If a dog bites you in Victorville, CA, do not let the pet’s owner off the hook. By partnering with a Victorville dog bite lawyer, you can pursue damages from a negligent pet owner. Then, your Victorville personal injury lawyer can help you get compensation that you can use to cover the costs of your dog bite injury.
Moody Law is a leading choice for legal representation after a dog bite accident. Our Victorville dog bite attorney can take a look at your case right away. To get started, please contact us today.
What to Do After a Dog Bite Attack in Victorville
More than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). If you suffer a dog bite in Victorville, try to remain calm, cool, and collected. Here are things that you can do to respond to the incident and get the medical care that you need right away:
Call 911
Medical personnel and police officers will arrive on the scene. This allows you to receive immediate medical treatment for your injury and go to an emergency room as needed. Police officers will also collect information from you, the owner of the dog that bit you, and anyone else who saw the incident happen and put together a report.
Get the Contact Information from the Dog’s Owner
Ask for the first and last name, address, and other contact information from the dog’s owner. Along with this, get the contact information of any accident witnesses. You may need to reach out to witnesses down the line if you decide to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim.
Gather Evidence
Use your smartphone to take photos and videos of your pet bite injury. You can also look for witnesses. Each piece of evidence that you collect now may be used to support your request for damages as part of a minor or catastrophic injury lawsuit.
Get a Medical Evaluation
In addition to receiving medical care at the scene of your accident, consult with a doctor. You can undergo a medical evaluation to determine the severity of your injury and how long it will take to recover from it. Also, your doctor can give you a good idea about how much it will cost to treat your injury in the weeks and months to come.
Meet with a Victorville Dog Bite Lawyer
Set up a date and time to discuss your accident with a Victorville dog bite attorney. You can provide the lawyer with details about your accident. Next, your attorney can go over your legal options with you and help you decide whether to submit a personal injury claim.
Not all dog bite lawyers are created equal. If you have an experienced animal attack attorney at your side, you can get the legal help that you need to secure a fair settlement. On top of that, your lawyer will advocate for you and make sure that your legal rights are protected throughout your litigation.
What Can Happen to a Dog After an Attack
You may be reluctant to reach out to dog bite attorneys due to the fact that you do not want the animal that attacked you to be euthanized. Per California Civil Code Section 3342.5, a court can order a dog to be put to sleep after it bites someone in certain circumstances. To issue this order, a court must find that the dog has bitten people at least twice or was trained to fight people or other animals and caused a person to suffer a severe injury.
In most instances, a dog will not be ordered to be put to sleep just because it bites you. Rather, a court will hold the dog’s owner — and not the animal itself — responsible for an attack. In accordance with California laws, you can sue the owner of a dog that bites you, but the animal will not necessarily have to be euthanized.
Moody Law offers legal guidance and support to pet bite accident victims. Our Victorville animal accident lawyer can learn about your case and help you file a claim against a negligent pet owner. For more information, please get in touch with us.
How Much Time You Have to File an Animal Bite Accident Lawsuit
California has a two-year statute of limitations relating to animal bite personal injuries. Typically, you have up to two years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit against a negligent pet owner. If you choose not to submit a claim during this period, you are 100% responsible for any costs relating to your injury.
If you are unsure about whether to file a lawsuit against a dog owner, consult with an animal attack lawyer. This gives you the opportunity to share your legal concerns and questions with an attorney. If your lawyer feels you have a strong case, they will encourage you to submit your claim as soon as possible.
The best animal attack lawyers are honest and upfront with animal bite victims. If an attorney has concerns about your case, they will share them with you. Ultimately, you have the final say on whether to file a lawsuit — and if you decide to do so, your attorney will support you at every stage of your litigation.
How Much Money You Can Get in a Dog Bite Accident Lawsuit
You can request any amount of money in your pet bite accident case. Animal attack attorneys will review the losses that their clients have incurred. They can then help their clients determine how much to request in economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages can be awarded due to quantifiable losses. For example, a dog can bite you, which causes you to fall, hit your head, and suffer a brain injury. In this situation, you can request economic damages for any costs to treat your brain injury, along with lost wages you suffer if your injury forces you to miss work.
Non-economic damages are more difficult to quantify than economic ones. They are subjective and relate to things like pain and suffering. An animal attack attorney will encourage their client to ask for both economic and non-economic damages and build an argument designed to compel a judge or jury to award this amount.
