Vicious dogs in California can cause extremely serious injuries that require prompt medical attention. Those injuries can include deep bite marks, cuts, and lacerations that require stitches. If you suffered injuries in a dog bite incident, you should seek medical treatment at a local hospital emergency room or urgent care center as soon as possible. Failing to seek immediate medical treatment after the incident can make your injuries much worse and cause you additional pain.
In addition to seeking prompt medical treatment after a dog bite, you should follow up with an experienced OC dog bite lawyer in your area as soon as possible. Your attorney can review the circumstances of the incident with you and determine if you are eligible to file a personal injury claim for damages. If you are eligible, your lawyer can file the claim on your behalf and begin settlement negotiations with the insurance company. If the insurance company is unwilling to compensate you appropriately, your lawyer can file a lawsuit on your behalf and litigate your case through the court system.
Strict Liability in California
When it comes to dog bites, California follows strict liability. Therefore, in most situations, a dog owner and their insurer can be responsible for injuries that a bite victim sustains – even if the dog did not exhibit any vicious propensities previously. Moreover, the dog bite incident may have occurred on public or private property.
If the victim suffered injuries other than bite wounds, such as a soft tissue injury or broken bone, they could file a negligence claim against the dog owner. To successfully prove their negligence claim, the victim must establish that the owner acted unreasonably under the circumstances, such as by failing to properly restrain their dog and prevent it from attacking the victim.
Damages in Dog Bite Cases
Whenever a dangerous dog bites or severely injures a person, the victim may need to seek extensive medical treatment. That treatment may include staples, stitches, and even surgical procedures in some cases. In addition to recovering monetary compensation for related medical expenses, dog bite victims may recover lost wage compensation if they had to miss time from work. Moreover, bite victims can recover non-economic damages, including compensation for their pain and suffering, inconvenience, mental distress, and humiliation – such as from an unsightly scar that’s visible on their body.
If you suffered injuries due to a vicious dog, a knowledgeable California dog bite lawyer in your area could help you negotiate with the insurance company and pursue the full amount of damages that you deserve in your personal injury claim or lawsuit.
Talk with a California Dog Bite Lawyer Today
Dog bites can leave deep wounds and unsightly scars on a victim’s body. After seeking the medical treatment you need, it is essential that you speak with an experienced and compassionate California dog bite attorney as soon as possible. Your lawyer can help you take the appropriate legal action against the dog owner and their insurance company and pursue the monetary damages you deserve.
