How many times do you encounter dogs while you are going about your day? If you are like most people, you might encounter dogs on a daily basis. Whether you are walking, jogging, or driving somewhere, it is common to see dogs everywhere. Dogs have become one of the most common pets in Fresno and throughout California. Why do people love dogs so much? For many dog-enthusiasts, puppies are too cute to resist. Over time, however, dogs become too much for some people to handle, and they neglect their needs. The majority of dog owners, however, are responsible. They keep their dogs on leashes, ensure that they have all vaccines, and even ensure that they are trained. What dog would you consider a higher threat? What dog might bite you? The majority of people believe that only neglected dogs, dogs that are allowed to roam the streets, for example, are capable of attacking a human.
However, all dogs are capable of biting a human—no matter how well-behaved or trained they are. Although dogs have been domesticated for well over 10,000 years, all dogs have natural instincts which might result in bites to unsuspecting victims. Dogs often bite in response to fear, anxiety, or anger—if they feel threatened in any way, they might attack and cause injuries.
Were you a victim of a dog bite? If you suffered dog bite injuries, you might have grounds to file a lawsuit against the dog owner. You must immediately contact Normandie Law Firm to speak with our attorneys. Our attorneys have spent many years helping the victims of dog bite injuries exercise their rights. Our experienced lawyers can help you exercise your right to sue the dog owner and recover compensation for your injuries. In the following sections, you will find some information that should help you get an understanding of the legal aspect of dog bites. To receive details about your dog bite injury claim, you must immediately speak with our attorneys.
California Dog Bite Laws
What can you do after being bitten by a dog? The majority of people seek medical attention, but they do not seek legal assistance. Many people are unaware that there are laws that apply specifically to dogs. Because of this, they do not know that they have the right to sue and receive compensation for their injuries. What dog bite laws protect you? California’s dog bite law (section 3342 of the Civil Code) establishes the instances in which dog owners are liable for injuries caused by their dogs. According to the dog bite law, dog owners are liable if the injuries were caused by a dog bite, and if the victim was bitten while in a public place or lawfully in a private place. In other words, victims are only protected by the dog bite statute when they are bitten either in a public place or a private place—as long as they were there lawfully. This statute does not apply to police dogs or military dogs that might cause injuries while working.
If you were not bitten by a dog, but you were injured by a scratch, for example, the law described above might not apply. However, you might still be eligible to file a claim if you can prove that the dog owner was negligent.
In some states, dog owners are only liable if victims can prove that they knew their dog could bite but they failed to take measures to prevent injuries to others. In California, dog owners have strict liability. Therefore, dog owners are accountable for all harm caused by dog bites. As mentioned above, victims would need to prove that they were either in a public place or lawfully in a private place. It does not matter if you were in a park, a beach, a store, or at a neighbor’s house—you have the right to sue and receive compensation for your injuries.
Dog Bite Injuries
When you think of dog bites, do you consider the bite to be the injury? Dog bites are the cause of many other injuries that might not normally be considered. Some of the common injuries associated with dog bite injuries include the following:
- Infections
- Lacerations and cuts
- Muscle damage
- Nerve damage
- Scarring
- Severed limbs
- Mental and emotional injuries
The injuries likely to be sustained in a dog bite attack range from physical to mental and emotional injuries. No matter the type of injuries sustained, it is essential that victims seek immediate medical attention. Victims must also keep all records of medical expenses associated with their injuries. Many victims believe that seeking medical attention is the only necessary step to take after a dog attack; however, it is essential that you contact an experienced law firm. Our law firm can help you recover compensation for the injuries you sustained.
Compensation Available for Dog Bite Injury Claims
Are victims of dog bite injuries eligible to receive compensation for their injuries? If you were a victim of a dog bite, you might be eligible to receive compensation if you file a dog bite injury claim. Although the types of compensation received is not always the same across different dog bite claims, many victims of dog bite injuries are eligible to receive the following forms of compensation:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Punitive damage
If the dog bites result in the death of the victim, surviving family members might be eligible to recover compensation for the loss of consortium along with funeral and burial expenses, for example. Since the types of compensation you are eligible to receive depend on the details of your dog bite injury claim, it is important that you contact our law firm and request to speak with our attorneys as soon as possible. Our attorneys will give you all the information you need to understand the compensation you are eligible to receive. Our attorneys will also always fight to ensure that you recover the highest amount of compensation available for your dog bite injury claim. Do not hesitate to contact our firm as soon as possible.
