If you have been bitten by a dog, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your damages. Dog bites are serious injuries, and the owners are expected to be responsible for any of your expenses stemming from the incident. It is important that you consult with a dog bite lawyer in Porterville to better understand the nuances of your case and the finer details of the law. If you do not consult with an attorney, you may not be armed with all of the most crucial information, and your case will suffer. Our expert lawyers at Normandie Law Firm can help you file a lawsuit against the negligent dog owner for allowing his dog to bite you. We know that events like this can be traumatizing and confusing, and we pride ourselves on being here to help and sue the responsible owner. Our clients often call us with questions about dog bite injury lawsuits; some questions they often ask include:
- Where can I find Porterville dog bite attorneys?
- What is the best Porterville dog bite law firm?
- I need a Porterville law firm to help me sue for dog bites. Who can I call?
Preventing Dog Attacks
The best way to avoid being bitten by a dog is to avoid getting involved in a situation where a dog may bite you. You should recognize signs of a hostile dog – growling, low posture, barking, and feinting attacks are likely indicative of a dog that is mistrusting or fearful. It may not immediately attack, and you should take this short amount of time to walk backwards in a manner that isn’t threatening. Many animals calm down when the threat is perceived to be gone; if you stick around, the dog may just grow even warier. If a dog decides to attack you, you should do what you can to feed it another object instead of a limb. This can potentially save you from being injured.
Of course, this requires fast thinking and the lack of panic.
Injuries from Dog Bites
Dogs have very strong mandibles and can bite down with a few hundred pounds of pressure. This raw strength can greatly damage the affected area and may cause numerous types of damage, some of which can be irreversible. You should immediately seek medical attention in the wake of a dog bite; if the injury is quickly treated, you may be able to mitigate a lot of the damage and escape long-term recovery.
Some injuries are more debilitating than others. Here are a few examples of the types of damages you can sustain from a dog bite attack:
- Skin lacerations
- Broken bones
- Puncture wounds
- Excessive blood loss
- Scarring
- Gaping wounds
- Infection
- Nerve and muscle damage
Your injuries should not be treated lightly; a qualified doctor can greatly assist you in recovering. If you are in need of a recommendation for a health facility or specific doctor, our experienced Porterville dog bite lawyers can tell you who we believe is the best in the business.
Laws Regarding Dog Bites
Dog bites are a unique part of the law. In many other states, there is what is known as a “one bite rule” which states that dogs essentially have a free pass at the first incident. The dogs may not have a history of violent tendencies or there may have been certain circumstances that drove the dog to attack. In California, owners are strictly liable for the behaviors of their dogs; as such, there is no “one bite rule.” The first offense can be enough to secure a lawsuit against the responsible party.
The interesting aspect of dog attacks lies in the actions of the dog – if a dog shoved you down and scratched you, you would not be able to sue the dog owner for dog bites. The dog needs to have actually bitten you so you can file a dog bite lawsuit.
You should note that there are exceptions to this rule. It is important to note that not every person who is accompanying a dog is its owner. You cannot sue a dog sitter or caretaker if a dog bites you; the lawsuit must be filed against the owner. Also, if you were trespassing on private property or you were not lawfully allowed on the premises where you were bit, you would be unable to file a lawsuit. Some of your rights get sacrificed when you commit a crime, and being able to sue a dog owner for bites you sustained while trespassing is one of them.
Further, the statute of limitations on dog bite injury lawsuits is 2 years from the date of the injury, or 2 years from the date of the discovery of the injury. Statutes of limitations are put in place to ensure that cases are settled in timely manners; the longer a case goes on, the likelier it is for evidence to be lost or for witnesses to recollect foggy or wrong details regarding the incident. Though there are some exceptions to the statute – for example, a minor may wait until he 18th birthday to file a lawsuit or a person may be physically or mentally incapacitated and unable to take legal action – for the most part, the 2 year limit stands. If you need more information on deadlines regarding your case, reach out to a Porterville lawyer with experience in dog bite lawsuits.
Steps to Take to File a Claim
If you were bitten by a dog, you may opt to pursue legal compensation in the form of a personal injury lawsuit. If so, you must be aware that you need to prove four points of negligence in the case. These points consist of established that a duty of care was present between the dog owner and you, which can be said to be true if any individual walks his dog in public – the public must be kept safe from the dog. Second, the owner must have breached that duty by committing some kind of negligent action, such as letting the dog roam without a leash. Third, the breach of duty must have caused an incident or accident of some sort. And fourth, the accident or incident must have led to specific physical injuries. If all of these points can be proven, you may be well on your way to receiving a fair settlement for your injuries.
You should make sure that you have ample evidence of the attack and its consequences. If there were any witnesses, you should have testimony from them in the form of videos or signed documents, as well as information from the dog owner himself. You should snap pictures of your injuries and hold on to all of your medical records and bills. These will come in handy when attempting to value your settlement.
What You Can Earn
An attorney in Porterville can help you earn various types of compensation for your dog bite injuries. It is crucial that you find an experienced lawyer so you know you are in good hands. Some types of compensation you can receive include:
- Medical expenses, which can be covered from both the past and the future. These expenses include surgery, hospitalization, medication, physical therapy, and more.
- Lost wages, which can be recovered for the days you spent out of work. These wages can also be reimbursed from the past and the future.
- Pain and suffering, or emotional damages, are awarded to combat internal suffering. You can be covered for psychological trauma, fear, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, mental scarring, and more.
- Punitive damages, which are very difficult to acquire as most courts see them as unnecessary additional monetary damages. They are given out in instances of gross negligence or an intent to cause harm. Only a skilled Porterville lawyer will be able to earn them for you.
If you have any other questions, talk to one of our experienced Porterville dog attack attorneys at Normandie Law Firm today.
Normandie’s Help
Our Porterville attorneys who have experience in dog bite lawsuits are here to assist you in earning compensation for your dog bite injuries. We are an aggressive group of lawyers who will not rest until we bring you the settlement you deserve. We are empathetic and know that you deserve as much time as possible to recover from your injuries. Spending needless energy on negotiating with insurance agencies and stressing about court dates can worsen your injuries and increase the time it takes for you to heal. We recommend leaving the tough leg work to us so you can focus on what matters: your health.
Call us today for a free legal consultation with one of our skilled lawyers. We will give you all the information you need to know about the legal process and what a dog bite lawsuit entails. You are encouraged to ask any questions you want. Further, if you take us on as your law group of choice, you will be given a zero fee guarantee on your claim. This promises that you will not pay a dime out of pocket for our services; our payment only comes if we win your case, and it is taken from the settlement we earn for you. This is done to make sure your finances are never touched during the case. If we lose, you do not owe us anything at all.
Contact Normandie Law Firm today to speak with an accomplished lawyer in Porterville about your dog bite claim.
