At Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Modesto, we provide strong representation for all dog bite victims. We work to get the maximum in recovery support from insurance companies after victims are bitten while visiting a friend or family member. Contact a skilled Modesto personal injury lawyer and schedule a free consultation. It’s a no-risk way to determine the level of support your child will need to recover fully and how to hold dog owners fully responsible.
Dog Bite Dangers at a Family Member’s Home
One of the benefits of having friends and family in Modesto is getting the opportunity to visit them, speak with them, and share a laugh. But when visiting anyone who shares their home with a dog, it’s a good idea to show caution. You should be careful, but in fact, under California law, it’s the dog owner’s responsibility to protect guests from situations where a bite could occur.
Dogs exposed to familiar or unfamiliar guests can become frightened or protective and inflict a painful bite. Children visiting a grandparent or staying at a friend’s house can become curious and excited to pet a dog in the home. They can corner a dog without realizing the danger or that a dog is afraid.
Devastating bites can occur and leave victims young and old with painful wounds that might need more treatment than a single visit to the emergency room. The costs for care can extend into months or years, especially for child dog bite victims. A Modesto Dog Bite Lawyer handles the frustrating claims process so victims can focus on healing physically and mentally.
Is a California Dog Owner Responsible for a Dog Bite?
Yes. California holds dog owners fully liable for dog bites under most circumstances. The state uses the legal concept of “strict liability,” meaning that dog owners are responsible for the harm their dogs cause, even if it’s the first time they’ve shown aggression.
Dog owners can sometimes avoid responsibility if…
- The victim was trespassing on private property at the time of the attack
- The victim provoked the dog
Of course, if you are at the homes of family members home or in their yards for a get-together, it would generally be understood that you were invited onto the property. And where children are concerned, showing a young victim provoked or frightened a dog usually wouldn’t be a defense for the dog owner.
After a bite, a skilled Modesto attorney would file a claim for damages with the dog owner’s homeowners insurance or renter’s insurance. Support would be sought for the victim’s medical bills and for many more hardships experienced by the victim.
Visit this page on our site to find out what to do if your child has been bitten by a dog anywhere in Stanislaus County.
Is It Okay to File a Dog Bite Claim Against a Family Member?
You may be conflicted about whether you should file an injury claim against a loved one. It may lead to a sensitive situation. This is understandable, but you could consider that an insurance claim doesn’t usually directly target the dog owner. Support would usually come from the owner’s insurance policy and the family member’s income and savings wouldn’t usually be drawn upon.
This is the reason your friends and family pay home insurance dues. It’s a protection against this sort of accident. They are also your family members and they likely want to make sure you or a child can afford the best care available and have the best chance at healing.
You may feel like bringing in a lawyer would be taken as an aggressive move, but your lawyer fights with the insurance company to secure the right amount of support for victims. In most cases, your lawyer would not be in contact with your family member. In the vast majority of cases, dog bite injury claims are settled outside of court. Filing a claim usually wouldn’t mean you’d have to go before a judge and jury.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I wait to file a Modesto dog bite accident claim?
Victims have up to two years to file an injury claim with an insurance company. Waiting longer will usually mean the claim is thrown out.
What if I can’t afford to hire a Modesto dog bite lawyer?
You can afford strong legal representation from Maison Law Accident and Injury Lawyers of Modesto. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee is paid out of the award an insurance company must send you.
What kind of compensation can I expect from an insurance company after a dog bite?
Your lawyer demands full support so you can pay current medical bills and those expected in the future. You must also factor in the time you’ve had to miss at your job and the paychecks you’ll need reimbursement for. The physical pain and emotional trauma a dog bite can cause must also earn support.
Contact a Modesto Dog Bite Lawyer
If you have suffered a serious injury from a dog bite, speak with a Modesto dog bite lawyer to ensure your rights as a victim are protected. You may have been bitten at a family member’s house, but you shouldn’t worry about how an injury claim would affect your loved one. It’s usually the dog owner’s insurance provider that must bear the financial burden after someone’s been hurt.
We are here to provide you with the resources you need to hold a family member’s insurance provider responsible. Please contact our dog bite accident lawyers serving victims of Stanislaus County for a free case consultation. Your case review is completely confidential and provides an easy way for you to consider how to earn help in paying hospital bills.