Orange County Dog Bite Lawyer

When dogs bite, they can cause injuries, but you can hold their owners accountable. As you seek compensation for your injuries, work with an Orange County dog bite attorney.

The saying goes that dogs are man’s best friend. And while there are many harmless, lovable canines out there, that doesn’t describe all dogs. When you’re bitten by one of these animals, you might be scared and unsure of how to move forward with your life.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reports that from 2005 to 2019, children under 10 years old were the most frequent visitors to emergency departments for dog bite injuries. In California, where 35 million pets reside in over half of households, the AVMA Journal concludes that there are 560,000 dog bites and 112,000 victims seeking medical care each year.

The experienced team at Kohan & Bablove, Injury Attorneys wants you to know you’re not alone. You have every right to file a claim against the owner and recover the compensation you need to get your life back on track. But to find success in this venture, you may need to team up with an Orange County dog bite lawyer.

When Is the Dog Owner Liable?

In the state of California, owners are strictly liable for the behavior of their dogs around other people. In almost any case, that means the owner will be held completely liable if his or her animal bites another person.

The only instance in which a dog owner might not be held liable for a bite is if the victim was on the property where the bite occurred illegally. This exception won’t likely include those who have a responsibility to be on the grounds, such as mailmen and meter readers.

Whether the owner knew the dog was dangerous in the first place doesn’t matter in California, although it does matter in some other states. However, should your injuries be brought about by a dog attack that didn’t involve a bite on your body, it might prove a bit more difficult to recover compensation.

For example, if you were riding your bike and the dog bit the wheel, causing you to fall over and sustain injuries, the owner may not be held legally responsible under California’s strict dog bite liability statute. Such instances could, however, warrant a personal injury claim to recover compensation in Orange County.

The Damages Dog Bites Can Cause

Of course, a dog bite will often cause physical injuries. But the truth is that these are more than just bites.

Some incidents can be so severe that they leave the victim completely disabled in the affected area. Take, for instance, a person whose hand was severely bitten and no longer functions properly. This can lead to compromised work abilities, as well as ongoing medical care and potentially permanent pain in the affected area.

Beyond the physical damages, there’s also the emotional and mental wellbeing of the victim to consider. Orange County dog bite incidents are often violent and traumatic. In some cases, they may compromise the victim’s psychological wellbeing.

Victims may be plagued with post-traumatic stress disorder if the attack is frightening enough. Over time, this can completely alter their quality of life and ability to function as they once did.

Why You Need an Attorney

If you suffered a dog bite in Orange County, filing a claim against the liable party is likely a sound plan of action. However, attempting to do so without the representation of a quality lawyer may not be such a solid plan.

To start, it’s important that, during this process, you are able to focus your efforts on what matters most: recovering from your injuries. Having an Orange County dog attack lawyer representing you will allow you to relax and not have to worry about the proceedings and negotiations.

Working with an attorney can also save you the trouble of trying to prove your case, which can be difficult enough without the added challenge of lacking legal knowledge.

Additionally, strict statutes and deadlines apply to Orange County dog bite cases. Failing to adhere to these regulations could lead to your case being thrown out on technicalities alone. But working with an attorney will help ensure you file everything with all the correct parties on time and without error.

Let an Orange County Dog Bite Attorney Handle Your Case

Being bitten by a dog can be a traumatic, life-altering situation. You’ve suffered enough already, so why not let the team at Kohan & Bablove, Injury Attorneys take on the responsibility of filing a claim against the liable party on your behalf?

With the help of our committed, knowledgeable attorneys, you will be able to rest assured that someone is fighting on your behalf for the compensation you deserve.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with an Orange County dog bite lawyer about your case. To schedule a free initial consultation, give our office a call directly at 1-844-404-2400 or head to the bottom of the page and fill out our online contact form.

Citations

Dog & Cat Bite Injuries in California, California Department of Public Health
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/AnimalBites.aspx

Clinical and epidemiologic features of persons accessing emergency departments for dog and cat bite injuries in California (2005–2019)
https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/261/5/javma.22.11.0494.xml