Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Modesto represents injury victims throughout the city, including those that are hurt in dog bite incidents. No matter how well-behaved or trained a dog is, there’s certain scenarios where a bite can leave you or a loved one injured. To discuss your legal options in this situation, contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Do You Even Need a Lawyer?

Every dog bite situation is unfortunate, but whether or not you need a lawyer depends on your circumstances. Some dog bites aren’t that serious, in which case you probably don’t have to worry about legal action. However, other situations are quite traumatic and require further legal steps to recover. It’s here that our team can help. Usually, we approach dog bite cases by doing the following for our clients:

  • Investigating the incident and explaining your legal options
  • Assisting you in gathering crucial evidence and reviewing insurance policies to determine liability
  • Connecting you with medical experts
  • Guiding you through the claims process

Our top priority is making the process easier for you and your family. Certainly, you don’t want to go through a dog bite incident. but the truth is any dog can potentially react aggressively in certain situations. Thus, you need to be prepared and it helps to understand the process.

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What Steps Should You Take After a Dog Bite?

Like any accident, there’s certain things you should do after a dog bites you or someone you’re with. This will go a long way in both protecting your health and strengthening your potential claim. So, when you find yourself in one of these situations, it’s a good idea to:

  • Get to safety – The first thing you should do is get to a safe area away from the dog. At that point, try to take stock of the situation and assess any injuries.
  • Get medical attention – As soon as you can, get medical care. This is important because dog bites can cause not only immediate injuries, but potential infections if not treated.
  • Call animal control – Report the accident to local animal control, either in Modesto or Stanislaus County. They can respond and get information about the dog regarding vaccines and history of other bites.
  • Find the dog’s owner – A key piece of information is who owns the dog. If you can, get contact and insurance information from them. If you can’t find the owner, animal control or the local police may be able to help.
  • Document what happened – Take pictures and videos of your injuries and the scene of the attack. Provide a thorough description, noting the date, time, and location of the incident, as well as necessary details about the dog and its owner.

Typical Damages

Regardless of the circumstances, it’s important to act quickly after a dog bite. Injuries and complications are something that can happen with these incidents. Legally speaking, though, you can potentially recover the following damages in a dog bite claim:

  • Medical expenses and ongoing treatment, such as physical therapy.
  • Costs relating to any permanent injury or scarring.
  • Financial considerations for pain and suffering.
  • Support for emotional distress.
  • Lost earnings or income.
  • Coverage for any property damage from the incident.
  • Punitive damages if the dog owner’s behavior was extremely careless.

Like any claim, what you’re able to recover depends on how well you present your case. But a dog bite, at least in legal terms, is unique in how it applies to liability.

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Who Pays For Damages After a Dog Bite?

In terms of who pays for your damages after a dog bite in Modesto, the city follows the same laws and regulations as the rest of California. Namely, the law follows “strict liability” for dog bites. This means that:

  • Owners are held responsible for injuries caused by their dogs, regardless of intent.

As a victim, this means that the dog’s owner is the one who’s primarily responsible for paying for your injuries and other damages resulting from the incident.

However, there are exceptions to strict liability. This may happen if you:

  • Were trespassing on the owner’s property.
  • Provoked the dog.

Legally speaking, this amounts to “comparative negligence,” which potentially reduces your damages by the percentage of fault you contributed to the incident.

Where Do Most Dog Bites Happen?

While dog owners have most of the liability after a dog bite, it also matters where the bite happens. This doesn’t take away from the owner’s responsibility, but may possibly spread it to different parties. Most of the time, dog bites in Modesto happen at:

  • Homes – This is probably the most common spot. A significant number of dog bites occur within the dog owner’s home or the homes of friends or family.
  • Public areas – Parks, sidewalks, streets, and other public spaces in Modesto are frequent places for dog bites, especially if dogs are not properly leashed or restrained.
  • Dog parks – While designed for dogs to socialize and exercise off-leash, interactions between unfamiliar dogs can sometimes lead to aggression and bites.
  • Workplaces – In some cases, people may encounter dogs in their workplace, such as service dogs or dogs brought by visitors or customers. This is also a common problem for mailmen or delivery drivers in Modesto.
  • Neighborhoods – Walking or jogging in residential areas can also result in dog bite incidents, particularly if dogs are allowed to roam freely without supervision.

Injuries

Every incident is different, but one thing that remains the same across any dog bite are the potential injuries it can leave you with. In most cases, you could be facing:

  • Bite wounds – These result from the dog’s teeth breaking through the skin, often affecting arms, legs, hands, and ankles.
  • Bruising – Bleeding under the skin can cause black and blue discoloration around the bite area.
  • Lacerations – Cuts or tears in the skin caused by the dog’s teeth.
  • Infection – Bacteria from the dog’s mouth can lead to infection if the skin is broken.
  • Tissue damage – Dog bites can harm muscles, tendons, or nerves under the skin, causing pain and limited movement.
  • Emotional trauma – Fear, anxiety, or PTSD can occur after a dog bite, often overlooked but significant.

No matter how hurt you are, it’s always best to get medical attention as soon as possible. Prioritizing your health and safety will, usually, allow everything else to take care of itself. And our Modesto dog bite lawyers will be there to help you through it all.

Dog Bite Victims Can Trust Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Modesto

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