Call Us: 
Fresno Accident Attorneys
- Results Matter
- Direct Access to Attorneys 24/7
- Hablamos Español
- Find Out Why Everyone Choose Us Above All
Fresno Accident Attorneys
Dog Bite Attorney in Fresno
Nowadays, almost anyone owns a dog. But, could you file a lawsuit if someone’s dog bites you? This is a very common question that our experienced Fresno attorneys receive. The good news is that yes you may have a right to file a lawsuit against a dog owner in the event that you have been injured by their dog. But, this depends on the circumstances. This page below discusses under what circumstances you have a right to file a lawsuit.
According to Fresno animal control, there were around 900 reported dog bites in the City of Fresno in a single year. This is not all the dog bites in Fresno, California since many dog bites go unreported. In the event that you or someone you know has been bitten by a dog in the city of Fresno, give our Fresno accident attorneys a call to discuss your case.
Fresno is a pet-friendly city that has multiple dog parks that are convenient for dog owners. Dogs are very popular in the City of Fresno. Generally, there are around 64 million households in the United States that own a dog.
What should I do after a dog bite in Fresno?
- Get medical attention: the best thing that you could do for yourself after a dog bite is to get medical attention. Even if you think that you have not suffered any injuries, the dog bite could lead to infections, which could lead to complications, and severe cases amputations. Make sure that you have not suffered any broken bones, and get evaluated by a medical professional.
- Report the accident to animal control: Fresno Animal Control requires that all dog bites be reported to the department. The department will then generate an incident report against the dog. After several dog bite reports on a single dog, animal control will then step in to contain the dog and prevent accidents.
- Get help from an experienced Fresno dog bite attorney: usually, dog bites will require medical attention. In the event of medical treatment, you should not have to pay for your costs out of pocket. Besides medical bills, you may have emotional trauma associated with the dog bite. This could be compensated from the dog owner.
Reporting a Dog Bite in Fresno
If you have been bitten by a dog in Fresno, you should alert the Fresno Animal Control Department as soon as possible. When you report the incident, the Animal Control Department will then advise you on whether you should be quarantined, or check for any signs of diseases, such as rabies. They will also have the dog’s history on file in the event that there were other past dog bite incidences.
To report a dog bite to Fresno Animal Control, you could call their office or report the bite to the Fresno County Sheriff’s department. When reporting the dog bite incident, make sure that you provide the proper authorities with the location of the bite, the date of the bite, the time of the bite, and any identifying factors that will assist Animal Control when determining the dog. If you have suffered any type of injury from the dog bite, you should also report it to Fresno Animal Control. Fresno Animal Control works to make sure that dog bites are prevented. This means that if there are multiple bites or an aggressive history the specific dog has, the dog may be euthanized.
Fresno Dog Laws
In Fresno, dog owners are responsible for their dog’s behavior, and any injuries that their dog may cause. This means that one who has been injured from a dog bite has the right to hold the dog owner responsible for the injuries they have suffered in Fresno.
Fresno has several different laws in place for dog owners. Some laws include:
- Leash laws: all dogs must be kept on a leash. The leash cannot be longer than 6 ft. This applies to both private and public property.
- Vaccination laws: all dogs must be properly vaccinated. The most important vaccination that animal control will look at is the rabies vaccine. In the event that Animal Control requests vaccination proof, a dog owner must promptly provide proof of vaccination.
- Reporting laws: Fresno Animal Control requires that those who are bitten by a dog to report the incident within 24 hours.
- Dangerous dog laws: if the dog has had a history of dangerous behavior, or has bitten someone in the past, the dog may be referred to as a “ dangerous dog.” Owners of dangerous dogs must constantly keep their dog confined or muzzled.
- Strict liability law: this is a general California law that holds dog owners strictly responsible for any injuries caused by the dog. Even if the dog was not considered dangerous, or the owner was not aware of the dog’s dangerous history, the owner could still be held responsible. This allows dog bite victims to recover compensation without having to prove negligence.
Does my dog have to be euthanized after biting someone?
In some cases in Fresno, your dog may be euthanized depending on the severity of the bite. If your dog is considered dangerous and has a prior history of biting others, Fresno Animal Control may step in to take precautions to prevent further bites from occurring.
Animal Control may recommend that the dangerous dog be euthanized. But, Animal Control will not automatically resort to euthanizing the dog. Instead, they may take a look at other options such as keeping the dog on a muzzle.
Could I recover compensation for my dog bite incident in Fresno?
If you have been bitten or attacked by a dog in Fresno, you have the right to get compensated for the injuries you have suffered from the appropriate dog owner.
Compensation you could receive from a dog bite lawsuit could include:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Lost wages
What will our Megeredchian law dog bite attorneys do?
- Our accident attorneys will evaluate the details of your case, and determine how the dog bite attack occurred and the injuries that you have suffered. Different types of evidence we will look at include medical records, Animal Control records of the dog bite, and an investigation into the accident area.
- We will communicate with insurance companies to hold them responsible for the dog bite injuries you have suffered. Our highly qualified attorneys will then negotiate a settlement amount with the dog owner, third-party attorney, or the insurance company to make sure that you receive fair compensation.
- Our trial attorneys will represent you in the event that a settlement cannot be reached by both parties.
Give our dog bite attorneys a call today for more information. Our highly qualified lawyers will provide valuable legal representation to support you during a traumatic experience like a dog bite.
We have offices located conveniently in Fresno, and could do consultations on the phone, or in person. We always want to make sure that our clients are comfortable with the steps that we take for their case, and constantly keep them informed. Give our highly qualified legal staff a call today to discuss your options.
Fresno Car Accident Attorneys
Address:1444 Fulton St, Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: (888) 243-2050