Many people react positively to the sight of a dog. Dogs are viewed as playful, loving, and loyal. Dogs are considered man’s best friend, and many people have a dog as a pet at one point in their lives. There are some dog breeds that are recognized for being aggressive and dangerous. However, all dogs can pose a threat. All dogs—big or small—can bite and cause severe injuries. If you were bitten by a dog while you were in a public place or lawfully in a private place, you could take action against the dog owner liable for the dog that bit you.
If you suffered a dog bite injury, you must immediately speak to our Modesto dog bite attorneys. Normandie Law Firm is a Modesto law firm dedicated to helping all dog bite victims. Many victims do not take action against the dog owners liable for their injuries because they are not aware of their rights after a dog bite. Our attorneys are dedicated to helping innocent dog bite victims understand that they have rights and must exercise them. In the following sections, you will find information that might help you gain a better understanding of your legal situation. However, the general information provided below should not be used as a substitution for a consultation with one of our experienced dog bite attorneys.
California Dog Bite Laws
What does the law state about dogs and their bites? Who is liable for the dog’s actions? According to California’s strict liability statute, dog owners are automatically liable for any dog bite injuries caused by their dogs. Dog owners are liable only for dog bites; therefore, if the dog injures someone in another form, automatic liability will not apply. Automatic liability also applies when the dog bite occurs while the victim is in a public place or lawfully in a private place. A few examples of dog bite injuries in public places include parks, beaches, and shopping centers. An example of dog bites occurring while the victim is lawfully in a private place includes being bitten by a friend’s dog during a visit to said friend’s home. If the dog bite victim was trespassing when he or she was bitten, the dog owner would not be liable for his or her injuries. For additional information about who is liable for your dog bite injuries, you must immediately contact our law firm and speak to our attorneys.
Common Injuries Sustained
What type of injuries did you sustain during your dog attack? How could dog bites affect your wellbeing? If you were bitten by a dog, you might suffer the following injuries:
- Skin lacerations
- Infections
- Scarring
- Nerve and muscle damage
- Severed limbs
Besides the obvious physical injuries, victims of dog bite injuries can also be left dealing with some emotional and mental ailments. Victims of dog bite injuries can be left dealing with anxiety, depression, fear, and post-traumatic stress disorder, for example. Physical, mental, and emotional injuries can leave victims with unexpected medical bills. You must speak to a dog bite lawyer in Modesto as soon as possible to file a lawsuit against the dog owner liable for your injuries.
Compensation
If you sue the dog owner liable for your injuries, are you eligible to receive compensation? The short answer is yes; you can sue and receive compensation. How much compensation might you be eligible to receive? What types of compensation might you recover? These are a few questions that a Modesto lawyer with experience in dog bite lawsuits will be able to answer based on your case details. The different types of compensation you might be eligible to receive can be found below:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Funeral and burial costs
Although there are many forms of compensation, you should not assume that you will be eligible to receive every form listed above. Instead, you should speak to a Modesto lawyer with experience in dog bite lawsuits for more information of the types and amount of compensation you might be eligible to receive. When you choose Normandie Law Firm to handle your claim, you can be certain that our attorneys will not fight until you recover the highest amount of compensation available for your claim.
Preparing to File a Claim
Before you can file a claim, you must take the proper actions to ensure that you have the evidence necessary for a successful claim. You should gather as much information about the dog as possible, including breed, sex, color, and identification number. You should also take a photo of the dog and take note of the location or approximate address of the attack. If a dog owner comes forward after the attack, you should collect his or her information, including renter’s insurance or homeowner’s insurance policy numbers. You should also collect the information of witnesses if any were present. You should photograph your injuries, before and after treatment. You should also file a dog bite report with the appropriate agency. If you do everything listed above, you should have everything necessary to file a successful claim.
Statute of Limitations
How much time do you have to file a lawsuit? Do you have a deadline to sue the dog owner for your injuries? California’s statute of limitations establishes that victims of dog bites have two years to file a claim. If you do not file your claim within two years, you will lose your right to sue. The statute of limitations is a strict deadline; however, there might be some exceptions that increase the time you have to sue. For more information on the exceptions that might increase your statute of limitations, you must immediately contact a Modesto dog bite law firm and speak with an experienced dog bite attorney.
Normandie Law Firm
Dogs are some of the most popular pets. They provide friendship and companionship, and loyalty. Although dogs have positive attributes, they also have negative attributes that make them hazards to unsuspecting victims. Dogs are animals, and—no matter how much dog owners try to train them and make them parts of their families—they will always have their animal instincts. When dogs are fearful, angry, or anxious, for example, they can react with aggression and can bite. If you were bitten by a dog, you can take action against the dog owner and receive compensation. You must immediately contact Normandie Law Firm; our Modesto attorneys who have experience in dog bite claims can help you exercise your rights. If you are interested in filing a dog bite lawsuit, you must immediately contact us for an appointment to speak with our experienced Modesto dog bite lawyers.
Our law firm has spent many years focusing on helping as many victims of dog bite injuries as possible. Our law firm has focused on educating our community and giving them the information they need about their rights after a dog bite. Our law firm offers free consultations and free second opinions to ensure that all victims have access to speak to our experienced Modesto dog attack attorneys. During our free consultations, our attorneys are available to answer all questions and all concerns about your dog bite incident. Our attorneys will give you all the information you need to understand your legal situation. We guarantee that you will feel confident in starting a legal process against the dog owner liable for your injuries. If you already have an attorney with another law firm, you might be interested in benefiting from a free second opinion from an attorney in Modesto. If your previous attorney’s incompetence left you with more questions than answers, our attorneys can provide you with the clarification you need to get your claim back on the right track. Our attorneys will never rush through your claim and risk neglecting or overlooking key elements. We will always prioritize your claim and ensure that you have a thorough understanding of your legal situation.
Our free legal services are available because of our Zero-Fee guarantee. Our law firm’s Zero-Fee guarantee ensures that our clients will never have to worry about paying any upfront fees for any of our legal services. Our clients never have to hesitate to contact us because of the thought of expensive legal fees. Our law firm is also strictly based on contingency; therefore, our clients will not be required to pay any legal fees until after our dog bite attorneys have won their claims, and they have recovered the maximum amount of compensation. Do not hesitate to contact our law firm; our attorneys are ready to help you exercise your rights.
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