Long Beach Dog Bite Lawyer

Though dogs can be cute and friendly, they are still animals, and they are unpredictable. Even the nicest dog could hurt you if they are afraid of you or they believe you are posing a threat to them. Or they could attack you for seemingly no reason. If a dog bites you, you could sustain serious injuries and rack up high medical bills and other expenses.

If a dog bit you and now you’re dealing with your injuries as well as the associated costs, you could hire a dog bite lawyer. Robin D. Perry, an experienced dog bite lawyer, can represent you in your time of need.

Dog Bite Injury Attorney Serving Southern California

For over two decades, we’ve been representing clients in Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Southern California, and we fight to get the compensation our clients deserve. You can give us a call at 562-216-2944 to schedule your consultation today or simply to learn about what we can offer. In the meantime, learn more about the dog bite services we provide at our firm.

Dog Bite Injury Facts

When a dog bites you, you may not only experience the actual injury but the bite could also get infected. This is because the bacteria from the dog’s mouth could enter your body and cause an infection like sepsis, tetanus, or rabies. An infection could spread to other parts of your body, and you could require vaccinations or antibiotics to treat it.

Who Is Responsible for a Dog Bite?

Typically, a dog owner will be held responsible for a dog bite injury. This is because dog owners are legally responsible for their pets and must prevent them from doing damage to someone else’s property or injuring them. The owner’s liability insurance, such as a homeowners’ insurance or renters’ insurance policy, might pay for the damages to the injured party, even if the incident and injury occur off the owner’s property.

Strict Liability for Dog Bites in California

California is a strict liability state for dog bites, which means that an owner is responsible for all the damages a dog bite causes, even if their dog has never bitten anyone before. You will need to show that you were lawfully on the dog owner’s property or in a public place when the bite occurred.

Keep in mind that there is a strict two-year statute of limitations on personal injury in California, including dog bites. The sooner you file your dog bite claim, the better.

What to Do After a Dog Bite

If you get bitten by a dog, then the first thing you should do is get away from the dog as swiftly as possible, especially if it’s trying to cause you further injuries. You should get the dog owner’s name, contact information, and insurance information so that you can file your claim. Make sure you ask the owner about the dog’s vaccination history so you know whether or not you’re protected against certain diseases like rabies. You may also need to call 9-1-1 and/or animal control depending on how aggressive the dog is and the severity of the bite.

You should take photographs of the dog bite as well as any damage to your belongings. For instance, perhaps the dog also tore up your purse or bit your shirt, leaving a hole. Preserve this clothing as it is and don’t wash it or repair it just in case it needs to be used as evidence in your case.

Make sure you take photos of the scene of the incident as well. For instance, if a dog got out of its yard through a broken fence, take photos of the yard and the fence. If you have video footage of the dog being aggressive towards you, you can use it as well. If there were witnesses around who saw what happened, collect their statements.

Then, go to the hospital immediately for treatment. Make sure you take any medicine the doctor prescribes to you and go in for your follow-up appointments if needed.

If the dog owner’s insurance company calls you to offer you a settlement, don’t take it. Instead, call a dog bite injury lawyer. They could potentially help you claim damages for your medical bills, loss of wages, and pain and suffering so you won’t be held responsible for them.

Contact Us Now

If a dog bit you in Long Beach or Los Angeles, then reach out to the Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates for legal assistance. You can call us at 562-216-2944 or contact us on our website. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you with your dog bite case.