Common wisdom holds that dogs are a man’s best friend. We love our furry companions and often cannot imagine that they may hurt someone intentionally or accidentally. However, some dogs can be pretty mean; others may mean well but unknowingly and suddenly bite someone. If you or a loved one was bitten by a dog in or around the City of Antelope, obtaining financial recovery from the dog’s owner may be possible.

The California legislature enacted dog bite laws that hold the dog owner liable if their pet bites and injures someone. A negligence verdict can lead to a legal recovery that can help make you whole again after your injury.

Animal negligence and dog bite claims can take many different forms, and often, the owner of the dog can be both civilly and criminally liable in the event of a severe injury. It may surprise you that millions of people are bitten by dogs yearly. Some dog bites are relatively innocent and non-injuring, but injuries can be severe in the more serious cases involving large animals, guard dogs, and pit bulls.  The most common types of injuries from dog bites include the following:

• Lacerations and abrasions
• Disfigurement requiring surgery and scars
• Puncture wounds
• Nerve damage
• Broken bones and even amputation
• Emotional and psychological trauma

Where dog bites are not treated immediately, an infection can also occur. It is often said that dogs’ mouths are cleaner than human mouths, but that does not mean that bites cannot transfer harmful bacteria and potential diseases like rabies. If you have been bitten by a dog, please do not wait to seek medical care to prevent serious injuries.

As mentioned earlier, in California, the rule is strict liability for dog bites. You do not have to prove that the dog owner was negligent. This eases the burden of proving your case, making it easier to hold the owner liable and obtain a financial recovery. Many states follow what is known as the “one-bite rule.” Still, in California, any injuries are compensable without fault, and owners will be 100% responsible for paying the cost of your injuries.

Vicious dog bites can be extremely painful and result in large medical bills, especially if the bite causes nerve damage or scarring that requires surgery to correct. This is why hiring an attorney who can file a personal injury claim on your behalf and pursue a financial recovery to make you whole makes sense. Some common types of damages that can be recovered in dog bite cases include:

• Medical Bills (Incurred and Future): Medical diagnosis, doctor’s visits, surgery, and long-term treatment and care can all be compensated under California Law.
• Lost Earning Capacity and Income: Disability, whether temporary or permanent, resulting from a dog attack can cause an accident victim to be unable to work for a time and even lose their jobs if they cannot return to work. These income-related damages may also be recoverable in a personal injury claim.
• Pain and Suffering: California law allows dog bite victims to receive compensation for the damages associated with the continued hardship of surviving an attack.a
• Emotional Distress: Vicious animal attacks can be highly traumatic incidents, causing recurrent nightmares, psychiatric trauma, and loss of sleep. Compensation for these emotional injuries can also be recovered.
• Wrongful Death: If a loved one was attacked and died due to a dog attack, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim on their behalf and recover damages for loss of companionship, loss of support, and pain and suffering.

A dog bite injury claim is usually filed against the homeowner’s insurance policy of the dog owner. This is why it is essential to get the full name and address of the dog owner after the incident. Without this information, it is tough to file a claim.

In California, a dog bite attack victim only has two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury claim in court. If you delay and do not contact an attorney for months or years, you are jeopardizing your potential case. If you file a lawsuit after the statute of limitations has expired, your case will likely be thrown out of court.

The video below discusses the different factors involved in handling a dog bite claim in California and why you should consider hiring a lawyer for your case.

Dog attacks can be traumatic experiences for all those involved, especially when they lead to lasting injury or death. If you or someone you know has been injured by a dog bite, contact our law firm today for free and friendly advice. You can reach us at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400.

We have been serving the community of Antelope with their personal injury and wrongful death claims since 1982.

We are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.

See our client reviews on Avvo, Google, and Yelp and our past cases on our Verdicts and Settlements page.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 7.26.23] Photo by Makarand Sawant from Pexels sb ab [cs 899]}