If you have suffered a dog bite in Huntington Beach, you should consider seeking legal advice. California imposes liability on dog owners, which means that they are responsible for your losses, such as medical care and lost income. Dog bites should be taken seriously. Man’s best friend is capable of causing severe injuries. Puncture wounds can be extremely painful, while many people have PTSD after a dog bite. There are other risks, such as infection at the wound site and rabies. There are various experienced injury attorneys Huntington Beach, who can help you recover a settlement after such an incident. Below is an overview for your help.
California dog bite laws
As we mentioned earlier, the state laws of California impose strict liability on dog owners after a bite incident. To win a personal injury lawsuit, you have to prove a few things, such as –
- The defendant is the owner of the dog
- You suffered injuries because the dog attacked you
- There was no provocation on your part
If there were witnesses to the dog bite, they could give a statement in your favor. You could get a much higher settlement if the dog is already known to be aggressive or has a history of attacking people. Although not very common, it is possible to recover punitive damages in a dog bite lawsuit in California.
You need an attorney – Beyond doubt
There are a few exceptions to the liability laws in the case of dog bites. For instance, if you were provoking the dog or trespassing the dog owner’s property when the dog bit you, you cannot recover anything. For obvious reasons, the dog owner will try to evade liability. You need an injury attorney to prove that the incident happened because of the owner’s fault or the dog’s aggressiveness. Most lawyers in Huntington Beach will offer a free case assessment, which can come in handy to know the worth of your claim. What you get in a settlement depends on the nature of your injuries and if you reported the injury and incident to relevant authorities.
The good news is you don’t need to spend a fortune to hire an injury attorney in California for a dog bite case. Most personal injury law firms ask for a contingency fee, which is only payable if you win a settlement. Check online for top-rated injury attorneys in your area and get an appointment.
