When a man’s best friend isn’t so friendly, victims can face wound lacerations with immense physical trauma. A dog bite may seem like a relatively minor injury. Still, severe lacerations, nerve damage, and loss of function can cause life-altering harm.
Our dog bite lawyers have represented many dog attack victims. We understand how a supposedly harmless encounter can suddenly turn violent through no fault of the victim. When an overly protective animal or aggressive large breed bites a person and lacerates the skin, our attorneys help you seek accountability through California’s strict liability dog laws.
A dog’s jaws can exert over 2000 PSI of pressure – easily enough to crush bones. Their pointed fangs pierce deeply while other teeth tear flesh. Larger dogs and stronger breeds do more damage, especially with repeated bites in a mauling attack. Multiple injuries require complex surgical care to treat.
Serious mauling incidents cause:
Children attacked by dogs suffer worse outcomes due to their small size – damage done to growing bodies lasts a lifetime.
Most people bitten by canines experience a lightning-quick nip and then release. But some breeds evolved, gripping bulls and boars – tenaciously retaining holds despite victim struggle. Both children and adults bitten this way risk grave musculoskeletal injuries and permanent disfigurement.
Flailing or running when clamped down intensifies tearing motion – akin to starting a stubborn lawnmower. The jerking, twisting, and pulling sharks side to side to separate meat from bone. Unwittingly, victims aid the dog, inflicting deeper damage by thrashing in the jaws. Parents of small children must override instincts to grab and pull if attempting to free them from an unrelenting attack.
Deep puncture wounds and flesh lacerations cause immense suffering during and after dog attacks. Nerve damage and loss of mobility require prolonged medical attention. Children face not only physical trauma but also emotional distress, interfering with normal development.
Without swift first aid like washing, disinfecting, and carefully bandaging bite wounds, lacerations infected with animal saliva can drive bacteria deeper into tissue. Dangerous complications like sepsis, organ failure, and even amputation may result. Scarring also often necessitates later plastic surgery to restore normal appearance.
The road to recovery extends well beyond initial treatment. Rehabilitation, counseling, and lifestyle adjustments add to costs victims incur through no fault of their own. LA DOG BITE LAW fights to recover urgent medical bills and complete, long-term compensation that victims deserve.
The California legislature has imposed absolute financial liability statutes on dog owners, regardless of circumstances, to streamline personal injury cases. However, unique situations still require legal expertise.
The intricacies of strict liability theory and tactics insurance companies use to deny or reduce claim value demonstrate the need for an attorney well-versed in dog bite litigation by your side.
Our law firm negotiates with insurance companies to maximize compensation and win favorable settlements or jury awards when necessary.
California Civil Code section 3342 establishes legal rules for pet owners. Dog bite victims with severe lacerations need only show that their injury occurred in public places or while lawfully visiting a private property to assign liability over to the dog owner.
While strict statutes ease the overall burden of proof for dog bite victims, complications may occur when owners claim:
We work closely with third parties to validate medical reports, demonstrate past animal aggression issues, and provide evidence that rebuts the dog owner’s affirmative defenses.
One notable strict liability exemption involves bites from canines assisting police officers, which require proving improper handling or a known, ignored vicious propensity. Though public servants have extensive animal control training, negligence and liability still occur. These cases require experienced litigators to establish facts, validate the injury extent, and evaluate the breach of legal duties.
In the aftermath of receiving severe dog bite lacerations, timely legal guidance is critical, yet often overlooked, while dog attack victims address urgent medical concerns and seek emotional stability.
Evidence like witness accounts and incident reports also get lost over time, negatively impacting a case’s success. Once retained, a California dog bite attorney discovers evidence, talks to doctors for accurate diagnoses, and assesses recoverable economic (i.e., lost wages) and non-economic (i.e., pain and suffering) damages suffered.
Most dog bite cases settle out of court once the attorney establishes full liability. If not, skilled litigators can effectively present arguments to judges and juries to win favorable judgments.
Equally important, experienced California personal injury lawyers save victims from taking low insurance settlements in their desperation to move on. We waive all upfront costs, collecting payment only if and when an insurance company or a jury awards you compensation. This incentive allows us to focus entirely on full recovery.
With many years of securing settlements and verdicts for dog bite victims, our success speaks volumes.
The first step toward physical recovery, emotional healing, and fair restitution is to retain legal counsel to protect your interests after receiving severe lacerations from a dog mauling. We offer free, no-obligation case consultations and guidance regarding your options.
If you’ve been bitten by a dog, kindly contact us to schedule a meeting. Our experienced dog bite attorneys are here to help get life back on track.
Our reach extends throughout California, from the sunny streets of San Diego to the bustling cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco, and beyond. We’re here to help victims across the state report dog bites, find the legal support they need, and ensure that justice is served. By reporting dog bites and seeking assistance, we’re all doing our part in making our communities safer while helping victims get back on their feet.
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