Dog Bites

California Dog Bite Lawyers

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According to the California Department of Public Health, as many as five million Americans are bitten by dogs each year. 

While some of these injuries are minor and don’t require extensive medical care, not all animal attacks are so tame. When you’re the victim of a dog bite or dog attack, it can be a traumatic experience that can inflict both physical injuries and emotional scarring. Dogs can be powerful animals that can cause the need for ongoing medical treatment, and an aggressive or vicious dog can cause serious injuries, leading to severe pain, disability, or even a wrongful death claim.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog attack, then it’s crucial that you reach out to an experienced Arizona injury lawyer to help you navigate the legal process of holding the dog owner and any insurance companies accountable for the lack of animal control. 

Contact the law offices of Megeredchian Law for a free consultation so we can provide you with the necessary legal advice in terms of initiating and executing a successful personal injury case.

The Severity and Aftermath of a Dog Attack

The aftermath of a dog attack can leave you or your family members with medical bills and lost wages that create legitimate, long-term financial hardships. As the victim of a dog bite, you should never be responsible for paying for physical injuries that weren’t your fault, to begin with. When you have a Los Angeles dog bite attorney with many years of experience on your side, you’ll have the best possible chance of receiving your fair compensation for your dog bite injuries.

Your health matters to us, and often times dog bite victims require serious medical attention due to the possible chance of infection from disease or bacteria that dog bites can carry. Many dogs in the Los Angeles Metro Area carry diseases and bacteria that require the immediate medical care of antibiotics. While there are variations in terms of how dog bite incidents occur, a negligent dog owner can ultimately be the reason why your life changes in an instant.

Some dog bites are severe and result in disfigurement and scarring, while others will result in puncture wounds and discomfort. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help to maximize your results and obtain full and fair compensation for your damages while you focus on getting your mental and physical health back to normal.

Making an informed decision in hiring a Glendale dog bite attorney is critical for dog bite victims, and our law firm is here to help answer all of your questions and concerns free of charge.

We have experience handling dog bite cases and recovering substantial awards for dog bite injury clients. Effective legal handling of dog bites and a top-notch attorney-client relationship in this legal field requires experience in this practice area, as well as a knowledge of how to properly investigate the dog’s medical history and any record of previous attacks.

What to Know If You’ve Experienced Physical Injuries as a Result of a Dog Attack

Is a Dog Owner Liable for a Dog Attack?

California is considered a “strict liability” state, which means that dog owners are considered responsible for the actions of their pets at all times and are expected to take reasonable steps towards protecting others from being attacked by their dog. California’s dog bite law is section 3342 of the Civil Code. Per this law, a dog owner is liable for any subsequent damages caused by a dog bite as long as the bite occurred in a public place or the victim was lawfully on private property.

This can be a shock to some dog owners, who may claim their dog has never behaved aggressively or bitten anyone before the “isolated incident” that inflicted serious injuries. Even if this is the only time the dog has ever hurt someone, the owner is still liable for medical bills and the victim’s entire damages. A victim of a dog bite only needs to prove that they were bitten in a public place, or that they were legally in a private place and not trespassing.

The “One Bite Rule” does not apply and dog owners are 100% responsible and liable for the victim’s legal right of any and all compensation associated with their injuries that were inflicted by the dog.

Exceptions to Owner Liability

There are some situations in which the dog’s owner wouldn’t necessarily be considered liable. One exception applies to dogs that are doing police work or military work that are harassed or provoked. For this type of dog, the agency handling the dog has to have a written policy for how working dogs are handled.

If a person was trespassing on private property or attempting to commit a crime such as a burglary, they wouldn’t be able to collect damages from a dog owner if they ended up getting attacked or bitten by the dog. In these cases, the dog bite victim clearly wasn’t lawfully on private property.

What to Do if You Are Bitten by a Dog

One of the biggest risks after a dog bite is an infection, so it’s important to tend to your wounds right away to try to prevent increased infection risks. If your physical injuries are mild to moderate, you may be able to administer first aid to yourself. However, if it’s a very severe injury, you will need medical attention as soon as possible.

