A dog attack is a terrifying ordeal. It is easy to forget that these beloved animals, which have such a close relationship with us, can also inflict tremendous damage. After a bite, you may need extensive medical care, and even surgery.
Dog bites are often the result of a human failing in their duty to keep their animal under control. You shouldn’t have to pay the financial cost for their negligence. If someone’s dog has injured you, our dog bite lawyers serving San Diego can help you seek compensation.
Our team at Sweet James has experience assisting injury victims for more than 25 years. Learn more about how our California dog bite lawyers can help serve you when you call for your free consultation.
How Can a Lawyer Help After a Dog Bite?
If a dog has bitten you, the most important things to do are to get to a safe place and seek medical attention. The next step is to contact an attorney. Our dog bite lawyers will take steps to protect your rights and seek the compensation you need.
- We will investigate your incident to understand how, why, and where it happened.
- Our team will identify who was responsible for the dog at the time of the attack.
- We will assess your hardships to understand the full value of your claim
- Our attorneys will manage your case and deal with opposing attorneys and insurance companies
- Our dog bite accident lawyers will negotiate for a settlement that fully accounts for your losses.
- If a settlement isn’t possible, we will represent you in court.
Our dog bite attorneys serving San Diego work on a contingency basis. We don’t require upfront payment of any legal fees when we take your case. Instead, we will take a percentage of the compensation we recover for you. If we are unable to recover a settlement or court award on your behalf, you don’t owe any legal fees.
Who Is Liable When a Dog Bites You?
California follows a strict liability rule for dog bites. A dog owner is responsible for injuries if their dog bites somebody, regardless of whether they knew the dog was dangerous or whether the dog had ever attacked anyone before.
This is a no-fault standard that applies when the bite occurs in a public place or on private property when the victim had a legal right to be there. The victim must prove that the defendant owned the dog, that the dog bit the victim, and that the bite caused injury or damage.
Owners can also face negligence claims for injuries caused by their dog’s behavior other than bites, such as knocking someone down. Our personal injury attorneys will identify all responsible parties and work to hold them accountable.
What Compensation Can You Get for a Dog Bite?
Our personal injury lawyers serving San Diego can pursue both economic and non-economic damages, depending on the severity of your injuries and their impact on your life.
- We will pursue compensation for all reasonable medical expenses related to your injuries, including emergency treatment, surgery, wound care, physical therapy, and medications.
- If your injuries require ongoing or long-term treatment, our San Diego dog bite injury lawyers will account for the cost of your future medical care and seek compensation for the treatment you will need.
- We will seek compensation for the income you lost during your recovery.
- If your injuries affect your ability to work in the future, we will also pursue damages for any diminished earning capacity.
- In some cases, we can seek damages for the physical pain and emotional distress you have endured, including anxiety, fear, trauma, or PTSD resulting from a serious attack.
- We will fight to ensure that permanent scars or disfigurement are fully considered in your claim, particularly when your injuries leave visible marks on your face, hands, arms, or other prominent areas.
- When the facts support such a claim, our dog bite lawyers working with San Diego clients will pursue punitive damages against owners who knew of their dog’s dangerous tendencies and nevertheless acted with reckless disregard for others’ safety.
Since California follows the principle of strict liability, you need not prove that the owner was negligent; you only need to demonstrate that the bite occurred and caused harm.
How Can You Report a Dog Bite in San Diego?
If a dog bit you in San Diego, you should report the incident to San Diego County Animal Services. Reports can be filed by phone, online through the county’s Animal Services website, or in person at a county animal shelter.
In your report, you should provide the dog owner’s name and contact details (if available), state where and when the bite occurred, and include information about the dog, such as whether it has been vaccinated.
When a report is filed, an official record is created that can serve as vital evidence when your San Diego lawyer for dog bite injuries files a personal injury claim on your behalf.
Get Help from Our Dog Bite Attorneys Serving San Diego
Dogs may attack people because they are scared, confused, or poorly trained. Whatever the reason, in most cases, there is a human responsible for that animal who should have ensured other people’s safety.
If a dog bit you, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Our San Diego dog bite injuries lawyers will work to hold the dog owner accountable for your damages.
Sweet James is here to help. Call to schedule your free consultation today.
