Dog bites are dangerous, terrifying, and painful, sometimes creating long-term injuries and trauma. At Moody Law, we work closely with clients who are facing severe injuries from these very devastating injuries. Our goal is to help you recover the compensation you lost as a result of these incidents while helping you to piece together your life again.
If you suffered an injury, call our Hesperia dog bite lawyers now. We can provide a free consultation to discuss your case with you. There is no risk and no obligation to work with the injury attorneys at Moody Law.
When Should You Hire a Dog Bite Lawyer?
After a dog bite, head to the emergency room for care. Be sure you file a police report. Then, reach out to our legal team for the one-on-one support you need. Any time you have significant injuries from a dog bite, it is a good idea to hire an attorney to work with you. Our legal team has helped clients recover millions of dollars from people who have caused them harm due to negligence. We will help you, too.
Understand Dog Bite Laws in California
If you are hurt by a dog, you have the right to hold the owner responsible for the losses you have incurred. For many people, knowing what to do in this situation is not always easy. What if it was a friend’s dog or the neighbor’s pet?
Understanding the state’s laws on dog bites can help you better know your rights. California is a strict liability state in relation to dog bites. That means that the dog owner is responsible for the actions of their pet. It is the owner’s responsibility to pay for the damages the victim suffers.
Under the state’s laws, the first bite is considered a “free pass.” That simply means that if the dog has not bitten anyone or attacked any person or animal in the past, nothing will happen to that dog itself. However, the owner remains responsible for any losses the dog causes. The dog owner has the legal requirement to maintain control over their dog.
There are some exclusions to negligence for dog bites. For example, if the dog was provoked by someone and that caused them to be aggressive, then the owner may not be responsible for the losses that have occurred to that individual. Some examples of what provocation may be include:
- Someone hits the dog
- The dog is punched
- Screaming and yelling at the dog
- Attacking the dog’s owner
- Throwing things at the dog
In these situations, it will be harder to obtain full compensation for the incident unless you can prove that the dog bite was not related to the provocation.
California Civil Code provides for this protection, but there are a lot of situations where it is not clear who is responsible or if the homeowner’s insurance (which typically covers these types of liability claims) will cover the losses. This is why we often encourage clients to seek out an experienced animal attack lawyer if they have been hurt. If you do share any fault in how your injuries occurred, the court must follow pure comparative negligence laws.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
If you have been in an incident like this, you may have extensive injuries from dog bites, scratches, and other injuries brought on by the dog. Some of the most common injuries caused in these types of cases include:
- Punctured, lacerated skin
- Eye-related injuries
- Broken bones
- Nerve damage
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Head and neck injuries
- Tissue damage
- Facial injuries
In addition to these common injuries, our dog bite attorneys in California often see individuals who have severe emotional trauma and catastrophic injuries from these incidents. Without a doubt, being attacked by a dog is terrifying, and the emotional damage can be severe even if the injuries are not life-threatening.
If you have any injury after a dog bite, seek out medical care immediately. There are often complications to these injuries, including infection and disease risk, complicated recovery times, and long-term nerve damage. Allow our Hesperia dog bite attorney to help you determine what your next step is after these injuries. In the meantime, follow a few specific steps:
- Go to the ER to have your care needs documented.
- Follow the doctor’s directions on care and treatment.
- Take the medications you are given.
- Seek out the care from a specialist if recommended.
- Avoid posting about your dog bite on social media.
- Take as many pictures as you can of the incident and your injury if it is safe to do so.
Let us go to work for you. Our dog bite attorneys have helped people navigate some of the most devastating of cases. We can guide you to getting the compensation you are owed after such incidents.
Who Pays for a Dog Bite Injury in CA?
In most situations, the dog’s owner is determined to be negligent and financially responsible for the losses the dog causes. Typically, if the dog owner has home insurance, that will cover the dog bite. Some insurance policies have restrictions and limitations on this, and if the dog has caused injury before, some property owners may have to have specialized coverage.
Additionally, the homeowner’s umbrella insurance may provide additional support for the individual suffering the loss if the amount of liability insurance the homeowner has is not enough. Typically, insurance will cover these losses. If the dog owner does not have insurance, they may still be found to be negligent, and as such, they may be required to pay you for the losses you have incurred.
Why You Should Not File an Insurance Claim for a Dog Bite Injury Right Away
You have a lot of things to consider when the time comes to file an insurance claim for the losses you have suffered. The key to remember is that you should never rush to settle too quickly since this often leads to not filing for all that you are owed. Let our Hesperia animal attack attorneys go to work for you instead. Here are a few ways we can help you do that.
