How can a dog bite lawyer help me?

Dogs are considered to be one of the cutest animals on the planet, but what happens if a dog bites you? Would you be able to hold the dog owner responsible for your dog bite injury?

The state of California has the most dog bites incidents reported compared to any other state in the United States. Dog bites could cause very severe internal injuries, such as tissue damage. Not many people know that you could file a lawsuit for personal injuries caused by a dog bite. When people think of personal injury lawsuits, they usually think of the standard car accidents or motorcycle accidents. You have the right to file a lawsuit against the owner of a dog who has bit you and caused you to suffer injuries. Contact our experienced dog bite attorneys today to see what steps we should take to make sure that you have the best legal representation. Our accident attorneys have dealt with several different types of dog bite cases, and understand exactly what it takes to make sure that you got the compensation you deserve. Our experienced dog bite attorneys know how to maneuver through the legal system to make sure that your claims are well-represented.

What if I was the owner of the dog?

In California, dog bites fall under a strict liability statute. This means that if your dog has caused another injury, you will be automatically liable for the incident. Usually, the dog owner is held liable in the majority of dog bite cases. Dog owners may have to compensate the plaintiff, also known as the party who is filing the lawsuit against the dog owner.

What can a dog bite attorney do for me?

Our dog bite attorneys will gather as much evidence as possible concerning the accident. There are several different types of factors we use to take into consideration how much your dog bite case is worth. For example, we would want to know:
Where the accident occurred (whether it was private or public stop)
Who the dog owner is
Who the landowner is at the time of the accident
The dog’s history of biting people
The severity of the injuries

Our dog bite attorneys will build your claim against the dog owner to make sure it is as strong as possible. In California, there are some exceptions that will prevent you from holding the dog owner responsible. These exceptions include:
When the victim was trespassing on land at the time of the incident
When the victim provoked the dog
When the victim was on the property for work purposes
When the victim was on the clock at the time of the accident
When the victim was reckless at the time of the accident

The first thing our attorneys will look at is whether you fall under any one of these factors. This is initially discussed during our consultation. During our free no obligation consultation, all our accident attorneys will ask several questions to make sure that you do not fall under any exceptions, and you will be able to seek compensation for your injuries. We will also ask a variety of questions to see how we can strengthen your case as much as possible.
Our accident attorneys will prove negligence against the defendants. When you file a lawsuit against a defendant, you will have to prove all the elements of negligence. In this case, you will have to prove that the dog owner was negligent. For example, if the dog owner knew that the dog had dangerous tendencies, yet still took the dog out on a walk unleashed, the dog owner could be held liable for negligence.
Our highly qualified attorneys will negotiate with insurance companies and other defendants to make sure that the settlement amount covers all your expenses. You do not have to communicate and negotiate with the other party. Our attorneys will take care of all of the negotiations for you.
Our attorneys will file all the necessary paperwork in court in a timely fashion. There are several different types of documents that must be filed in court. Improperly filed documents could risk getting your entire case thrown out. Our experienced attorneys have been filing documents with the courts of California for decades, and we know exactly what to do to make sure that all the documents are filed properly.
Our attorneys will determine what your final cost of damages are. We will gather all the costs, including medical bills, calculation of future medical needs, and any other plastic surgery that you may need from the dog bite. Other than medical bills, we will also take into account your past lost wages, along with your future lost wages.

Do I need a dog bite attorney?

Although you do not necessarily need an attorney to file a lawsuit, it is recommended that you have an attorney on your side to help you throughout the entire process. After a dog bite injury, you most likely will want to rest and focus on healing from your dog bite injuries. Dog bite injuries are known to cause severe scarring. The faster they are treated; the less scarring could result. That is why it could be very difficult to focus on your injuries and the lawsuit at the same time.

Should I get a dog bite attorney in California?

Although the first step after your dog bite is to seek medical care, your next step should be finding the right attorney to represent you. An experienced attorney will be able to help you with your case by gathering as much evidence as possible and building your case against the defendant dog owner.

Our team is very highly qualified to take on dog bite cases, and we have convenient offices located in California, including in Los Angeles, Fresno, San Francisco, Beverly Hills, etc.

What should I do after a dog bite accident?

Gather as much evidence as possible about the incident. Some dog owners may be afraid of the potential liability they may have in court, and may run away after the accident. It is very important that you document the accident as much as possible, including taking photos of where the accident occurred, taking photos of the dog, and taking photos of the bite. Make sure that you have the dog owner’s full name and phone number.
If there were any witnesses to the accident, make sure that you have their contact information. This will later be used during the discovery process when the witnesses are giving their statements as to what they saw.
Seek medical care to treat your dog bite. If you do not get the necessary medical care, the defendant will use it against you. They may argue that your dog bite wasn’t as severe enough, and that is why you never saw the doctor.
Keep a daily journal and document your physical struggles, along with how you are feeling emotionally after experiencing the dog bite.

If you have been injured in a dog bite accident, contact our attorneys today to schedule an initial consultation with our highly-qualified dog bite accident attorneys in California.