In almost every dog attack where someone is bitten, the injuries to the person bit can be severe and potentially life-altering. Dog bite victims may suffer nerve or tendon damage, along with enduring a physical scar that could remain with them for the foreseeable future. These types of injuries and damages can cause life-long complications.

The injuries associated with a dog attack include:

• Deep contusions
• Serious face and neck injuries
• Amputations
• Fractures
• Nerve damage
• Long-term emotional scars and development of a phobia of dogs

California has a strict liability law concerning dog bites. This means that dog owners are responsible for dog bite attacks. This will not apply only when the dog bite was caused by cruelty to the animal or when the person bit was trespassing.

Section 3342 of California’s Civil Code states that a dog owner is liable for the harm suffered by someone bitten by the owner’s dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place.

It is typical for a person bit by a dog to spend thousands of dollars on therapy so that their lives can return to normal. The injured person might also end up with a permanent fear of dogs. Some injuries require plastic surgery to deal with scars and bite marks. Sometimes, these surgeries are unsuccessful, and the person bit is disfigured for life. This will most likely be an out-of-pocket expense since many insurance companies don’t cover plastic surgery because it is cosmetic and unnecessary to save the victim’s life. In the end, injured people and their families end up paying for this and the therapy sessions needed to combat things like depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

It is unfair that an injured person has to deal with the physical and financial costs of an incident that was not their fault. Dog owners can and should, be held liable for all the expenses incurred by a person their dog bites.

The harms and losses recoverable through dog bite injury claims include medical expenses, rehabilitation, cost of surgery, loss of wages, permanent injuries, and pain and suffering.

The most common avenue for obtaining a financial recovery for a dog bite is by filing a claim against the homeowner’s insurance policy of the dog owner. This is why you must ascertain who owned the dog that bit you. Without knowing the dog’s owner, obtaining a financial recovery through a dog bite injury claim will be challenging.

If you are bitten by a dog and suffer a debilitating injury like nerve damage or broken bones, you should focus on the recovery process, not haggling with an insurance adjuster. This is where a dedicated and experienced South Sacramento dog bite lawyer can greatly assist. Your injury lawyer should take the burden off your shoulders and begin working on your legal case so that you can focus on the healing process. Another benefit is that most dog bite injury lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis. This means that you pay nothing upfront and only owe a legal fee if your attorney obtains a financial recovery on your behalf.

The following video discusses the benefits of hiring a lawyer for your dog bite claim.

You do not have infinite time to file a dog bite injury action. In fact, you only have two years from the date of your attack to file a civil action. Waiting to file a suit beyond two years is a big mistake since a court may simply dismiss the suit as untimely filed.

If you or someone you love has been injured by another person’s negligence, please call our law firm today at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. You can also reach us online at AutoAccident.com. We have served the Sacramento and Greater California community since 1982, helping injured people and their families recover. See our case history of verdicts and settlements.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 7.18.23] sid rey [cs 713] Photo by Pixabay}