A dog bite may pose a severe health risk to the Ceres community and throughout California. More than 4.5 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs yearly, and more than 800,000 seek medical treatment for dog bite injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Such trauma has the potential to cause permanent disfigurement and lead to life-threatening infections. In California, pet owners may be held liable for financial and intangible harm caused by their dogs.

If you have been hurt because of being bitten or attacked by a dog in Ceres, contact our dog bite injury attorneys at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly legal advice. We can help you determine your legal options to recover medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Dog bite laws in California are challenging to navigate, and determining the financial liability that should be placed on a dog owner can be complex. That is why it is essential to have an experienced Ceres dog bite attorney at your side to help guide you through the insurance claims process and ensure you are fairly compensated for your damages. At our law firm, we can help you recover compensatory damages for your medical bills, loss of earnings, and pain and suffering. Our lawyers handle dog bite injury cases under a contingency fee arrangement, meaning our legal team will not be paid unless we recover fair compensation on your behalf.

Some dogs are known to bite or attack more than others. The 10 dog breeds that have a history of biting or attacking include:

• Alaskan Malamute
• Boxer
• Chow Chow
• Doberman Pinscher
• German Shepherd
• Great Dane
• Pit Bull Terrier
• Rottweiler
• St. Bernard
• Siberian Husky

However, all dog breeds can attack or bite a person and cause severe injury or wrongful death to those affected. If you have suffered a dog bite injury in Ceres, California, contact an attorney from a top-rated law firm for a free case evaluation.

The top types of injuries reported in dog bite and attack cases include:

• Amputation
• Bone fractures
• Damage to nerves, soft tissue, and tendons
• Disfigurement and facial scarring
• Eye injuries
• Infection and cellulitis
• Lacerations and contusions
• Skin tears and punctures

If you have suffered an injury because you were bitten or attacked by a dog, it is essential to seek immediate medical treatment. If a dog bite injury is left untreated, the wounds may result in severe infections and complications. Such complications have the potential to pose a serious threat to your well-being and health.

Strict liability laws in California against dog owners are some of the most robust in the nation. Under California Civil Code Section 3342, dog owners may be held strictly liable for injuries and damages caused by their pets. In other words, an owner is financially responsible for any dog attacks or bites an individual sustains while lawfully on private property or in public. Such cases are generally covered under homeowners and renters insurance policies. However, there are specific situations in which the dog owner cannot be held financially accountable for their pet’s actions. This includes:

• Provocation of the dog through tormenting, taunting, or teasing
• Trespassing on the property of the dog owner

Aside from these two circumstances, the dog owner is generally required to compensate those for the personal injury damages caused by their pet, regardless of whether the dog had a history of never biting or attacking someone before. Your Ceres dog bite injury attorney will evaluate your case’s facts and circumstances and provide an idea of what you should expect from your compensation claim.

The expenses can mount quickly when injuries are suffered in a dog bite or attack. Costs of medical treatment alone are likely to exceed hundreds or even thousands of dollars if catastrophic injuries are involved. At our animal and dog bite law firm in Ceres, we are dedicated to helping injured parties obtain fair compensation for any trauma and damages they have suffered because of being bitten or attacked by someone else’s pet. In most dog bite injury cases, claimants may be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages, including:

• Medical Expenses
• Lost Wages
• Loss of Future Earning Potential
• Lost Enjoyment of Life
• Scarring and Disfigurement
• Loss of Consortium
• Pain and Suffering

Economic damages are intended to reimburse a claimant for the financial costs of a dog attack or bite injury. In contrast, non-economic damages compensate for the intangible consequences of the trauma that is challenging to value. Watch the video below to learn about the factors that may affect the value of a dog bite injury claim.

Time is of the essence for a dog bite injury claim. Under California law, a claimant has two years from the date of sustaining dog bite trauma to bring a compensation claim. If a lawsuit is not filed before the two-year statute of limitations expires, the court may dismiss the case, and the claimant may not be able to obtain the compensatory damages they deserve.

If you have suffered a dog bite injury in Stanislaus County, you can ensure your claim is filed on time by retaining an experienced and top-rated dog bite injury lawyer in Ceres immediately after the incident. Call our injury attorneys at our law firm today for legal assistance on your case.

After getting bitten or attacked by a dog in Ceres, contact our dog bite injury attorneys to learn how we can help you through this difficult time and hold the pet’s owner financially accountable for your injuries. The compensatory damages recovered from your dog bite injury lawsuit can help pay for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering because of the dog attack. Our law firm will work diligently to ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries and losses incurred. We offer free case evaluations, so do not hesitate to contact our legal team today.

^{Editor’s Note: updated 11.14.23 Photograph Source: “freegr” via Pixabay ds [cs 1067] cha}