Merced Dog Bites Lawyers

Potential Damages That Can Be Recovered In A Dog Bite Injury In California

You can recover the following types of damages, if you were injured in a dog attack that occurred due to someone else’s negligence:

• Damages for past and future medical bills;
• Damages for lost wages;
• Damages for future lost wages, if the injury happens to be permanent;
• Damages for pain and suffering; and
• Damages for mental anguish and loss of consortium.

Economic damages, such as medical expenses and loss of earnings, are relatively easy to quantify as they have a specific financial value. Non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering and loss of consortium, are more subjective in value and can make up the biggest part of your claim value in some situations.

While no amount of money will ever make up for the traumatic experience after a serious dog bite or animal attack injury, filing a claim for damages can help ease some of the worry and stress.

To maximize your potential damages, you need to gather all the evidence that supports your injury and the circumstances surrounding the attack. This evidence is important because when calculating dog bite claims, we calculate your economic damages and assign a value (usually determined by multiplying your economic damages by a certain factor that depends on the seriousness of your injuries) to your non-economic ones.

How Our Merced Dog Bite Lawyers Can Help

Dog bite claims can be complicated, even when the dog owner is clearly liable under the California dog bite statute. Insurance companies look to limit their exposure and will try to minimize the value of your claim. You need an experienced Merced dog bite attorney who can help gather the evidence necessary and handle negotiations with the dog owner’s insurance company. In some cases, it may be necessary to hire experts who can testify as to the extent of your injuries and future treatment.

At Silva Injury Law, we have years of experience helping Merced clients just like you, including for injuries sustained in a dog bite case. We are not afraid to stand up to the insurance companies and take your case to trial if necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About California Dog Bite Injuries

Prospective clients typically have a lot of questions about dog bite claims. Here are answers to some of the most common ones to better prepare you for your first meeting with our office.

How Long Do You Have to Bring a Dog Bite Claim in California?

Dog bites are classified as personal injury claims and fall under the two-year statute of limitations. Therefore, you have two years from the date of injury to resolve your claim or file a lawsuit. Failure to file a lawsuit within the deadline means the court could dismiss your case entirely.

What Is the One-Bite Rule? Does It Apply in California?

Some states have a one-bite rule, which is a release of responsibility if the dog has never bitten someone before. Basically, the dog gets one free bite before the owner is liable. However, California is a strict liability state. This means the owner is held responsible regardless of whether the dog displays a propensity for being aggressive or has bitten someone previously.

What Defenses Do Dog Owners Have in a Case?

If you provoked the dog, the owner’s insurance company will say they are not liable. If you were trespassing on private property, they will use that as a defense as well. California’s dog bite statute protects you if you are in a public place or lawfully on private property, including the dog owner’s home.

Contact Our Merced Dog Bite Attorneys

If you sustained injuries from a dog bite, you don’t need to handle your claim alone. Let the experienced Merced dog bite lawyer at Silva Injury Law, Inc. help you. We have years of experience handling these types of claims and a proven record of success.

Our experienced legal team also handles other types of injury cases, including:

• Truck Accident
• Motorcycle Accident
• Sexual Harassment
• Slip and Fall
• Car Accident
• Wrongful Death Claim
• Pedestrian Accident
• Drunk Driving Accident
• Distracted Driving Accident
• Bicycle Accident
• Nursing Home Abuse

Contact our office online or call (209) 780-7385 today to schedule a free consultation to learn more about how we can help.

Our Merced Office Address

1170 W Olive Ave
Suite G7
Merced, CA 95348
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