Los Angeles Dog Bite Accident Attorney
A dog bite – or any animal attack – is a frightening and horrifying experience. No one expects “man’s best friend” to turn on them.
In California, it does not matter whether the dog ever bit anyone before. It also does not matter whether the dog owner was at fault or not. In California the dog owner is liable for the dog bite.
But a dog bite case also can get very complicated. To win your case you want to make sure that you have an experienced dog bite attorney who knows the law and has a history of excellent results in dog bite cases.
An experienced dog bite attorney will know if other people also are responsible for the dog bite. For instance, a landlord (whether he is onsite or not), may also be responsible for the dog attack.
If the dog bite victim is a child, age five or under, additional laws come into play.
Los Angeles dog bite attorneys at Pocrass & De Los Reyes know the in’s-and-out’s of dog bite cases, as well as the laws on attacks by other types of animals. We only win if you win, and you pay nothing until we obtain compensation for you. Contact Us.
What You Can Recover for a Dog Bite
- You may have medical bills from doctors, emergency rooms, hospitals, therapists, plastic surgeons, and prescriptions.
- You may have future medical bills to remove scars, to repair a disfigurement, or for other surgical repairs. If the money for medical care is not recovered at this time, your health insurance will not cover the procedures you need later, calling them “cosmetic.”
- You may have had to take time off from work resulting in lost income.
- You may lose future earnings because of disfigurement or disabilities.
- You may need emotional counseling.
- To compensate you for the pain and suffering you had to endure.
- You may have long-term or future disabilities.
What Will Happen to the Dog?
Many dog bite victims worry about the dog that bit them and hesitate to bring a lawsuit against the owner for fear the dog will be “put down” by authorities.
Often the worse that happens to a dog is that it is quarantined for a few days at the animal shelter.
However, if the dog attack was brutal — or under some very specific conditions — a court can declare the dog either a potentially dangerous dog or a vicious dog.
How Long Do I Have to Bring a Law Suit?
There are laws called statute of limitations that restrict how long you have to file your case. If you do not file your case before the time is up, you give up all rights to ever file the case.
It is important that you contact a dog bite attorney at Pocrass & De Los Reyes as soon as possible, even if you have not yet decided that you want to file a case. This will protect your right to sue.
Sadly, if a dog bite victim has been badly mauled or even killed, you are not thinking of what legal steps need to be taken. The dog bite attorneys at Pocrass & De Los Reyes can take care of your legal issues so you can spend your time healing.
The Cost of a Dog Bite Attorney
Because the dog owner is often a family member, friend, or neighbor, victims are frequently hesitant to sue.
In most cases the compensation you are awarded by the court does not come from the dog owner. Usually the money is recovered from:
- Homeowner’s Insurance
- Renter’s Insurance
- Landlord’s Insurance
- Commercial General Liability Insurance (stores and businesses)
- Employer’s Insurance (if you are an employee of the company)
A dog bite is a personal injury, and the personal injury lawyers at Pocrass & De Los Reyes represents clients with personal injury lawsuits on a contingency basis. That means you pay nothing until your case is resolved.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation
For a free, no-obligation, confidential consultation, contact us.
What To Do If You Suffered a Dog Bite:
- Identify the animal that bit you. This is very important because if the dog that bit you is unknown you may need treatment for rabies.
- Get the name, address, and telephone number of the dog’s owner. If possible, get the dog’s tag number also.
- Get medical attention immediately, regardless of whether it is a “small” bite or a full-scale attack.
- Contact Pocrass & De Los Reyes to handle the collection of evidence, the oversight of your medical care, and calls from any insurance companies.
- Revisit the scene of the bite. Knock on doors and ask people in the neighborhood if they witnessed the attack. If they did, get their names, addresses, and telephone numbers.
- Take photos of you in the clothing you were wearing when the bite happened. Take photos of your injuries.
What NOT To Do If You Suffered a Dog Bite:
- Do NOT sign anything. Do not make a statement or a report for anyone, including the hospital, the property owner, the dog owner, the landlord, or the insurance company.
- Do NOT say the dog bite incident was your fault.
- Do NOT accept or discuss money or agree that anyone can pay your medical or other bills.
- Do NOT attend any proceedings or hearings about the dog without your attorney present. Such hearings have different rules of evidence than courts, and you could seriously hurt your case by statements you make at such a proceeding.