Dog Bite At A Dog Park Lawyer

It is not surprising that there are now parks dedicated to off-leash play spaces for dogs, considering Americans spend over $100 billion each year on pet-related products. We love our dogs and want to repay them for the love and companionship they provide for us. So, trips to the dog park are as every day as a family outing to the playground or beach. The goal is to provide our furry four-legged friends with the best possible life.

But just like children, not all dogs that get to visit the park are as well-mannered as they should be. Some dogs get filled with anxiety and become aggressive when they feel threatened or uneasy. And again, like the playground, dogs can begin to fight and bite one another. And in the worst cases, they even turn on humans and can bite a person, causing what can be severe damage.

If you or a loved one have suffered a dog bite while at a California dog park, you will surely wonder about your rights as a dog bite victim. Can you sue the owner of the dog that bit you? Can you sue the dog park? And how do you pursue getting compensation for the medical bills and last wages that are the result of your dog bite injury?

The expert dog bite at a dog park lawyers at Normandie Law Firm are here to answer all of these questions and more during a free consultation. Please call the Normandie Law Firm office today to discuss your injuries and the details of the dog bite incident with a seasoned lawyer who handles personal injury lawsuits daily.

I Thought California Was A Strict Liability State

As a dog owner, you should be well aware that California is a strict liability state when speaking of dog bites. The civil code states that the owner of the dog is liable for damages suffered by another person whom their dog bites. This simple rule applies to public places as well as places that are being lawfully visited. So if you are a guest on someone’s property and their dog bites you, the dog and property owner are liable for your injuries and losses. It is basically a simple way to state that a prowler, robber, or someone who is not authorized to be on your property is not protected under the same laws if your dog bites them.

Dog Parks Are Public

When a dog bite occurs specifically at a dog park, the process of proving negligence on the part of the dog owner gets a bit more challenging. In other public areas, the dog bite victim can quickly point out that the dog was off-leash, making the owner negligent or that the owner failed to control the leashed dog when it bit, also making the owner negligent. However, dog parks are often off-leash play areas. So the owner is only going to be considered negligent if it can be provided that the dog was known to be aggressive, was poorly trained, untrained, or was unfamiliar with other dogs and humans in this type of environment. All of these can be more difficult to prove to establish negligence and secure grounds for a lawsuit.

In addition, there are cases of dog parks that are clearly marked with signs that you are entering at your own risk. A savvy dog owner could argue that your entrance into the dog park with those warning signs constitutes implied consent or a waiver of liability. So it is critical to understand that filing a lawsuit against the owner of a dog that bit you in a dog park will present more challenges than most other dog bite cases. However, the dog bite at a dog park lawyers at Normandie Law Firm are here to assist you in getting any compensation that is due to you for the injuries you suffered from a dog bite at a dog park.

Common Dog Bite Injuries And Their Severity

Most people have suffered a dog bite when playing with their pet or a friend’s pet. But these are small nips that occur when playing. What is considered a slight nibble in most cases is a bite that does not break the skin or cause any damage to bones or other tissue. You might get a small bruise or minor discomfort, but the bite does not require medical attention. These are dog bites that are not worth taking to court.

However, medical care is vital if you suffer a severe dog bite. And you will likely want to seek compensation for the medical bills from the dog’s owner. Some of the more common injuries from dog bites include:

• Puncture wounds or severe lacerations that can often become infected
• Fractured or broken bones in the hands, arms, feet, or legs
• Facial injuries that can be disfiguring and require plastic surgery for correction
• Injuries to the eyes, nose, ears, or lips
• Damage to soft tissue and nerves

If you have been the victim of a dog bite at a dog park, it is crucial that you contact the dog park dog bite experts at Normandie Law Firm immediately. While these cases can be more challenging to prove, our team of lawyers and legal staff have decades of combined experience securing the compensation our injured clients deserve.

Time Is Valuable

In California, personal injury victims, such as a dog bite victim, have two years from the date of the incident to file a claim with the court. If you wait longer than the two-year Statute of Limitations, you will have forfeited your right to take any legal action on the matter. In addition, it is vital to remember that proving negligence is more challenging in a dog park setting. So the sooner you contact the experts at Normandie Law Firm, the faster we can begin working to gather critical information to support your claim. From contacting witnesses from the dog park to getting a professional evaluation of the dog that bit you, time is of the essence.

What Is My Case Worth?

The value of any personal injury case is based on the victim’s losses and injuries. In your case, we would use the total of your medical bills, lost wages, and legal fees to determine the amount for the lawsuit. In addition, an amount can be requested to compensate you for your pain and suffering due to the dog bite.
My Dog Got Bit At The Dog Park, Can I Sue?

Dogs are considered to be the property of their owner. So when another dog bites your dog, they are damaging your property. Unless the vet bills to treat your dog’s injuries are more than $10,000, your matter will be heard in small claims court. In this courtroom setting, you act on your own behalf and are not permitted to have an attorney handle the case. In addition, many judges dismiss the claims as it is difficult to determine which dog started the altercation and the dogs were within normal “dog” behavior patterns. The only other settlements in a dog versus dog bite case are related to valuable dogs, such as purebreds used for breeding purposes. In these cases, the owner of an injured dog could sue for the diminished value of their property.