
If you were injured from a dog bite in Bellflower, California, you might be suffering from injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and pain. You should not have to suffer further from an accident you did not cause. You might be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the dog’s owner to seek compensation for your injuries.
At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, our team is dedicated to ensuring that you seek what you deserve when you hire a Bellflower dog bite lawyer from our team. For a free consultation, call a team member today at (800) 816-0755.
California Dog Bite Laws
In California, dog owners are strictly liable for any injuries their pets cause. This means that, regardless of whether the dog has attacked anyone before now, their owner is liable for compensating victims that their dog injures.
According to California Civil Code (CIV) §3342, when you are in a public place or on private property legally, if a dog bites you, their owner will be responsible for your injuries and losses. This includes people who are on the property because of their job. For example, a letter carrier or a maintenance worker is protected under California’s dog bite law.
However, if you were trespassing at the time of the dog bite, you might not be able to recover compensation for your injuries. You also might not be able to recover compensation for your injuries if you were attacked by a police dog while police were pursuing you as a crime suspect.
Other states have “one-bite” laws, allowing animals to bite someone once before their owner would be responsible for compensating the victim. Thankfully, California’s law protects dog bite victims regardless of how many times the dog has bitten someone.
Statute of Limitations for Dog Bite Lawsuits
You have a limited time to file a lawsuit against the dog owner in California. This time limit is called the statute of limitations. Under California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) §335.1, you have two years following the dog bite injury (or from when you discovered your injury) to file a civil lawsuit.
Generally, if you miss this deadline, the court could bar you from pursuing damages. A dog bite lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you file your lawsuit before the deadline expires. Call a member of the team today for a free consultation to get started.
For a free legal consultation with a Dog Bite Lawyer serving Bellflower, call (800) 794-0444
A Bellflower Dog Bite Lawyer Can Help You
Some personal injury victims prefer to have a lawyer handle their case for them so they can focus on recovering both physically and emotionally. Here are some ways a lawyer can help you with your case:
Gather Evidence
Once you hire a dog bite lawyer, they will gather all of the information necessary to prove that the dog owner is liable for your injuries. This evidence might include medical records, pay stubs, photos and videos, witness accounts, and more.
They will then take this evidence and build your case against the negligent party. Your case will include everything you deserve in compensation.
Negotiate
Your dog bite lawyer will also handle all communications in your case. This includes negotiations with the at-fault party, their legal representatives, and their insurance company.
Generally, your lawyer will first file a claim with the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy to try to settle out of court. Insurance companies often offer settlements that are too low to compensate victims for the true costs of their injuries. Your lawyer will know how much you deserve and will not stop until they get you an adequate settlement.
If the dog owner prefers to pay out of pocket, then your lawyer will negotiate with them for you as well.
File a Lawsuit
If the dog owner or their insurance company will not come to a fair settlement agreement, then your lawyer can prepare your case for trial. Most civil claims settle outside of court, but there is a chance your case might end up in front of a judge or jury.
In these cases, it can be especially helpful to have a dog bite lawyer on your team. Trials are hard for anyone, especially victims of recent injuries. Your lawyer can handle preparing your case for a trial while you focus on recovering from your injuries as much as possible.
Bellflower Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Awards You Might Be Entitled To
Compensation in personal injury claims is divided into two categories: Economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages You Can Claim
Economic damages are the tangible losses you suffered as a result of the dog bite injury—those you can put a monetary value on. Some economic damages include, but are not limited to:
- Medical bills: You can recover any costs associated with the medical treatment for your injuries, such as hospital stays, surgery costs, prescription medications, rehabilitative treatment, and medical devices.
- Lost wages: If you missed time from work due to your dog bite injuries, you could recover those missed paychecks, along with lost future earning potential if you can no longer work at the same job as before your accident.
- Property damage: You can also claim compensation for any personal items that were damaged in the dog attack. This might include your phone, a valuable purse, jewelry, and more.
Non-Economic Damages You Can Claim
Non-economic damages are those losses from your injury that you can’t put a dollar value on. The most common among these is pain and suffering. This is the way the dog bite attack impacted the way you live your life.
For example, if you can no longer do the activities you once enjoyed, you could recover compensation. Also, if your injury has impacted your relationships with your friends and family, you could claim an award.
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Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Today
A Bellflower dog bite lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm wants to help you with your case against the negligent owner.
For a free consultation of your case, you can call a team member at (800) 816-0755 today.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form