If you or a loved one has been bitten or injured by a dog, you have the right to seek compensation. At Harpy Law, our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys have the experience, skills, and resources to hold negligent dog owners accountable and help you recover the maximum compensation you deserve. Call us or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation today.
The Harpy Law Advantage
- Our Los Angeles dog bite attorneys have extensive experience handling dog bite and animal attack claims throughout the greater Los Angeles area. We know California’s dog bite laws inside and out and know how to build your strongest possible case.
- We have a proven record of securing significant compensation for dog bite victims and their families, and we are committed to pursuing every dollar you are entitled to.
- We give every client our personal attention. We will listen to your story, thoroughly evaluate your claim, and develop a legal strategy tailored to your specific situation.
- Our team handles dog bite injury claims on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront, and we collect no fee unless we recover compensation for you.
- We are available around the clock. If you or a loved one has been attacked, we are ready to help you right away.
California Dog Bite Laws
California has one of the strongest dog bite statutes in the country. Under California Civil Code Section 3342, dog owners are strictly liable for injuries their dogs cause through biting, regardless of whether the dog had ever bitten anyone before or whether the owner had any reason to believe the dog was dangerous.
To recover compensation under California’s strict liability statute, you must have been in a public place or lawfully in a private place at the time of the attack. Dog owners generally cannot be held strictly liable if the victim was trespassing or committing a crime on the property at the time of the bite.
It is also worth noting that California’s protections are broad in scope. A dog does not necessarily have to break the skin to create liability. Grabbing, knocking over, or injuring someone in other ways may also give rise to a claim. In cases where the dog caused injury but did not directly bite the victim, such as by knocking a person off a bicycle or causing a fall, a negligence theory may apply, particularly if the owner violated a leash law or failed to exercise reasonable control over the animal.
Why You Need an Experienced Los Angeles Dog Bite Injury Lawyer
Although California law strongly favors dog bite victims, obtaining full and fair compensation is rarely automatic. Dog owners and their homeowners’ or renters’ insurers will look for every opportunity to minimize your claim. They will dispute the severity of your injuries, argue that you provoked the dog, question your lawful presence at the location, or challenge the damages you are claiming.
An experienced Los Angeles dog bite lawyer can investigate your attack, gather evidence, identify all liable parties, and build a compelling case on your behalf. They can accurately document and value all of your current and future damages, including medical treatment, lost wages, scarring, emotional trauma, and more. Then, you will know what a fair settlement of your claim would be. Your attorney can work to resolve your claim as quickly as possible. And if the insurance company refuses to pay what you are owed, your attorney can take your case to court and fight for the full compensation you deserve.
Dog bite cases can also involve overlapping liability. For example, when a dog is owned by one person but kept or managed by another, or when the attack occurs on a rented property, multiple parties could be at fault. Identifying all potentially liable parties is essential to maximizing your recovery, and an experienced attorney knows how to do that.
California Statute of Limitations For Dog Bite Claims
A statute of limitations is a law that establishes a deadline for filing a claim to recover compensation in a personal injury case. If you miss your filing deadline, you will not be able to recover any compensation.
The California statute of limitations for dog bite personal injury claims is two years. This means that you must typically file your claim within two years of the attack. However, there are exceptions to the two-year filing deadline. So, you must promptly consult an experienced Los Angeles dog bite injury lawyer to determine when you must file.
Waiting to act is never advisable. Evidence can disappear, witnesses become harder to locate, and memories fade. The sooner you consult an experienced Los Angeles dog bite attorney, the better positioned you will be to build the strongest possible case.
Contact Our Los Angeles Dog Bite Lawyers Today
A dog attack can leave lasting physical and emotional scars. At Harpy Law, our Los Angeles dog bite injury lawyers are dedicated to helping victims and their families recover the full compensation they deserve. We will investigate your attack, build your strongest case, and fight tirelessly to hold the negligent dog owner accountable.
Do not face the insurance companies alone. Call us or visit our contact page today to schedule your free consultation. We will listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain your rights under California law. If we represent you, we will fight tirelessly to obtain the full value of your claim.