Californians love their dogs, including the residents of Bay Point. Loyal, affectionate, and just plain wonderful most of the time, all goes well until you get bitten by one and suffer an injury. Unfortunately, dog bites can be traumatic, both physically and emotionally, resulting in scarring or even amputation. Besides the physical trauma, an attack by a dog often leaves the injured person with post-traumatic stress disorder that requires professional treatment.

Dog bites can cause a long and difficult recovery. To make sure that your recovery is adequately compensated, our injury attorneys at AutoAccident.com can help. We understand that your suffering affects your life, and we are here to help you recover from the losses you experienced. Call us today to speak to a dog bite attorney from Bay Point at (925) 428-5220 or (800) 404-5400 to arrange your free virtual or in-person consultation. 

Although several states have a one-bite law, which means a compensation claim cannot be placed unless the animal has attacked someone before, California does not. Under California Civil Code 3342, if a person is legally on a property and gets bitten by a dog, they may seek compensation for their injuries. This law does not apply to those on the property illegally or to government employees such as police and military personnel during their duties.

According to dog bite medical and nationwide statistics, you run a one in 50 risks of being bitten by a canine nationwide. In 2021, California remained the state with the highest number of paid-out claims for dog bites at an average award of $59,561 for a total of $120.7 million. Some of the reported statistics include:

• Insurance Information Institute: $882 million was paid out in 2021 by homeowners insurance because of dog bite injuries.
• Injury Epidemiology: One thousand people seek medical attention nationwide for dog bite injuries each day.
• Plastic Surgery Statistics Report: Almost 27,000 people required reconstructive surgery due to damage caused by dog bites in 2018.
• Insurance Information Institute: The cost of an average claim for a dog bite injury has increased 134 percent between 2003 and 2019. The increase is attributed to higher jury verdicts, judgments, settlements, and the increased cost of medical care.

Injuries caused by a dog attack can depend on the breed, size, and length of the encounter. Some of the common injuries inflicted by a dog include:

• Abrasions and lacerations: These injuries may require stitches or result in infection. Because a dog’s bite causes a jagged type wound and can quickly become infected, this is not something an injured person should try and treat at home.
• Infections: Up to 15 percent of all dog bite injuries are complicated by infection. Cleaning the wound well is essential since the dog’s mouth carries germs and those that may be present on the injured person’s skin. Antibiotic treatment is needed when signs of inflammation, pus, and swelling appear, so calling your physician immediately is essential.
• Punctures: Punctures by a dog bite are often deep and cause heavy bleeding. Because of the high risk of infection, getting medical care is recommended.
• Crush injuries: Some dogs have such a strong bite that a crush injury can occur, and broken bones damage soft tissues, nerves, and muscles. These types of serious injuries often require surgical repair.
• Avulsion: Avulsion occurs when a body part is completely removed or torn off. These types of severe trauma often require reconstructive surgery to repair and can cause severe scarring or disfigurement.
• Nerve damage: Nerve damage can result in the loss of sensation and paralysis in that part of the body.
• Amputation: Because hands are a common target of a biting dog, amputation of a digit can occur. In addition, surgical amputation of fingers, hands, feet, or legs may be necessary if the damage caused by a dog attack is severe or infection sets in. Amputation of a limb or digits has even been seen in cases where only minor cuts occurred due to Capnocytophaga canimorsus, which does not affect dogs but can lead to sepsis in humans.

When you or someone you love is bitten by a dog in Bay Point or elsewhere in California, you may wonder what you should do. The following advice comes from our handling of countless cases of these types:

• Call the police or animal control: A Bay Point police officer or animal control can create an official record of your dog attack if they are on site. If you seek compensation for your dog bite, the police report can be beneficial.
• Get contact information from the owner: Record the dog owner’s full name, phone number, and address and obtain the contact information for the dog’s veterinarian. It is crucial to reach out to any witnesses who saw the attack since you may need to provide their testimony when claiming damages. 
• Contact the dog’s veterinarian: It is essential to determine if the dog is up-to-date on their vaccinations and whether the vet has any record of previous aggression. Lack of vaccinations can mean you have to go through a series of rabies shots, which are expensive and painful.
• Get medical attention for your injuries: Even if the skin is only broken, you still need to seek medical attention, especially if you don’t know the dog’s background. If you have wounds that require cleaning, stitches, or additional treatment, call 911 or head to your local hospital. Dog bites can transmit nasty diseases or infections that can be serious and even life-threatening.
• A picture is worth a thousand words: Yes, it’s an old saying, but having photographic proof to support your case makes it hard for an insurance company to argue. Take photos of the dog, if possible, and the location and your injuries and damaged clothing. Save the clothing and place it in a plastic bag for safekeeping.
• Keep a record of your losses: It will be easier for your Bay Point dog bite attorney if you keep a record of your medical expenses and other losses, such as wages you missed from being unable to work. Include your level of pain daily, emotional state, and treatment for your injuries.
• Call a Bay Point dog bite lawyer: An injury lawyer can gather the evidence to support your claim and get you the compensation you deserve. 

Please watch the video below presented by attorney Ed Smith on how to choose a personal injury lawyer:

I’m Ed Smith, a Bay Point dog bite lawyer. Having a lawyer help by handling your case can protect your rights and gather the evidence needed to support your claim for compensation. Recovering compensation after a dog bite injury helps you move forward without financial distress but also holds the owner responsible so it won’t happen to anyone else. Call today to get free and friendly advice from one of our injury lawyers at (925) 428-5220 or (800) 404-5400 or online. We can arrange a free consultation in which you can ask questions, have your case reviewed and find out about options that can recover compensation for you. To show you how we’ve helped others, please look over our Verdicts and Settlements.

Photo attribution: by Alexas_Fotos from Pixabay;

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