Actions to Take Immediately After a Dog Bite
If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog, there are several important steps you must take to ensure your physical recovery as well as protect your future legal claims. These steps include:
How to Report a Dog Bite or Dog Attack
Dog Bite FAQ's
It’s not uncommon for people to hesitate before deciding to call an injury lawyer after being bitten by a dog. Maybe they don’t know if their injuries are serious enough, or maybe worries about their relationship with the animal owner who happens to be a neighbor. But speaking to a dog bite attorney can help you evaluate your options and understand your rights. A good starting point might be to review some common FAQs, and please do not hesitate to contact us to talk in more detail or if you have other questions. Since every case has unique facts and circumstances, we’d be glad to discuss the specific details of your dog bite case and any specific questions you have. We invite you to give us a call at 530-265-0186 for a no charge consultation.
Overview of Dog Bite Laws
Unfortunately, California ranks #1 in the nation for the highest number of dog bites ranging from minor to very severe. An estimated 4.7 million dog bites occur in the U.S. each year and nearly 800,000 dog bites require medical care. The U.S. Postal Service tracks dog bites against carriers and typically reports around 3,000 incidences annually. Although dog bite laws vary from state to state, California has enacted tough dog bite statutes under which a dog owner can be found strictly liable for injuries caused by his dog.
How Can a Dog Bite Lawyer Help Me If I Was Attacked?
A dog bite lawyer can pursue compensation for the victim’s injuries. Victims could have been hurt when the dog bit them, jumped on them, or knocked them down. People who are wrongfully injured and who do not possess legal backgrounds are generally not aware of the different types of damages they have incurred. They tend to understand that they are facing mounting medical bills and perhaps they are losing income, but most are not familiar with types of recovery or legal theories to deal with the insurance companies by themselves.
Dog bite lawyers pursue compensation on the victim’s behalf. The attorney does this by:
Proving that someone else is liable, or legally responsible, for the victim’s injuries, and
Recovering compensatory payments from the liable person or party.
A dog bite attorney may pursue several legal theories:
California’s dog bite statute, which can hold the owner strictly liable,
The dog’s owner or caretaker knew or should have known of the dog’s dangerous propensities,
Someone acted negligently and failed to prevent the dog bite, and
The keeper of the dog violated a local law or regulation in a way that was negligent per se.
An experienced California dog bite lawyer can define the value on every type of loss, including those that will likely be incurred in the future. This will minimize the chance that the injured person will unnecessarily face costs without financial help.
For all of these reasons and more, you need to seek the help of our trusted dog bite lawyers at Phillips Personal Injury as soon as possible if you have been injured in an attack. Contact the firm today to schedule a free initial consultation.
What Damages Can I Recover for a Dog Attack?
Successful dog bite claims or lawsuits can recover compensation for all of your losses. This includes obvious consequences from the dog bite, like medical bills bit it may also included losses that are less obvious, like emotional trauma from living with a permanent disfigurement.
Dog Attack & Bite Resources
Hopefully, you find our site a good start to get your questions answered. But we are more than happy to answer any specific questions you may have, so feel free to give us a call at 530-265-0186. In the meantime, there are many internet resources available for information about dog attacks and injury. We encourage you to visit some of these websites we have collected for easy reference.
10 Reasons to Hire a Dog Bite Lawyer
Injuries suffered in a dog bite attack can change a person’s life forever, whether the survivor of an attack is an adult or a child, and whether the injuries suffered in an attack are outwardly visible or internal and emotional. Anyone facing this situation needs to enforce his or her legal rights. If this includes you or someone you love, we invite you to contact Phillips Personal Injury as soon as possible to schedule a free initial consultation.
Serving All of Northern California Including the Following Counties
Alpine County, Amador County, Butte County, Calaveras County, Colusa County, Contra Costa County, El Dorado County, Fresno County, Glenn County, Lassen County, Madera County, Merced County, Modoc County, Nevada County, Placer County, Plumas County, Sacramento County, San Joaquin County, Shasta County, Sierra County, Siskiyou County, Solano County, Stanislaus County, Sutter County, Tehama County, Yolo County, Yuba County
Butte County including Chico, Oroville; Contra Costa County including Antioch, Concord, Pittsburg; El Dorado County including Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills, Shingle Springs and South Lake Tahoe; Fresno County including Fresno and Clovis; Merced County including Merced; Nevada County including Nevada City, Grass Valley and Truckee; Placer County including Auburn, Granite Bay, Lincoln, Rocklin, and Roseville; Sacramento County including the City of Sacramento, Arden-Arcade, Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Fair Oaks, Folsom, Galt, North Highlands, Orangevale, and Rancho Cordova; San Joaquin County including Tracy, Lodi and Stockton; Shasta County including Redding; Solano County including Vallejo, Fairfield and Vacaville; Sutter County including Yuba City; Stanislaus County including Modesto; Yolo County including Davis and Woodland; and Yuba County including Marysville.