Who Is Responsible For Your Dog Bite In A California Office Building?

There are many reasons to find yourself in an office building on any given day. You could be there for an appointment with a doctor or lawyer, meet a friend for lunch, or drop off paperwork for a personal matter. Most people don’t realize how many offices they visit each week. But you are sure to recall the office you visited where you were bit by a dog.

With more offices and buildings becoming pet-friendly, it is becoming more and more common to see dogs lunging in offices and cubicles as you walk through an office. And while you might not care about bringing your dog to work day benefits, it can become a safety hazard when the dogs are not all well-behaved and well-mannered. It only takes a second for an unattended dog to lunge and bit someone walking through an office.

If you have been the victim of a dog bite in an office building, you are sure to wonder who is responsible for the dog, your injuries, and the cost of your medical bills and other expenses. And you wish you knew who could answer your questions and help you understand what you need to do to ensure you are not stuck paying bills created because of someone else’s ill-behaving dog.

The California dog bite injury lawyers at Normandie Law Firm want you to know that they offer a solution. Contact the office to request a free consultation to discuss your case with a seasoned dog bite injury lawyer. Staff is available 24/7 to answer your immediate questions and schedule a time for you to get the answers and guidance you need to protect your rights and financial future.

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A Caution About Dog Bites
Unfortunately, most people are unaware of the massive amount of germs and bacteria in a dog’s mouth. When a dog bites a human, there is a very good possibility that the bite will become infected. Even if the teeth barely break the skin, bacteria, and germs will enter your body and begin to wreak havoc with your immune system. The tiny mark that looks minor today to be red, swollen, and seeping puss tomorrow morning when you wake up.

Common illnesses related to a dog bit include:

• Rabies
• Strep and Staph
• Cellulitis
• Blood Infections
• Bone Infections

So even if you think that the dog bite you suffered at that office building was minor, please seek medical care and an examination of the bite wound. Proper cleaning and antibiotics are the best way to avoid a severe illness or life-threatening infection from even a tiny dog bite.
Who Is Ultimately Responsible For A Dog In An Office Building?
After suffering a dog bite in an office building, you might wonder who will be responsible for the damages. You consider the owner of the building, the owner of the business you were visiting, and even the property management company that allowed the dog to enter the building. However, none of those is the correct answer in California.

When it comes to dog bites, California is a strict liability state, meaning dog owners are solely responsible for almost all dog bites and the damage they cause. This law covers dog bites that occur in public places like a street or park as well as private property. So in the case of your dog bite at an office building, the dog owner owes you the cost of your medical bills and all other expenses related to the injury you suffered.

As long as you were a legal visitor of the office building, meaning you were not breaking into the property, there after hours, stalking an employee, or disobeying any laws entering the property, the dog owner is liable for all damage caused by the dog.
Gather Essential Information Before Leaving The Office Building
As long as your dog bite injuries are not life-threatening, you will want to gather some information before leaving the office building. The dog owner’s contact information and any witnesses to the dog bite will be critical to securing the money you deserve for your injuries. In addition, you should ask for the contact information for the dog’s vet to confirm that they are up to date on all vaccines. And you might want to speak to the office manager to make them aware of the incident and see if they have any report you should complete and submit to the company for their records. Even though the company is not liable for the injuries, they might keep records of incidents in their office or for future consideration for pet access to the office.
Be Aware Of The Statute Of Limitations
A dog bite is considered to be a personal injury in California. So you have two years from the date of the incident to file a claim with the court system. If you fail to file against the dog owner in the first two years, you will lose your right to make a claim for your losses due to the dog bite. When you work with Normandie Law Firm, our staff will keep the two-year date and all other critical milestone dates on the calendar to ensure we do everything needed to see your case filed within the two years and completed with a successful compensation package in your favor.

Please also understand that the two-year time frame is the limit for filing your claim, but you can also file much sooner. We recommend contacting Normandie Law Firm as quickly as possible after the dog bite incident to ensure your case is filled promptly. There is no guarantee of how long a lawsuit will take to work through the court system. So the sooner the claim is filed, the sooner you will have the money you need to pay medical bills and other expenses or replace any lost wages. Contact Normandie Law Firm today to schedule your free consultation for your dog bite injury case.

How Do You Decide How Much To Request In A Settlement?
There are no arbitrary amounts or preset amounts for any lawsuit settlement. Instead, each settlement amount is calculated based on the expenses and losses of the injury victim. The staff at Normandie Law Firm will assist you in obtaining all the information needed to calculate your losses related to the dog bite injuries you sustained. Some of the most common expenses included in an injury case Include:

• The total of all current medical bills and treatments for your dog bite injuries
• The estimated amount of any future treatment required for the injuries
• The total of your legal expenses to seek representation and file your claim with the court system
• Any lost wages if you were unable to work while you healed from the dog bite injuries
• Any wages lost for work missed to attend medical appointments
• A dollar amount can also be added to represent your pain and suffering due to the dog bite injuries

Why Select Normandie Law Firm As Your Dog Bite Injury Lawyer?
While most dog bite cases are relatively easy to litigate, there are certain skills that set Normandie Law Firm apart from the others in the industry. We believe the most crucial factor is our dedicated professional staff. The lawyers and support team you will work with do not see you as a case number or a name on a file folder. They get to know you and are invested in helping you get the justice you deserve as an injury victim. We all believe in the law and that with the proper help, the legal system will provide for and protect those who are injured or suffer losses due to someone else’s negligence.
We Take No Payments Until Our Job Is Done
Many law firms require upfront payments to handle a personal injury case; However, at Normandie Law Firm, we understand that you could face many financial challenges after your dog bite injury. So we never get paid until you have been compensated with a verdict in your favor or a settlement. This is our way of easing your financial burden while helping you get the money you deserve for your dog bite injuries. And you owe us nothing if we fail to win your case.

Even if you are working with another law firm, the Normandie Law Firm staff offers a free second opinion consultation if you are concerned about how your case is moving forward. We can discuss the details of the case and how we would recommend it be handled if you decide to change lawyers or law firms during your current legal matter.

The goal at Normandie Law Firm is simple. We always strive to do our best and what is best for our clients and their financial future. We know that winning your case and doing it as quickly as possible will allow you to move on past this challenge in your life and continue to build our stellar reputation as the law firm that genuinely cares about and values its clients.

Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
I Was Bit By A Dog When Providing Home Health Care – Who Is To Blame?
I Was Bit By A Dog While Working As A Contractor In A Private Home – What Can I Do?
I Was Bit By A Dog While Cleaning Houses In California – Who Is Responsible?