Not all dogs are friendly. Unfortunately, dogs without the proper training or handling can end up injuring other people. In almost every case, responsibility for a dog bite falls on the dog’s owner.
Dog bite injuries can be serious. Even a small dog’s jaw can clamp down with great force. Larger breeds can cause major damage to tendons, muscles, ligaments, and bones, especially around vulnerable joints like ankles, wrists, elbows, or hands. Victims could need extensive surgery or physical therapy to recover while some may never recover fully.
In addition to the possibility of lifelong injuries, dog bite incidents and attacks could lead to severe mental pain, suffering, anguish, and PTSD – especially for children.
Personal injury law gives dog bite victims the right to hold negligent or reckless dog owners responsible for injuries caused by their pets. Most pets are covered under homeowners’ insurance policies, which is why sometimes dog bites are treated like premises liability cases. If you get injured by a dog on someone else’s property, that could qualify as a dangerous condition that the property owner had a responsibility to fix or warn you about.
Dog bites often happen unexpectedly and in the blink of an eye, leaving you with catastrophic injuries that severely affect your daily life and even your ability to do your job. The Pyramid Legal team is here to help you get justice and compensation for the harm that you’ve suffered.
Compensation for Damages After a Dog Bite Injury
When you file a personal injury claim for a dog bite, you could get compensation for:
- Your medical bills, both in the present and anticipated in the future
- The cost of any surgeries or rehabilitative treatments you need to recover
- The cost of psychological or trauma counseling after a dog bite incident
- Any lost income or earning potential from becoming unable to work
- Any permanent scarring, disfigurement, loss of function, or disability
- Any pain, suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress you experience
If the dog owner’s insurance covers your claim, the insurance company may try to minimize your injuries. But dog bites can cause severe and complicated injuries that should not be discounted. You should speak to an attorney about your rights before agreeing to a settlement. An initial settlement offer is bound to be a lowball compared to what you really deserve. If you sign without talking to a lawyer first, you could be leaving thousands of dollars on the table.
If the dog owner is not covered by insurance, they can be held personally liable for your injuries.
In California, dog bite cases are handled on a strict liability basis. As long as you’re in a public place or lawfully on private property, dog owners are responsible for any bite injuries caused by their pets. This is true even if their dog has never shown aggression or bitten anyone before.
At Pyramid Law, we can help you get the justice you deserve and the compensation you need to recover from your injuries. Contact our experienced attorneys for a free consultation now.
