Bakersfield Dog Bite Lawyer
Man’s best friend or not, domesticated dogs of all shapes and sizes generally have jaws strong enough to puncture skin, tear through muscles, and even fracture bones if they feel threatened enough by another animal or person. State law is strict about holding dog owners legally accountable for failing to keep their pets under control, as well as civilly accountable for the costs of injuries that dog causes while on the loose.
As any experienced personal injury attorney will tell you, getting a favorable result from a lawsuit or settlement demand over dog bite injuries can be much more challenging in practice than many people expect. If you want a fair shot at getting financial restitution after being harmed in this way, you should make contacting and retaining our Bakersfield dog bite lawyers a top priority.
Are Dog Owners Always Liable for Bite Injuries?
According to California Civil Code § 3342, anyone who owns or is temporarily responsible for controlling a dog is strictly liable for any injuries the dog causes by biting another person who is in a public place or lawfully in a private one. As long as a bite victim has a legal right to be in a particular place and were then injured by someone else’s dog biting them, that dog’s owner is automatically liable to pay for ensuing losses regardless of whether that owner did anything reckless or careless beforehand.
This strict liability rule only applies to situations where a lawful property visitor is bitten and injured. Injuries to unlawful trespassers will not be treated the same way by the court, nor will injuries caused in part by someone intentionally provoking or taunting the dog that bit them. While it is possible to sue over injuries caused by a dog doing something other than biting, such as jumping on someone and knocking them over, that type of claim generally must be built around traditional negligence instead of strict liability—something which our Bakersfield dog bite attorneys can provide vital assistance with.
Getting Paid Fairly Within Filing Deadlines
Our team can also play a key role in getting a dog bite victim compensated financially for every form of harm their injuries will ever cause them to experience, including:
- Short-term and long-term medical bills
- Lost working and earning capacity
- Personal property damage and related expenses
- Physical pain and discomfort
- Psychological anguish and trauma
- Lost enjoyment of life and other intangible effects of permanent disfigurement/disability
Our dog bite lawyers in Bakersfield can help build and file the strongest possible claim within the applicable filing deadline, which California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 sets at two years after the date of initial injury for virtually all claims of this nature.
Consider Working with Our Bakersfield Dog Bite Attorneys
Being attacked by a vicious dog can be a frightening experience and potentially a permanently disabling one as well. Even if you just need help covering emergency medical bills and a few other unexpected expenses, you still deserve fair restitution after being hurt in this way. State law will often allow you to obtain it if you understand and can effectively enforce your rights.
Our Bakersfield dog bite lawyers could help you do that as efficiently as possible and maximize what you are able to recover through your lawsuit or settlement demand. Call today to schedule a consultation.
