At Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Modesto, we represent the victims of dog bites, and that can include Motorists chased down and attacked. After a serious bite incident, riders can demand injury support from dog owners and get help with medical bills and other hardships. Contact a skilled personal injury lawyer and schedule a free consultation. It’s a no-risk way to determine what your injury is worth and how to hold an at-fault dog owner responsible.
Dog Bites on Motorcyclists Dangers
Dogs like to chase things and unfortunately, their instincts can kick in as a Modesto motorcyclist passes by. A dog that isn’t properly restrained might run down a rider and deliver a painful bite, damaging the nerve endings and tissue in the victim’s thigh or breaking a bone.
An attack may send a rider off a motorcycle to get hit by a car. Victims may strike the road surface to suffer a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or neck and spine injuries. Deep wounds can become infected, leaving riders unable to return to the rides they love for weeks or months.
In these scary incidents, it’s the dog owners who are usually proven negligent. A Modesto dog bite lawyer can help motorcycle accident victims collect the evidence they need to file a claim against the dog owner’s insurance provider and secure every benefit available, even the benefits an insurance adjuster won’t mention.
Can a California Dog Owner Be Held Responsible for a Motorcyclist’s Dog Bite Injury?
Yes. California lays the blame on the dog owner in most dog bite incidents. These cases follow the legal concept of “strict liability.” It means pet owners are liable for dog bites and that the dog’s history doesn’t matter.
In some states, a dog that’s never bitten anyone before wouldn’t leave a dog owner responsible for the “first bite.” The dog would have to have a prior history of aggression in order for the dog owner to be financially accountable. Fortunately for California victims, the law is different here. Dog owners are liable even if it’s the first bite incident the dog has had.
Dog owners can sometimes escape responsibility if…
- The motorcyclist was trespassing on private property at the time of the attack
- The motorcyclist provoked the dog
A dog owner found liable would be financially responsible for the motorcyclist’s physical, emotional, and financial damages. Your Modesto Motorcycle Accident Lawyer would take action immediately and file a claim against the owner’s homeowners or renter’s insurance. If the dog owner had neither type of insurance, a claim against the dog owner and the dog owner’s property would be pursued in court.
What If a Dog Knocks Me Down While I’m Riding a Motorcycle in Modesto?
Strict liability law is only used in cases that involve an actual dog bite. But riders can also be hurt in other ways by a dog’s unpredictable actions.
Motorcyclists can be forced to steer away from a dog and perhaps into another vehicle. A dog may cause a motorcyclist to be launched from the vehicle and to the pavement. A frightened rider could accidentally steer into a stationary object, like a tree while trying to escape.
Your lawyer would be tasked with gathering evidence to show the dog and the dog’s owner were responsible for a knockdown or chase injury. Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Modesto can collect the proof necessary to make sure victims are taken care of. The dog owner would be held fully responsible for medical bills and other hardships the victim suffered.
Finding Support for Motorcyclists Suffering Dog Bites
Unfortunately, dog bites often cause injuries that require more care than a single night in an emergency room. Riders might find they need surgery on a broken bone that doesn’t heal correctly. They might require additional physical therapy to regain control of their hands and limbs in order to have a chance to ride again.
Motorcyclists can suffer a permanent disability, like an amputation caused by a badly broken bone. A skilled Modesto attorney also seeks compensation to pay for home care, home renovations, and medical equipment that may be required.
Your attorney make sures support for these and other hardships is included in any motorcycle accident settlement check:
- Full support for hospital care
- A lifetime of support for a permanent physical disability
- Travel costs while going to doctor’s appointments
- Support for the physical pain victims endure with a dog bite wound
- Support for the emotional trauma victims must suffer through after a scary attack and accident crash
- Past and future lost income while you miss work
- Estimates on lost earning capacity from a permanent disability
- Money for repairs or replacement of a damaged motorcycle
- Wrongful death benefits for families who lose a loved one
Contact a Modesto Dog Bite Lawyer
If you have suffered a serious injury from a dog bite while riding a motorcycle, speak with a Modesto dog bite lawyer to ensure your rights as a victim are protected. It’s critical that you get the support needed to fully heal and get back to your bike rides.
We are here to provide you with the resources you need to hold an 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.
There’s no obligation for your consultation, but if you feel we can help you earn more, you won’t need any upfront money to hire us. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement money an insurance company provides to you.