Wash the wound with soap and water as soon as you can after being injured, and if it is bleeding gently press a clean cloth over the wound to try to stop it. It’s a good idea to apply an antibacterial ointment to the area if you have it, and wrap or cover the wound with a sterile bandage. If you know who the dog owner is, try to find out if the dog has been vaccinated against rabies.

If you’re unable to stop the bleeding, call 911 immediately. You’ll need professional medical care right away if there is severe pain, muscle or bone exposure, or loss of function of any part of your body.

The more serious your injury is, the more likely you’ll also need an experienced injury attorney. All serious injuries will have both financial and emotional consequences, and you shouldn’t have to struggle with this on your own.

1.2 Million

Drunk driver head-on collision with our client resulted in a broken clavicle and dextral face nerve damage.

1 Million

Client spent 3 days in the ICU after he was rear-ended off-road and into the ditch.

500,000

Client spent 3 days in the ICU after he was rear-ended off-road and into the ditch. They had no broken bones.

250,000

Client had a mild brain surgery after lane-splitting with their motorcycle and colliding with a vehicle making abrupt lane change.

Record Breaking Settlements

From a $1.2 million settlement for a head-on collision case to $1 million for a rear-end car accident case, Megeredchian Law results are among the best in California State. We know exactly how much your car accident claim is worth and we never settle for less. This is how we choose to represent your concerns every day- with passion, persistence, and excellence- ensuring that from us you only get the BEST RESULTS!

1.2 MILLION
1 MILLION
500,000
250,000

How Dog Bites Can Affect Children

The emotional impact of a dog bite can be even more serious when the dog bite victim is a child. A small child can be easily overpowered by a large dog, and if that happens the child is likely to be traumatized for life.

A child can’t always express feelings of emotional distress but some of the common signs that a child may need professional help to deal with his or her feelings include:

  • Clinging to parents
  • Bed-wetting
  • Becoming withdrawn
  • Acting out with crying or tantrums
  • Sleep disturbances including nightmares
  • Loss of interest in focusing on favorite activities or schoolwork

Injuries Caused by Dog Bites

While some dog bites are relatively minor, others can cause debilitating injuries or disfigurement. Injuries from a dog bite can be so serious that they’re completely life-altering, and it’s common for dogs to attack an individual’s hands, arms, feet, legs, neck, head or face. Bites that seem to be superficial can also become infected from bacteria or diseases that the dog may be carrying.

Consequences of severe dog bite injuries may include:

  • Damage to tendons and nerves
  • Damage to bones or joints, including fractures and dislocations
  • Damage to limbs that can’t be repaired leading to amputation
  • Contraction of rabies, a deadly and life-threatening virus
  • Scars and disfigurement, particularly of the face
  • Death

The Emotional Impact of Dog Bites

Physical injury isn’t the only consequence that you may experience if you’ve been attacked or bitten by a vicious dog. A severe injury from a dog also has a lasting emotional and psychological impact on victims, and these emotional problems can last for many years.

A person that goes through a severe dog attack can suffer from depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. It’s not uncommon for victims to develop a lifelong fear of dogs, and some people even become afraid to leave their homes.

What is the Statute of Limitations for Dog Bites in California?

You may not realize at first how much impact a dog bite may have on your life. Immediately after a serious dog bite, you need to get proper medical care which may include hospitalization, surgery or rehabilitation. You may be left with permanent scarring or disability.

Dog bite injuries fall under personal injury law. In California, the statute of limitations on personal injury cases is two years. If you wait longer than two years to try to file a claim for your dog bite injury, it will be too long to obtain compensation.

Compensation for Your Dog Bite Injury

A shocking 4.7 million dog bites are estimated every year by the CDC. About 800,000 people who suffer from dog bites seek medical attention for their injuries and sadly a majority are children between the ages of 5 to 10 years old.

For adults who suffer from dog bite injuries, approximately 30% are puncture wounds and as many as 50% are more serious injuries.  It is estimated that approximately 16 people die each year as a result of dog bite attacks.

