Were you or a family member injured by a dog bite in Encino, CA? While many dog bites cause only minor injuries, some animal attacks can be incredibly severe. An experienced Encino dog bite lawyer at JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers can help you take legal action. We’ll fight to hold the dog’s owner liable for your medical bills, lost wages, trauma, and more.
Our team has over 105 years of experience helping injury victims recover the compensation they need and deserve. We’ve succeeded in recovering hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of clients like you.
You shouldn’t be expected to handle the financial costs in addition to the injuries you’ve already endured. Contact our law offices in Encino, California, at 833-852-3600 to schedule a free consultation with a lawyer who will fight for you.
How Can JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers Help Me Recover Compensation for Dog Bite Injuries in Encino?
Choosing the best legal representation is always important if you’ve been injured. Dog bite cases are no different. An experienced Encino personal injury lawyer can work to make the most of your compensation claim. After all, you only get one chance to recover the money you need.
At JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers, our lawyers have been recognized as Southern California Super Lawyers. We’ve also earned an AV-Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell for our success.
Our team offers injury victims:
- An in-depth investigation to identify why the bite occurred and prove liability
- Legal experts who can evaluate all legal theories that can help you recover compensation
- Respected expert witnesses to testify about your case value and other relevant issues
- Skilled and experienced negotiators to reject all lowball offers and work to recover the most compensation available
- Experienced trial lawyers who will fight for you in court if necessary
To learn more about the benefits of hiring our law firm, call for a free consultation with our Encino personal injury attorneys today.
How Common Are Dog Bites in California?
According to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year. Over 800,000 of those dog bite injuries are serious enough to require medical attention.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) was careful to note that it’s not the dog’s breed that’s important. Any dog can bite, regardless of how sweet and gentle it seems.
Unfortunately, California consistently reports the highest number of dog bite claims in the nation. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), in 2022, 1,954 dog bite injury claims were filed with insurance companies in California. Insurance companies paid out about $154 million in those cases.
What Do I Have To Prove To Recover Compensation From a Dog’s Owner in California?
Most personal injury victims must prove negligence to recover damages after an injury. Negligence means that someone was injured due to another person’s careless or reckless acts.
California dog bite laws are different. Dog owners can be held strictly liable for dog bite injuries.
Rather than proving negligence, you must prove the following to recover damages:
- You were bitten by the dog
- At the time of the dog bite, you were on public property or lawfully on private property (which may include the dog owner’s property)
- You suffered some type of injuries, or damages, because of the dog bite
You won’t have to prove that the dog owner knew about the dog’s vicious propensities or that the dog had bitten before to recover damages. California does not follow a so-called “one bite rule” where every dog gets one “free” bite.
Why Do I Need a Lawyer if California Has Strict Liability Dog Bite Laws?
Many injury victims think that they automatically become entitled to compensation when strict liability laws apply. In reality, despite the strict liability law, recovering compensation after a dog attack isn’t always easy. Dog owners can and do defend themselves against dog bite injury allegations.
Viable defenses that the dog owner may have include:
- You were trespassing on their property when the dog bit you
- You did something that provoked the dog to bite
- You somehow assumed the risk that the dog would bite you
When the dog’s owner has a valid defense to the strict liability law, you don’t automatically lose your right to compensation. You may still have a valid negligence-based claim.
Our lawyers can investigate and gather evidence to prove:
- The dog owner violated Los Angeles County leash laws
- They failed to keep the dog in a proper enclosure
- They knew the dog was aggressive and failed to post warning signs
- The owner trained the dog to behave viciously or to attack
- The dog was allowed to roam the neighborhood
We’ll interview neighbors and witnesses, search for prior complaints about the dog, and even locate any video footage that can help prove your case.
Our Lawyers Will Help You Fight To Maximize the Value of Your Encino Dog Bite Case
Even once you establish your right to compensation, you’ll have to convince the insurance company to pay a fair settlement. For that to happen, you must understand how much your personal injury case is worth.
Every case is different.
