Dog Bite Accident Lawyer Porter Ranch

Dogs are more than pets for many people in California. They are often considered to be important members of a family. While dogs are popular, they can also cause serious injuries to others when they attack. When a dog bites a person, the victim may be left with physical wounds and emotional trauma that last long after the incident. If you have suffered injuries after being bitten by a dog, talking to a dog bite lawyer Porter Ranch can help you understand your rights and the legal remedies that might be available to you.

Types of injuries from dog bites

Some of the common types of injuries that people suffer when they are bitten by dogs include the following:

• Puncture wounds
• Serious infections
• Fractures
• Deep bruises
• Serious lacerations and injuries to the head and face
• Lasting emotional trauma

Dog bites may leave victims with permanently disfiguring scars. Since dogs tend to attack in the area of the face and head, these visible reminders of the dog attack might stay with a victim for the rest of his or her life and impact his or her ability to enjoy life.

Dog bite statistics

According to a study by State Farm, California has more dog bite cases than any other state in the U.S. Out of the 3,600 dog bite claims that State Farm received in 2017, 488 happened in California, resulting in $18.7 million in losses. California’s share of dog bite claims represented almost 14% of all of the dog bite injuries in the country. Experts believe that California’s year-round warmth and high population contribute to the number of dog attacks that happen in the state.

Liability in California dog bite cases

Some states follow what is known as a one-bite rule for dog bites. In those states, an owner will only be liable if he or she knew that the dog had a violent propensity. This makes it harder to prove liability for dog bites when a dog has not previously bitten someone. In California, however, the state has a strict liability statute for dog bites. Under this law, a dog owner is strictly liable for the injuries that occur to others when a dog bites someone on public property or when the person is lawfully present on private property. It does not matter if the dog owner did not know that the dog had the propensity to bite others.

There are some exceptions to the strict liability statute, however. A dog owner will not be liable when the victim provoked the dog or when the dog bites someone who was trespassing on the owner’s property. People who are bitten by military or police dogs while the dogs are performing their duties are also not able to recover damages.

The dog bite strict liability statute only applies to dog bites and not to injuries resulting in other incidents involving dogs. For example, an elderly person who suffers injuries after a dog jumps on him or her and knocks the elderly person down cannot pursue a strict liability claim. In that type of case, the victim will need to pursue a negligence claim against the dog’s owner.

Why should you hire an attorney?

In many cases involving dog bites, victims decide to try to pursue their claims on their own or to not take legal action. It is nearly always a better idea to hire an experienced dog bite lawyer Porter Ranch.

An attorney can properly value a claim to ensure that the victim is fairly compensated for all of his or her losses. Valuing a claim might require working with experts to determine the future costs of medical care, future reductions of earnings capacity, and the value of the victim’s noneconomic losses. An attorney can review any settlement offers that may be extended by the insurance company to ensure that they are fair and will provide adequate compensation for all of the victim’s past and future losses.

The experienced personal injury attorneys at the Valley Accident Lawyers have handled many dog bite injury claims for our clients. We are dedicated to helping people who have been injured in dog attacks to recover all of the compensation to which they are entitled. Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation by calling us at (818) 565-6600.