Dog Bite Injury Lawyer Serving Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Napa, Scottsdale, Glendale, Chandler, Tempe, Meza and Elsewhere in California and Arizona
If you are attacked by a dog, you will join the roughly 4.7 million people who suffer a dog bite each and every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dog bites take place every 75 seconds in the U.S., leading to more than 1,000 daily emergency room visits for serious injuries. In addition, public data shows that more than 880,000 people who are bitten by a dog will require some form of hospitalization for their injuries. The American Humane Association compiled statistical data regarding dog bites and they are quite shocking:
- 58 percent of all deaths from dog bites occurred on the dog owner’s property
- 50 percent of all dog bites involved children under the age of 12
- 70 percent of all fatal dog bites involved children under the age of 10
- Children are three times more likely than adults to get serious dog bite injuries
If you or a loved one was attacked and bitten by a dog in Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Napa, Scottsdale, Glendale, Chandler, Tempe, Meza and Elsewhere in California and Arizona, you should hold the negligent animal owner accountable for your harms and losses. The skilled and aggressive dog bite lawyers with RS Law Offices work tirelessly on behalf of dog attack victims to pursue financial restitution for your harms and losses.
Dog Bite Injury Lawyers Work Tirelessly to Investigate the Incident
When you hire the experienced and skilled Los Angeles, San Jose or Phoenix, AZ dog bite injury attorneys with RS Law Offices, we will meticulously go through the details of your personal injury claim to ask pertinent questions:
- Was the animal leashed?
- Did the owner have a fenced-in yard?
- Were you treated for injuries in a hospital?
We ask these questions to get a better sense of what happened and how we can utilize those facts to strengthen your potential personal injury claim.
Animal attacks can lead to permanent scarring, disfigurement and emotional trauma. Just like victims of automobile accidents, you might have developed post-traumatic stress disorder, incurred expensive medical bills and/or be forced to take a leave from work in order to heal. Each of these is a quantifiable damage that could merit compensation.
Overview of California and Arizona Dog Bite Laws
In California and Arizona, the law states that “the owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.” This means that, in California and Arizona, a dog owner is liable for injuries suffered in an attack, even when the dog had no previous record of any aggressive tendencies. Dog owners may also be held responsible for their pet’s actions if they were negligent in handling, by allowing an animal to roam freely (without leash), putting guests or passersby in harm’s way.
Amount of Time Available to Pursue Financial Restitution form Dog Bite Injury
Under California and Arizona law, a dog bite injury victim has two years from the date of the incident to file a lawsuit to pursue damages against the negligent dog owner. If you wait past that deadline, your case may not be heard. Though, it is important to not wait until the last minute to contact a Los Angeles dog bite injury lawyer. Why? Because much of the work goes into preparing your case before a claim is ever filed, and your Los Angeles dog attack injury attorney will want to gather and preserve evidence as soon as possible, while also guiding you through the steps to obtain proper medical care and compensation.
Financial Restitution that Can Be Pursued for Dog Bite Victims
The forms of financial restitution that can be pursued when you hire an attorney with RS Law Offices includes:
- Reimbursement for medical treatment, including current and future bills, medication, and rehabilitation
- Reimbursement for long-term care of catastrophic or scarring injuries
- Lost wages, including current and future lost income that results from the injuries
Lost earning capacity, when the injuries keep our clients from returning to their previous employment position (e.g., if someone suffers nerve damage or loses a limb in the attach)
Pain and suffering, including physical and emotional stress from catastrophic injuries
Valuation of a Dog Bite Injury Claim
One of the most common questions asked by clients is – what is my dog bite injury case worth? Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut single answer to this question. The truth is that each and every case is different. In order to ascertain the value of your case, there needs to be a thorough investigation and analysis of multiple factors. For example, there needs to be an investigation into the at-fault party’s insurance policy limits. Second, and more importantly, the nature and the extent of your bodily injuries need to be analyzed. Other considerations include any pre-existing history and medical records, your compliance with treating physicians, the insurance carrier for the at-fault pet owner, etc.
Now is the Time for Action – Contact RS Law Offices to Schedule a Free, Confidential Case Review
If you were injured by a dog, you are likely feeling anxious about the future and unsure of what to do next. Do not fret. When you hire an attorney with RS Law Offices, you will have the peace of mind in knowing a skilled advocate is looking out for your best interests. You focus on getting better and back to your normal life. Let us handle the legal work.
