Watsonville Dog Bite Lawyers

What Should You Do After a Dog Bite Injury?

If you or a loved one have been the victim of a dog attack, there are a few steps you should take. We have put together a step-by-step guide for what to do after someone’s dog has injured you.

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention

The most important thing you can do after a dog attack is to seek medical attention. Call 911 or visit an urgent care clinic as soon as possible. If your wound is bleeding, do your best to apply pressure to minimize blood loss until you can be treated.

2. Document the Attack

After a dog bite injury, you or someone in your party needs to identify the dog that bit you. If the owner is present, obtain the owner’s contact information and some basic information about the dog’s health and vaccination history. If possible, have someone photograph the scene and your injuries.

3. Contact the Police

Call the police and ask them to come and make a report. This will help corroborate your recollection of events down the road. You should also ask the police to contact animal control. Filing a report with animal control provides them with the necessary information to take action against a dangerous dog. This can include taking the dog into custody to prevent future attacks.

4. Contact a Dog Bite Injury Lawyer

As you recover from your injuries, contacting a lawyer may not be top of mind. However, these injuries are likely to cost you money and pain, and you should not be the one to pay the price. Speaking with the Watsonville dog bite attorneys at Silva Injury Law can help you understand your rights as a victim of a dog attack.

Who Is Liable for a Dog Attack?

Many states, including California, hold dog owners strictly liable for a dog attack. This means that California dogs do not get “one free bite.” In other words, dogs do not need to have a history of biting or violence for their owners to be held liable for the injuries they cause. Under California law, to successfully sue a dog owner, the victim of a dog attack only needs to show that:

• The defendant owned the dog;
• The attack occurred in public or in a private place the victim had permission to be in;
• The victim was injured by a dog bite; and
• The defendant’s dog caused the injury.

Depending on your case, other parties besides the dog’s owner may be responsible for your injuries. These parties typically include dog walkers, landlords, and property owners.

What Is the Average Settlement For Dog Bites?

There is no one-size-fits-all settlement amount for dog bite injuries. The types of compensation that victims of dog attacks typically seek may include:

• Physical pain and suffering;
• Emotional distress;
• Payment of past, current, and future medical bills;
• Lost wages;
• Reduced earning capacity; and
• Loss of consortium.

This is not an exhaustive list. Speaking with experienced Watsonville dog bite attorneys can help you understand what compensation you may be entitled to. Our team at Silva Injury Lawyers has represented dog attack victims across California and helped them get the settlements they deserve.

Contact Our Watsonville Dog Bite Attorneys

If you or a loved one have been injured in a dog attack, contact Silva Injury Law today. We love making a difference in our clients’ lives. Our focus is on helping you heal through our compassionate and tenacious advocacy. To learn more and to schedule a free consultation, give us a call or reach us through our online contact form. Our attorneys proudly represent clients through our four conveniently located offices in Turlock, Modesto, Merced, and Monterey.

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

• Motor vehicle accidents;
• Truck accident;
• Wrongful death;
• Product liability;
• Sexual assault and harassment;
• Medical malpractice; and
• Premise liability