Our lawyers will carefully evaluate the unique factors that will impact your case value, including:
- The severity of your injuries
- Your medical treatment costs
- The value of any wages you lose during recovery
- Whether you’ll suffer any long-term disability, scarring or disfigurement
- The emotional trauma and physical pain you’ve suffered
- How the injury is expected to impact your future
Expect the insurance company to focus on factors that tend to decrease your case value. Also, remember that it’s rarely a good idea to accept a quick settlement deal. Before you take action, let an experienced Encino dog bite attorney review your case. At JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers, we offer free case reviews, so there isn’t any risk.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Dog Bite Victims in Encino?
In a successful personal injury case, you can seek compensation for economic damages and non-economic damages.
The dog’s owner may owe you compensation for:
- Current medical bills, including ER visits and hospitalization
- Future medical expenses, including reconstructive surgeries, rehabilitation, and wound care
- Lost wages
- Diminished future earning potential
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- PTSD and fear
- Permanent disfigurement or scarring
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of consortium
Our lawyers in Encino will help you identify the types of damages you’ve suffered. We’ve seen cases like yours before, and we know what you’re entitled to receive. Contact us today and schedule a free case evaluation to learn more.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Dog Bite Injury Lawyer in California?
At JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers, we represent clients on a contingency fee basis. That means your fee is contingent on the amount of compensation we recover in your case. Instead of paying a flat fee or an hourly rate, you pay a percentage of the settlement or verdict we win for you.
Ultimately, this system lets you take legal action without worrying about paying attorney’s fees at the outset.
Can I Recover Damages if I’m Being Blamed for a Dog Bite in California?
Shared fault can be an issue if the owner is blaming you for provoking the dog bite.
California has pure comparative negligence laws. If the owner can prove that you were partly responsible for your own injuries, your compensation will be reduced according to your percentage of fault.
Our Lawyers in Encino Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Dog Bite Injuries
Dog bites can result in a range of injuries. Aside from the wounds themselves, victims often suffer dramatic injuries if they’re knocked to the ground. The wound itself can also be difficult to treat, as a dog bite tends to cause the skin to tear and shred.
At JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers, we often help dog bite injury victims who have suffered:
- Facial injuries
- Lacerations
- Puncture wounds
- Severe scarring and disfigurement
- Soft tissue damage
- Broken bones
- Nerve damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Amputations due to infection
While it’s rare, dog bites can be fatal. If you lost a loved one due to a fatal dog attack, contact our lawyers in Encino to learn more about how we can help you recover damages for wrongful death.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Dog Bite in California?
A two-year statute of limitations applies in California personal injury cases. If you wait any longer than two years to sue for damages, you completely lose your right to recover compensation.
However, there are exceptions to this time limit for some circumstances. Contact us straight away for help determining how much time you have to file a lawsuit in your case.
Contact a Leading Encino Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Case Review
Since we started our legal practice, our team at JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers has worked hard to help our clients recover the full compensation they deserve. Today, we are widely recognized for our successful legal representation.
You don’t have to take our word for it. You can call us today for a free consultation with an experienced Encino dog bite lawyer who can handle your legal fight.
Our Personal Injury law firm in Encino also provides:
- Encino Bicycle Accident Lawyers
- Brain Injury Accident Attorneys in Encino, CA
- Car Accident Attorneys in Encino, CA
- Encino Catastrophic Injury Lawyers
- Dog Bite Accident Lawyers in Encino, CA
- Motorycle Accidents Lawyer in Encino, CA
- Encino Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
- Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers in Encino, CA
- Truck Accident Attorneys in Encino, CA
- Wrongful Death Lawyers in Encino
- Encino Personal Injury Lawyers
- Product Liability Attorney in Encino
- Workers’ Compensation Attorneys in Encino
- Construction Accident Lawyer Attorney in Encino, CA
Visit Our Injury Law Office in Encino, CA
JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers – Encino Office
16633 Ventura Boulevard 1011,
Encino, CA 91436
Phone: (833) 852-3600
Opening Hours: Monday through Friday
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
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