Can I Sue If My Dog Was Injured In A Car Accident?

As a pet owner in California, it is very likely that you take your dog with you on short trips around the city or even on longer drives for vacation, a day trip, or to visit loved ones. And though you might not dwell on it, there is always the potential for that beloved dog to be injured if you are involved in a car accident.

As a responsible dog owner, you should have the dog secured in a vehicle-approved pet carrier or use an adaptive harness designed to work with the seat belts in the vehicle to protect your dog in the event of an accident. But just like a person can be injured even when wearing a safety belt, so can your dog. And in these upsetting moments, you will have many questions flooding your mind, from how to find an emergency vet to the cost of the treatment your dog could need.

Of course, getting the proper medical care for your dog is the priority. However, once your dog is in the care of a reliable vet, you need to contact Normandie Law Firm to learn more about your rights as the owner of a dog that has been injured in a vehicle accident. Our experts are here 24/7 to provide the answers you need and even schedule a free consultation with a lawyer to ensure that you understand your rights and how to secure the compensation owed to you for the injuries sustained by your dog and the expenses you will incur in vet bills.
Can I File A Lawsuit For Injuries My Dog Sustained In A Car Accident?
The first question dog lovers ask is if they can file a claim after their pet has been injured in a California car accident. Many pet owners are pleasantly surprised to learn that in the State of California, plaintiffs can file a lawsuit on behalf of their injured dog if someone else’s negligence caused the vehicle accident. Of course, just like any lawsuit, many details and pieces of specific information will impact your ability to file and win the lawsuit. However, the lawyers at Normandie Law Firm are here 24/7 to help you understand your rights and how you could be able to file a claim against the party responsible for the accident that injured your dog.

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Understanding Comparative Negligence
As you consider your ability to file a claim against the person responsible for the vehicle accident, it is also vital that you know how comparative negligence could impact the outcome of your lawsuit. In California, courts can assign fault and compensation based on the amount of responsibility assigned to a party. For example, if your dog was not restrained in a safety harness, the court could determine that you were partially responsible for the injuries due to your negligence. Whatever percentage of negligence the court feels is your responsibility will also apply to your financial burden. If you are 30% responsible for the injuries, you will also bear 30% of the cost of the damages. So if the case value is $10,000, the defendant carrying 70% of the negligence would owe you $7,000.
Being A Good Pet Owner
As any dog owner would quickly tell you, the priority is always their dog’s safety. However, the addition of comparative negligence is even more reason to be a responsible pet owner. While you might not have thought about your pet’s car safety in the past, now is the time to carefully evaluate how your dog rides in the car and what steps you could take to ensure their safety.

Some hints and tips to remember include:

• Never let your pet sit on your lap or be held by another passenger. Think of the safety measures used for children and apply the same care and safety to your dog when in a moving car.
• Use an approved and specifically designed safety harness for larger dogs that can be integrated into the human safety belt system in the car.
• For smaller dogs, use only approved vehicle-safe transport kennels that can be secured in the car.
• Never let your dog lean out an open window or hang out an open window to avoid safety hazards.
• Never let your dog ride in the car with their head out a sunroof.

All of these are safety issues and hazards that you might not have considered because you have never been involved in a vehicle accident with your dog. However, following these simple pieces of advice can be the difference in your pet sustaining only minor injuries in a crash or the loss of your beloved dog.
What Is The Potential Value Of A Dog Injury Lawsuit?
When your dog is injured in a vehicle accident, the list of expenses you can claim is not as extensive as you might think. The primary fee you can request is the cost of the medical care for your dog. The emergency care and any follow-up visits or treatment with your regular vet are all included, as well as any medication prescribed. Therefore, keeping detailed records of the bills is vital to ensure you are fully compensated when filing a lawsuit.

The case’s value can change significantly if your dog is killed in the accident or passes due to the injuries sustained in the accident. The medical care expenses are included in the claim as well as the market value of your dog. This is typically a larger amount with the dog is purebred, even if it was simply your pet and not used for breeding or any income purposes.

In addition, you can request an amount for the intangible loss of your dog. This is the counterpart to the economic value of your dog. It considers your pain and suffering due to the loss of your dog and the loss of companionship, love, and other benefits of owning the dog. In rare cases, punitive damages can be added to the claim if the driver that caused the accident was grossly negligent. The lawyers at Normandie Law Form will help you understand which expenses and other items apply in your case and how to justify the dollar amount of your claim.

The Statute Of Limitations
In California, the victim of a personal injury in a vehicle accident has two years from the date of the incident to file a claim with the court system. Because you are filing the lawsuit on behalf of your injured dog, you typically have the same two-year time frame to file your case. While there are some exceptions to this rule, there are very few. And your Normandie Law Firm legal team will explain any of the expectations that might apply to your case and why it could be advantageous to wait longer to file your claim.

However, in most cases, it is in your best interest to contact Normandie Law Firm as soon as possible to discuss the merit of your case and determine if filing a lawsuit is your best option. Our staff will work diligently to ensure that your case is processed as quickly as possible to ensure you receive the compensation as soon as possible. With few dog owners having pet health insurance, mounting vet bills can quickly become a financial burden. Sadly, there is no way to determine how long the lawsuit could take to complete, so beginning as soon after the injury accident as possible is often in your best interest.
Why Trust Normandie Law Firm To Handle Your Dog Injury Lawsuit?
At Normandie Law Firm, we understand how much your dog means to you. Many of our team have beloved dogs as well. And we are here to fight for your rights and your dog’s rights for quality healthcare after suffering injuries in a vehicle accident. In many cases, a pet owner and pet are injured in the same accident. Few things are as difficult as seeing your dog injured and suffering when you are also in pain.

Our team will work tirelessly to ensure you get the compensation you need to pay for the healthcare your dog needs to treat the injuries sustained in the car accident. And should the worst happen and you lose your pet, we will seek the fullest compensation possible to ensure the vet bills are paid and you are compensated for losing your best friend.

Many pet owners are unaware they can file a claim for their injured dog after a car accident. And when they see the cost of vet bills that are not within their financial means, they often make the painful choice to put their dog out of its misery so it does not suffer anymore. Sadly, that difficult choice could often be avoided if they had only called the Normandie Law Firm to learn more about their rights as the owner of a dog injured in a car accident. So if you have questions about filing a lawsuit after your dog is injured in a car accident, please contact Normandie Law Firm immediately. We are here 24/7 to provide the legal information you need to make the best choice for you and your dog.

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