Determine Who is Responsible for Your Losses
Our goal is to ensure that you receive fair compensation for all of the losses you have. To do that, we must understand who was responsible. Were you attacked by a security dog that somehow escaped a business? Perhaps it was the dog working for the police that acted out of character. Once we know who is responsible, we can start to determine what you are owed.
Consider All of Your Damages
In a dog bite case, the dog’s owner is responsible for all losses that you suffer. That includes costs like the following:
- Medical bills associated with your injury
- Any rehabilitation costs you need
- Medications for infection, disease treatment and prevention, and pain
- Reconstructive surgery you may need
- Mobility adjustments if you have long-term loss of the ability to walk
In addition to those economic losses, our legal team also works with you to better understand all related non-economic losses. That may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and trauma
- Loss of quality of life
Our dog bite attorneys are committed to understanding how this injury has impacted you since it occurred and also how it may continue to impact you in the months and years to come. Often, our clients face emotional trauma that makes it difficult for them to be around other animals. You may need mental health treatment for this. Other times, our clients are faced with disfigurement due to the serious bite they received, and that impacts not only their ability to do the things they love but also their confidence and overall mental health.
Consider how this may impact how you work, the activities you can or cannot enjoy, and the overall struggles you have with maintaining your quality of life. The responsible party could owe you for all of these losses.
What Type of Long-Term Treatment Might You Need?
Some of our clients need additional help beyond the initial care they receive for the dog bite. Some examples of this include:
- Rabies treatment or vaccination
- Extensive physical therapy
- Ongoing mental health treatment
- Cosmetic surgery
- Treatment for infection
Over time, a dog bite can impact a variety of factors. We want to be sure we fully understand what is occurring in your case so we can pursue fair compensation for it.
We Pursue the Responsible Insurance Party
Once we work closely with you to determine what your losses are, we can then begin to piece together a settlement that outlines exactly what you are owed and why. We can then approach the insurance company with this claim, helping to ensure that they take it seriously and you obtain the compensation owed to you.
Do not trust the insurance company to be fair and just to you! In many situations, it is their job to reduce the compensation paid to you, and they will use aggressive measures to do that. This may include:
- Using posts on social media to show that you are okay and not suffering
- Gathering medical data that shows you may have had a pre-existing condition that causes your pain and suffering
- Trying to delay the claim in an effort to frustrate you enough to get you to settle it for less than what you are owed
- Trying to blame you for the accident even if you did nothing that could have provoked the dog to attack you
- Working to prove that you did not suffer the losses you did
Our Hesperia dog bite attorneys help to create a barrier between an abusive insurance adjuster trying to reduce your claim and you, allowing you to focus on recovery and rebuilding your life. We encourage you not to talk to the insurance company or agree to any type of settlement without our attorney there to help you.
Do You Have a Dog Bite Case?
It is not always clear that a dog bite case can be pursued, and there is often a lot of evidence that makes it challenging to get full compensation. Talk to our attorneys about your case. Even if you do not have a lot of evidence from the scene or the insurance company has denied your initial claim, we may be able to help you. We encourage you to reach out to us now to learn if you have a case and what legal strategies may apply to you. If you suffered the loss of a loved one due to a dog bite attack, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim.
Why Hire Us for Your Dog Bite Case in Hesperia?
Our Hesperia animal attack lawyers are ready to help you. We have the experience you can rely on to help you get through these very challenging situations. At Moody Law, we can help you with a wide range of legal matters, and we always offer the following:
- Exceptional experience. We know the California legal system and have a proven track record of supporting our clients throughout the legal process.
- Proven results. Talk to us about other cases like your own. We will work to help you obtain compensation for all of your losses, and we have done so before for our clients.
- Compassionate professionals. We always take your case and your losses seriously. If you are facing difficulty getting the legal support you need, know that our team is ready to guide and support you throughout this process.
- Aggressive support. We are not afraid to go to court to fight for our clients if insurance companies or others do not agree to fair compensation.
As a trusted attorney, Joshua Moody knows what he is up against in a case like this. He is also dedicated to his clients with a strong knowledge of providing exceptional service to victims, especially those who are defending themselves against those attacking them.
Our Hesperia dog bite lawyers will not let you become the victim of an insurance company not paying you for the damage owed. Let us fight for your rights to compensation. Contact our Hesperia dog bite lawyers now for a free consultation to discuss your case. You can trust us to help you every step of the way. Call our office today.