How Victorville Dog Bite Lawyers Approach the Legal Process
Victorville dog bite attorneys share a common goal: to help their clients get the maximum amount of compensation. These lawyers work in lockstep with their clients to achieve this goal. They also commit the time, energy, and resources required to ensure that their clients’ needs are met throughout the legal process.
Initially, your Victorville animal attack attorney evaluates your case. They can file your claim on your behalf and make sure that you request a reasonable amount of economic and non-economic damages. From here, they help you prepare for your trial.
It may be months or years before an animal bite accident case goes to trial. Regardless, your lawyer makes the most of the time available to them. They teach you about the trial process and ensure that you know what to expect when you take the stand.
The Role of Evidence in an Animal Bite Accident Case
Evidence plays a role in wrongful death lawsuits and many other cases. If you present compelling evidence in your animal bite accident lawsuit, you can show that a pet owner was negligent. This requires you to share evidence that illustrates the following:
- The dog owner had a duty of care and was expected to handle their pet and prevent it from attacking you and anyone else.
- This individual violated their duty of care since their dog attacked you.
- You suffered an injury because the pet owner violated their duty of care to you.
- Your injury caused you to suffer damages.
Victorville animal attack lawyers help their clients gather and evaluate evidence to support an allegation of negligence against a pet owner. If you have a wealth of evidence to support your request for compensation, your attorney can help you figure out the best way to present your evidence. When your court date arrives, your lawyer can share your evidence and use it to explain why a judge or jury should award damages. You can use evidence and witness testimony during your trial. Victorville animal attack attorneys will ask their clients to provide them with as much information about their accident as they can. This enables an attorney to develop a custom legal strategy that encompasses a wide range of evidence and witness testimony.
What to Do If You Get a Dog Bite Accident Settlement Offer
Following a dog bite accident, the pet’s owner may reach out to you. They may offer you immediate compensation in exchange for giving up your right to sue. If you accept this offer, you cannot seek further damages, in spite of the fact that the money you receive may be far less than what you could get if you go to trial.
Instead of accepting a settlement proposal, it is in your best interests to review it with an attorney. You can consult with a dog bite lawyer in Victorville who can help you weigh the pros and cons of a settlement offer. This attorney can explain everything that the offer entails, so you can make an informed decision about it.
There is no reason to approve a settlement offer unless it gives you a sufficient amount of compensation. If you are not happy with a proposal, you can decline it without penalty. You and your lawyer can continue to pursue a settlement before your trial gets underway.
How a Dog Bite Lawsuit Gets Resolved During a Trial
If you and the defendant in your case cannot come to terms on a settlement, your case goes to trial. You and your lawyer present an argument, and the defendant and their attorney do the same. A judge or jury then examines your case and decides if you will receive compensation.
A judge or jury will not rush to judgment in a dog bite accident lawsuit. They will consider evidence and witness testimony from both you and the defendant. Your attorney and the defendant’s lawyer will explain why they believe the judge or jury should be compelled to rule in their respective client’s favor.
In the best-case scenario, a judge or jury will see that the pet owner was negligent in your lawsuit. This will lead the judge or jury to rule in your favor. At this point, you will be awarded damages, and your case will be closed.
What to Look for in a Dog Bite Attorney in Victorville
You can conduct an extensive search for a dog bite accident attorney. When you do, you may find many lawyers at your disposal. There are several factors to consider as you look for an attorney to represent you in an animal bite lawsuit, and these include:
Case Experience
Select a lawyer who has experience in dog bite cases and similar practice areas. This attorney understands the challenges that can come up in an animal attack injury lawsuit. They can take steps to help you address these challenges before they hamper your ability to secure damages.
Legal Knowledge
Partner with an attorney who is familiar with California’s personal injury laws. This lawyer stays up to date on personal injury rules and regulations. They can explain how various laws apply to your dog bite injury lawsuit.
Client-First Approach
Choose a lawyer who puts their clients front and center. This attorney gives your case the attention it deserves. They work with you to ensure that you can present an argument that resonates with a judge or jury.
Hire a Victorville Dog Bite Accident Lawyer
Moody Law makes it easy to connect with a best-in-class Victorville dog bite accident attorney. Since 2019, we have proudly served dog bite injury victims and helped them get compensation from negligent pet owners. To find out more or request a case consultation, please contact us today.