Whether or not a pet lover, a dog’s bite can hurt you, causing enough physical, mental, and financial distress. Hence, it’s your right to claim damage for such uncalled-for suffering. You can sue the dog owner for this. Legal processes are accessible for dog bite victims like you to make pet owners accountable for their animals’ behavior. Like any lawsuit, filing for compensation would require a few fundamental things, such as proof that a specific dog injured you, and it’s the owner’s responsibility. Every American state has some unique requirements regarding these cases. For instance, some states follow one-bite law, while others support liability. One-bite states hold an owner responsible based on their pet’s past aggressive records. In the other case, the owner will be accountable regardless of the dog’s previous behavior.
Fortunately, places like Sand Diego in California adhere to strict dog bite liability rules. Hence, it will be better to seek help from a trustworthy San Diego injury law firm for guidance. An experienced personal injury lawyer can tie the loose ends of your case by eliminating or addressing any issue that hinders your claim. Let’s gather further details on dog bite lawsuits to take adequate measures during a crisis.
- Dog bite liability and compensation
Typically, you file a claim for money from the dog’s owner through a lawsuit. Owners generally have insurance coverage to cover such cases. It can be renters’ insurance, homeowners’ insurance, or so on. Nevertheless, the owner will prefer an out-of-court settlement or pay the amount if you win the trial. Settlements often eliminate the need to make rounds to court. However, the downside to this step is you cannot pursue this case for any claims in the future. Sometimes, more than one party is responsible for the bite incident. Suppose a property has been rented to a pet owner with an aggressive dog. In that case, the landlord will also be held accountable if they didn’t take any preventive measures and the dog harmed you.
Due to the severe or fatal nature of the injury, you can incur a hefty medical bill. There will be ongoing medical care expenses, too. At the same time, you may have to take leave from your work for recovery. If it impacts the potential for your future earnings, you can calculate a fair amount considering this aspect as well. You also deserve compensation for your emotional turmoil and physical pain. With the help of a legal subject matter expert, you can file a lawsuit accounting for all types of losses with proper evidence.
- Common errors made by dog bite victims
It’s common to make mistakes for dog bite victims due to little or no legal knowledge. Often, they ignore or delay medical attention, which is potentially harmful to their physical health and legal steps. Immediate treatment helps you minimize the effect of the bite and prove its connection with your injury. Being clueless about where to report the case, such as law enforcement or a local animal control body, is also challenging. Many victims forget to collect evidence and witnesses. They pay little heed to taking the owner’s details. Also, settling for too little without understanding your right to damage in these cases is another problem.
If you or your loved one ever gets into this situation, please seek medical treatment and consult a lawyer on priority to avoid an unwanted experience.