If you or someone you care about has sustained serious injuries because of a dog bite attack you may be entitled to compensation. Types of compensation you may be entitled to include:

  • Coverage of current and ongoing medical expenses
  • Cost of mental health treatment
  • Payment for emotional and psychological distress
  • Lost wages or lost earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering

Results Matter!

We are selective about the volume of cases and the type of cases we undertake. This ensures our client’s case gets the attention it needs so results are achieved. Big firms with big case volumes means your case gets lost with the thousand others. Results matter, experience the difference by retaining our firm and let us exceed your expectations.

Our clients are not just “clients,” we treat everyone like family with compassion and the utmost care.

- Alex Megeredchian
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How Much is My California Dog Bite Claim Worth?

If you have been bitten by a dog in Glendale, it is important to understand what you can expect if you file a claim for financial compensation. While it is important not to set unrealistic expectations, it is crucial not to underestimate the value of your claim, as doing so may cause you to either (i) forego asserting your legal rights, or (ii) settle for significantly less than you deserve.

Recovering Financial Compensation for a Dog Bite in California

While there are many aspects of dog bite claims that make them unique from other types of personal injury claims, the fundamental concepts underlying victims’ right to be compensated are the same. As a victim, you are entitled to just compensation for all of your economic and non-economic losses, including your current and future:

  • Medical treatment costs
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation costs
  • Prescription costs
  • Psychological and psychiatric therapy costs
  • Loss of income (including lost future earning capacity)
  • Pain, suffering, and emotional trauma
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Social anxiety and embarrassment
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Other financial and non-financial losses

California’s dog bite law imposes “strict liability” on dog owners for all losses resulting from their dogs’ attacks. This means that proof of negligence is not required (i.e. it is not necessary to prove that the owner knew the dog was dangerous or that it inadvertently allowed the dog to escape its enclosure). Additionally, due to the strict liability nature of California’s dog bite law, most dog owners have insurance to cover bite victims’ losses, typically under their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy.

How Much are You Entitled to Recover for Your Losses?

With these general principles in mind, how much are you entitled to recover for the losses you have sustained (and that you will continue to sustain in the future) as a result of your dog bite injuries? The answer to this question will depend on several factors that are unique to your case, including:

  • What is the nature and extent of your injuries?
  • Are you unable to work as a result of your injuries (either temporarily or permanently)?
  • Will your injuries leave you permanently scarred, disfigured, or disabled?
  • Have you suffered emotional trauma as a result of the attack?
  • Do your physical injuries or emotional trauma prevent you from participating in social engagements, hobbies, or other activities of daily living?

As an example, in one recent case we represented a young man who suffered a torn tear duct and eyelid after being attacked by a homeowner’s dog. His injuries required reconstructive surgery, and he suffered substantial financial and non-financial harm as a result of the attack. For this client, we were able to secure a compensation award of $500,000.

As we mentioned, all cases are different, and past settlements and verdicts do not suggest or guarantee future results for other clients.

Calculating Your Current and Future Losses from a Dog Bite

In order to calculate your personal losses resulting from a dog bite, you will need to work closely with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Your lawyer will need to ask you lots of questions in order to learn everything there is to learn about the physical, financial, and emotional effects of your injuries. With this information in hand, your lawyer can then provide an estimate of your potential recovery, and you can make an informed decision about moving forward with your dog bite claim.

Potential Evidence in a Dog Bite Case

Taking the time to gather evidence for your dog bite case will give you the best chance of holding the dog owner liable. It’s a good idea for you or a loved one to take photos or videos of your injury, the scene where the attack occurred and the dog if possible.

If there are any witnesses to the attack, get their names and contact information. Their testimony may be a key factor in your case.

Write down key details so that you don’t forget anything important as time passes, including:

  • When and where the incident happened
  • The name of the dog owner
  • Whether there was a report filed with Animal Control
  • The contact information for any responding agency
  • Information about the medical treatment needed, including medical bills and records

Contact an Experienced Glendale Dog Bite Attorney for a Free Consultation

If you need legal guidance after a dog bite injury, it’s important to consult an attorney with expertise in the field of personal injury law. Contact Megeredchian Law by filling out the form on our contact page or call us now at (888)243-2050 to speak directly to one of our attorneys.

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