Statute of Limitations for Dog Bite Injuries
How much time do you have to sue for a dog bite injury? If you were a victim of a dog bite injury, it is important that you file your lawsuit within the statute of limitations established by the state of California. What is a statute of limitations? A statute of limitations is a deadline to sue that applies to all personal injury claims—including dog bite claims. You must file your claim within the statute of limitations to ensure that you maintain your right to sue. If you do not file your lawsuit within the statute of limitations that applies to your claim, you might lose your right to sue and receive compensation. Victims of dog bite injuries have two years to sue the dog owner liable for their injuries. Although the two-year timeline is strict, there might be some exceptions that apply to your claim. Because of that, it is essential that you speak with our attorneys as soon as possible; our attorneys will review your statute of limitations and identify any exceptions that might apply to your claim.
Taking Action after a Dog Bite
Many victims of dog bites never take the proper steps to ensure that they have the necessary details to file a claim at a later time. It is not a surprise to learn that many people focus on getting medical attention as soon as possible rather than following the steps below. However, following the steps outlined below can help make the process of filing your dog bite injury claim easier:
- Get away from the dog or restrain the dog. If you cannot get away or restrain the dog yourself, you should ask a witness for help. If the dog cannot be restrained or poses a threat, do not risk another injury. Contact animal services.
- Gather information about the dog and the dog owner. If a dog owner comes forward, you should collect contact information and addresses. You should make a note of the dog’s characteristics like breed, color, and sex. If you cannot get exact information, you must attempt to get approximate information—any information is better than no information. If you can identify a dog owner, ask for their insurance information.
- Gather witness information. If there were any witnesses to your dog attack, you should gather their names and contact information for later reference.
- File a dog bite report. In Fresno, you must file an animal bite report with The Rabies and Animal Control Program of the Environmental Health Division. Filing a dog bite report ensures that there is a record of your dog bite incident and creates a record of the dog’s aggression.
- Photograph your injuries. You should photograph your injuries before and after treatment to support your dog bite claim.
If you do everything mentioned above, you should not encounter any difficulties when you contact our law firm. Our attorneys understand that sometimes it is not possible to collect everything mentioned above. The attorneys at Normandie Law Firm are committed to helping you strengthen your claim; our attorneys will help you throughout the legal process until you recover the compensation that you deserve.
Normandie Law Firm
If you were the unfortunate victim of dog bite injuries, you might have grounds to file a lawsuit against the dog owner responsible for the dog that bit you. In Fresno and throughout all of California, dogs are popular pets. All dogs, even the most well-behaved and trained dogs, can snap and bite unexpectedly. Their unpredictable behavior can leave victims with a variety of dog bite injuries. If you were injured in a dog attack, you must contact our law firm as soon as possible. Our attorneys have helped many victims exercise their rights and sue the dog owner liable for their dog bite injuries. Do not hesitate to contact our law firm; our attorneys have the expertise to represent you and help you recover the compensation to which you are entitled.
Normandie Law Firm offers free consultations and free second opinions. During our free consultations and free second opinions, our attorneys are available to answer all questions and address all concerns. It does not matter if you are starting or have already started your claim; our attorneys are willing to help you. When you allow our attorneys to handle your claim, you will be certain that our attorneys will give you all the information necessary to either start you or help you get back on the right track. Our attorneys will never rush through your claim and risk neglecting key elements—we are committed to ensuring that you and your claim are our top priority. Do not settle for incompetent attorneys that claim that they can handle your dog bite injury lawsuit. Contact our experienced dog bite injury attorneys as soon as possible.
Our free legal services are available through our firm’s Zero-Fee guarantee. Our guarantee ensures that our clients do not have to worry about paying any upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. Our Zero-Fee guarantee also ensures that the victims of dog bite injuries do not have to pay legal fees until after our attorneys win their claims. Our contingency structure ensures that you do not have to pay fees until you win; if you do not win, you will not be required to pay. If you are interested in suing a dog owner for your dog bite injuries, you must contact our law firm today.
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