If you’ve suffered injuries because you were bitten by a dog in Sherman Oaks, California, it’s important to explore your legal rights. You may have the opportunity to file a legal claim against the dog’s owner or another liable party and seek money for the costs of your medical care, loss of income, and suffering. Our experienced Sherman Oaks dog bite lawyers can fight to maximize your recovery.
Since 1980, JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers has been a fierce advocate for dog bite victims and grieving families in Sherman Oaks and throughout Southern California. Backed by over 105 years of collective experience, we’ve forced dog owners, insurance companies, and property owners to pay our clients hundreds of millions in life-changing financial awards.
Don’t settle for less than you deserve. Make the most of your dog bite lawsuit by trusting our top-rated legal team to fight for you. We offer a free consultation, so contact our Sherman Oaks, CA, law office at (833) 852-3600 today.
How JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers Helps Dog Bite Victims in Sherman Oaks, CA
Even though you may have the right to seek compensation after a dog bite in Sherman Oaks, the path to a financial recovery won’t necessarily be straightforward. The dog’s owner won’t rush to accept blame, and their insurance company will search for any reason to deny your claim.
Force meaningful settlement negotiations by trusting our Sherman Oaks personal injury lawyers to represent you.
Choosing JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers means working with award-winning California litigators who have been acknowledged as leaders in personal injury law by Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, and Best Lawyers.
We understand that you have one shot at getting compensation after a dog attack. We’re prepared to do everything in our power to help you secure the compensation needed to pay for your medical care, make up for disability losses, and acknowledge your pain and suffering.
Take the time you need to focus on your physical health and well-being. We’ll handle the rest.
Count on us to:
- Conduct a timely, independent investigation into your dog attack
- Analyze medical records, police reports, vet records, photographs, video footage, witness statements, and other evidence
- Collaborate with experts in animal behavior, forensics, medicine, rehabilitation, and other areas of specialty as we build your claim
- Assess your damages and calculate what your dog bite case is worth
- Pursue a maximum settlement during negotiations with the dog’s owner, their defense attorney, and the insurance company
- Offer support and guidance so that you can make informed decisions when it’s time to decide how to resolve your dog bite lawsuit
- Represent you at trial if the defense refuses to make you a fair settlement offer
Don’t worry about the cost of hiring a lawyer when you turn to our Sherman Oaks personal injury attorneys for help. We are so confident that we’ll win your dog bite case that we’ll stake our fees on the outcome.
You pay nothing unless we win compensation for you.
Ready to get started? Reach out to our law office in Sherman Oaks today. Your first case evaluation is free.
Is California a “One Bite” State?
Some states have a “one bite” rule in place that applies to dog bite cases. In these states, a dog owner is not automatically liable when their animal bites another animal or a person. The first bite is essentially free. An owner is only strictly liable for subsequent bites because the dog has a history of aggression.
California does not have a one bite rule. Instead, California dog owners are strictly liable for a dog’s actions under California Civil Code 3342, regardless of the dog’s history.
California’s strict liability laws incentivize dog owners to keep their dogs leashed and contained in fenced yards and to take other steps to prevent the animal from attacking other animals or people.
How Do I Win a Dog Bite Lawsuit in Sherman Oaks?
In California, the elements of a dog bite lawsuit are fairly straightforward.
You’ll need to prove:
- You were on public property or lawfully on private property
- You were bitten by a dog owned by the defendant
- You suffered damages
The dog’s owner might attempt to blame you for the dog attack. In these situations, you’ll have to demonstrate that you did not provoke the animal.
There are times when someone other than the dog’s owner might be liable for your dog bite injuries. Dog bite cases are sometimes a matter of premises liability. Specifically, you may have the right to sue a property owner if their negligence contributed to or caused your dog attack.
When you sue a property owner for negligence, you must establish:
- The property owner owed you a duty of care because you were lawfully on the premises
- The owner breached this duty of care because their actions were unreasonable under the circumstances
- The owner’s conduct was a direct and proximate cause of your dog bite
- You’ve suffered damages
For instance, let’s say you live in an apartment complex in Sherman Oaks, and your neighbor has a vicious dog. The landlord knows this but has not taken any steps to get the animal out of the building or to prohibit the owner from taking the animal into common areas. If you’re bitten by the dog in a common area, the landlord might be partly responsible for your resulting damages. Their inaction breached their duty to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition.
Don’t stress out about how to prove your dog bite case or who – other than the owner – might be liable for your injuries. Trust our dog bite attorneys in Sherman Oaks to investigate your case and build a compelling legal claim that helps you realize a maximum financial recovery.
What Damages Are Available to Sherman Oaks Dog Bite Victims?
If you’re bitten by a dog in Sherman Oaks, California, you may have the right to seek compensatory damages through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
Compensatory damages can include two types of awards: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are paid to help you handle the financial costs of your dog bite, which can include money for:
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Costs paid out of pocket
- Nursing care
- Physical therapy
- Current and future medical bills
- Funeral expenses if a dog bite is fatal
If you suffer harder-to-value trauma because of a dog bite, non-economic damages can help you cope with things like:
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Physical scarring
- Reduced quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Chronic physical pain
- Emotional distress
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
In some dog bite cases, punitive damages can be paid, too. However, this is only in situations when a dog bite lawsuit goes to trial. A jury must find clear and convincing evidence that the defendant’s actions were intentional, oppressive, or fraudulent. Typically, this means the owner displayed gross negligence or intentionally instructed the dog to cause harm.
What Are the Most Common Types of Dog Bite Injuries?
Every year, thousands of people across the state of California are bitten by dogs. According to the
California Department of Healthcare Access and Information, 48,596 people sought treatment at emergency rooms for dog bite-related injuries in a recent year. This represented a 12 percent increase from the year prior.
That’s roughly 133 serious dog bites every day. Statistically speaking, about half of all dog bite victims are children. That would mean about 66 children are seriously injured by dogs in California on a daily basis.
Adults and children who are bitten by dogs can suffer debilitating injuries, including:
- Puncture wounds
- Lacerations
- Crushing injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Degloving injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Head injuries
- Brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Eye injuries
- Infections
- Diseases
- Wrongful death
Do not hesitate to seek medical care if you’ve been bitten by a dog in Sherman Oaks. Prompt treatment can be critical for your health and the future success of a legal claim for damages.
How Long Will I Have to Seek Compensation After I’m Bitten By a Dog in California?
In California, you’ll generally have until the second anniversary of your dog bite to file a personal injury lawsuit against the owner or another party.
If a loved one has been killed in a fatal dog attack in Sherman Oaks, you’ll have two years from their death to seek damages in a wrongful death lawsuit.
The two-year statute of limitations has a few exceptions, typically involving children. An injured child may have additional time to file a dog bite lawsuit if a claim isn’t filed on their behalf.
You can’t let the filing deadline pass without taking legal action. Once time runs out, you’ll lose the right to seek damages for your considerable costs, pain, and suffering.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Sherman Oaks Dog Bite Lawyer
Call JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers if you’ve been injured by a dog bite in Sherman Oaks, California. You have rights, and our award-winning legal team will work to get you the justice you deserve.
Our Sherman Oaks dog bite attorneys have over 105 years of combined experience and a demonstrated track record of success. Count on us to back your case with the experience, resources, and passion needed to yield the best results.
We offer a free consultation, so reach out to our Sherman Oaks law office to get started today.
