lawyer can help you hold an insurance company accountable and make sure you have the money you need to fully recover. Maison Law offers a free case consultation for all dog bite victims.
Dog Bite Injury Dangers at Someone’s House
Visalia residents may make many visits to the homes of parents or siblings each week. They may attend parties at the homes of friends. These social gatherings are great fun, but they can be a bit frightening to any family pet in the home. A dog might suddenly be exposed to a lot of unfamiliar people, or even some curious children.
It’s a situation that can confuse a dog or make a dog defensive, and lead to a painful bite.
Victims can suffer crushed bones in the hand, deep puncture wounds, or worse. Young children are usually closer to the ground and more easily within a dog’s reach. They also have less muscle to protect against a bite. They can suffer serious wounds that affect their development as they mature. Victims might be left with permanent scars on their skin.
These consequences also carry financial consequences, as medical bills and physical therapy costs pile up. Adult victims may also have to miss work and end up losing paychecks they need to support their spouses and children. Victims may wonder if they can receive help, but they could also worry about filing a lawsuit against someone they know.
Who Is Liable for a Dog Bite Inside a Home?
California follows the rule of “strict liability” when it comes to dog bites. It makes it easier to assign blame after an accident. This means that dog owners are almost always financially liable after a bite incident.
In some states, dog owners aren’t liable if it’s the first time the dog has bitten anyone or shown aggression. However, California holds dog owners liable from the first incident on.
There are a few exceptions to the “strict liability” rule.
- If the victim was trespassing when bitten, the owner might avoid fault. (This generally wouldn’t apply when visiting a family or friend)
- If the victim provoked the dog, the dog owner could avoid liability. (This usually wouldn’t apply to a young child. The child wouldn’t be expected to have the good judgment to stay away from a frightened dog.)
When people come over to a house or are at a party in the yard, pet owners are responsible for keeping dogs out of situations where they might bite. They must keep a dog in a crate, leashed, or locked alone in another room. If they let a dog roam free, they accept the responsibility if something goes wrong.
In California, dog owners will be responsible for any hardships the patient faces in recovery. Victims can seek compensation for all medical bills and physical therapy bills. They can ask for help in supporting themselves and their families while they can’t work and earn a paycheck. A skilled Visalia Maison Law attorney would also demand additional support for the pain the victim experiences and the emotional trauma a frightening dog attack can cause.
Should I File a Dog Bite Claim Against Someone I Know?
Victims may be torn over the thought of asking a family member or friend for financial support during recovery from a dog bite. But they shouldn’t feel that they are directly targeting a family member or a friend who owns a dog. A claim would be filed against the friend’s homeowners insurance or renter’s insurance provider. The insurer would be called upon to write a settlement check to cover the victim’s damages.
A relative or acquaintance pays their insurance premiums for these types of incidents. What’s more, if asked, a dog owner would probably want a victim to be able to pay for the best care available to recover physically and financially. This is especially true if a victim is a child who will need immediate treatment. Child victims could require surgery in the future if an injury affects their development in the teen and adult years.
In some cases, victims will have no choice but to file a claim. They might have no chance to cover huge medical bills out of their own savings. A deep bite wound or a broken bone could take a year or more to fully heal and build up thousands of dollars in surgery and physical therapy costs. Victims of dog bites should never face these costs alone.
Contact a Visalia Dog Bite Attorney
California law allows dog bite victims up to two years from the date of the accident to file an injury claim. You shouldn’t delay when you’ve suffered a serious injury. It’s easier for your lawyer to collect evidence to help negotiate with insurance companies if not too much time has passed.
After you or a loved one has suffered a serious dog bite anywhere in Tulare County, reach out to a Visalia 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 won’t need any upfront money if you decide we can help you earn the most for your dog bite wound and recovery. If you hire us, we don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the insurance settlement check you receive
