The mild weather in California makes this a great place to enjoy a ride on your bike, scooter, or motorcycle. When the sun is shining, and you are enjoying being out in nature, you feel relaxed, reenergized, and like nothing can ruin your day. However, when you come to a stop and discover that a dog is charging at you with their teeth bared, everything changes.
Few events are as terrifying as a dog attack and being bitten by a dog. Not only do you suffer from painful injuries, but there is also the worry of a severe infection or other complications. And in many cases, the dog bite victim suffers many emotional and mental challenges due to the attack. If you were out riding a bike, scooter, or motorcycle and were attacked and bitten by a dog, the staff at Normandie Law Firm is here to help. Our dog bite personal injury lawyers have decades of combined experience handling dog attack and dog bite injury lawsuits for our clients.
Please get in touch with our office today to learn more about your rights as a dog attack victim and how our dedicated and compassionate lawyers will assist you in getting any compensation that is owed you for the trauma and injuries you sustained. Our team is available 24/7 to answer your immediate questions and schedule your free consultation with a skilled dog bite lawyer in California to evaluate your incident and determine if you have grounds for a dog bite personal injury lawsuit or dog attack injury lawsuit.
What Are The Responsibilities Of A Dog Owner?
California is known as a strict liability state when considering the responsibilities of a dog owner. That means the dog’s owner is almost always liable for any damage caused by the dog. So it is in the best interest of the dog owner and the general public for dogs to be kept on a leash at all times when in public areas or around people. The owner needs to have a means of controlling the dog should it begin to act aggressively toward anyone legally on the property.
The exceptions for a dog owner’s liability include any time the dog is being abused or injured by a person. If the dog retaliates and bites the person hurting or abusing them, the owner is not responsible for the bite victim’s injuries. The other time the dog’s owner is not liable is when the dog bites or attacks someone not legally on the property. For example, if a person is stalking the dog’s owner or is breaking into their home, and they get attacked or bit by a dog, the owner is not liable for those injuries.
What Strict Liability Means For You
If you were bitten or attacked by a dog when you were riding your bike, scooter, or motorcycle on a public street and not abusing or provoking the dog, you have reason to explore a dog bite personal injury lawsuit against the dog’s owner. In addition, even if the dog did not bite you but it caused you injuries by jumping on you or knocking you to the ground, you could have reason to consider a dog attack injury lawsuit.
The staff at Normandie Law Firm is here 24/7 to help you evaluate the details of your dog bite or dog attack incident to determine if there is legal merit for a lawsuit. Understanding strict liability and using the laws in place to protect dog attack victims could provide the solution you need to costly medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses caused by the dog attack you suffered. Please get in touch with Normandie Law Form today to discuss your incident and the potential to file a lawsuit against the dog owner responsible for your injuries and losses.
How Much Is A Dog Bite Or Dog Attack Injury Lawsuit Worth?
In California, the value of most personal injury cases is based on the losses and expenses suffered by the victim. There are no predetermined values for a case involving a dog bite or attack. So you will work closely with the legal team at Normandie Law Firm to compile all the allowable expenses for your dog bite or attack claim. The most common categories for these items include:
- All current and future medical costs related to the injuries you suffered
- The value of any personal property that was damaged or destroyed in the dog attack incident
- Your lost income if your injuries prevented you from working while you recovered
- Your legal fees from Normandie Law Firm for the preparation and litigation of your dog bite or dog attack injury lawsuit
If you suffered severe injuries or the recovery time needed was extended, it is common to include a dollar amount to compensate you for your pain and suffering. Your expert Normandie Law Firm dog bite lawyer will assist you in selecting an amount that is the most robust possible to ensure you are fully and fairly compensated for all you have endured due to the dog attack incident. Our goal is always to get our clients the funds owed to them so they can stop worrying about financial challenges and focus on healing and returning to their normal life.
Common Dog Bite And Dog Attack Injuries
There are several injuries that are very commonly associated with dog bite and dog attack victims. The bite injuries can result in:
- Broken or fractured bones – often, the fingers, hands, and wrists suffer these injuries
- Severe lacerations and puncture wounds that can cause internal bleeding and damage internal organs
- Facial injuries to the skin, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth
- Damage to soft tissue, including nerve damage
When the dog lunges at its victim, the injuries can increase in severity due to impact when the victim is thrown to the ground. In these cases, some of the common injuries include:
- Dislocated joints or damage to the joint tissue
- Injuries to the back, neck, or spinal cord from impact and compression on landing
- Head injuries due to impact with the ground that could include a concussion, skull fracture, brain hemorrhage, brain contusion, or other traumatic brain injury
In addition to physical damage, emotional and mental damage can be equally as debilitating. Victims are likely to experience a range of conflicting emotions after a dog attack, including rage, fear, shame, anger, guilt, anxiety, and confusion due to these overwhelming feelings. To overcome these injuries and challenges, victims often need the help of a qualified counselor to work through what is often termed PTSD. The cost of professional care to address emotional and mental issues is also included in the medical expenses to treat the victim’s physical injuries.
Gather All The Information You Can
In a world where nearly everyone has a cell phone, few events occur that are not captured in photos and on video by witnesses or bystanders. So you will want to gather the contact information for anyone who saw or took a video of your dog attack. In addition, get the dog owner’s contact information and a picture of the dog if possible. If the dog owner provides it, also ask for the contact information for the dog’s vet to verify its shot and health records.
In many cases, the dog owner will appear helpful and willing to take responsibility for the acts of their dog at the scene. However, when you contact them later to get payment for the expenses, they can become adversarial or even ignore your request. So having the statements and images from witnesses can be very beneficial if you determine that filing a dog bite lawsuit is necessary.
How Long Do I Have To File A Dog Bite Or Dog Attack Lawsuit?
Personal injury victims in California have two years from the date of the incident to file a claim with the court system. If the case is not filed in that time, you will typically lose the right to seek compensation for your injuries and expenses. But the claim can be filed sooner if you and your Normandie Law Firm legal team feel it is in your best interest.
When You Need The Best Lawyer In California For Your Dog Bite Lawsuit
The seasoned staff at Normandie Law Firm is here to help when you need the best team to handle your California dog bite or attack lawsuit. Our pros have the expertise you want and a reasonable and fair payment plan that ensures you can afford the legal services you need.
At Normandie Law Firm, we never charge upfront legal fees or expenses because we know you could be facing significant financial hardships after suffering your injuries. So we only get paid after we have delivered the settlement or verdict funds you need to pay your legal fees and other expenses related to your dog attack or bite injuries. And if we fail to win your case, you owe us nothing.
This is not a gimmick or ploy to get you to hire our law firm. This is how we do business because we genuinely believe in the legal system and every victim’s right to have the best lawyers possible. So don’t hesitate to get in touch with Normandie Law Firm today to discuss your dog bite injuries and how we can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
I Was Attacked By A Dog But Not Bitten, Can I Sue?
Can I Sue A Store Owner If I Was Bit By A Dog?
How to Obtain Video Footage after a Dog Bite Incident
