Did a dog bite you and cause an injury? Was someone you love walking along when they were bitten by someone else’s dog? There’s no animal as loyal or as loving as a dog. Dogs are eternal friends and devoted family members. However, if someone can’t control their dog or other pet, and it bites you causing an injury, then you may deserve compensation. Dog bite lawyer in Los Angeles, Belal Hamideh, can help you to recover maximum compensation for being bitten or attacked by dogs and other animals. Se Habla Espanol.
Hopefully, if you’re bitten by someone else’s dog, it’s a very minor injury. However, even if it doesn’t break the skin or seem very serious, it still could be severe. Perhaps the dog is infected, has some kind of disease, the bite could cause internal problems, and more. In the event that someone else’s dog bit you and it hurts, it’s at least worth reaching out to an experienced attorney for a free case evaluation. We can tell you whether or not you have a case. If nothing else, this can help to make sure that person controls their animal better moving forward.
How Do You Know If You Have an Animal Attack Case?
Essentially, you know you have a case if someone else’s dog bit you and you’re injured. Dog bites don’t have to “look” serious to be serious. Many dogs are safe, but some could have bacteria, viruses, and worse, which can do real damage to your body.
In the state of California, the dog owner is responsible for their dog’s biting under the laws about “strict liability.” If their dog bites you, it’s on them. This is true if the dog bites you while you’re in a public place (such as the sidewalk, a park, and so forth). You also have a case if you’re what’s called “lawfully in a private place.” That would be if the dog’s owner invited you into their home, onto their property, and the dog bit you then.
The law takes that last part very seriously. If you’re trespassing on someone’s property, for example, and you’re injured when their dog bites you, you don’t have a case. You were not “lawfully in a private place,” and thus, you aren’t entitled to any damages.
By that same token, you aren’t entitled to damages if you were bitten and injured by military dogs, or police dogs, if they were on duty, defending themselves, and in similar circumstances.
Again, if you believe that you may have a case, it’s worth it to contact us. We can tell you definitively whether or not you can receive compensation for your injuries.
What You Should Do After Suffering an Animal Attack/Dog Bite
If you’ve been bit, the first thing to do, no matter how difficult, is to stay calm. You may want to panic, you may feel chaotic, but if you can stay calm and make smart decisions, you’ll increase the odds for a positive outcome.
First, get to somewhere safe. That may mean getting away from the dog, getting to a place where you can’t be attacked, where you aren’t in the flow of traffic and so forth.
Exchange information with the dog’s owner. Treat it as you would if you were in a car accident. Get their contact information, name, and so forth. Keep the conversation cordial and to the point. If there are any witnesses, get their information, too.
To the extent that you can do so safely, collect evidence. Take pictures and videos. Of particular interest: any injuries to you, others, damage to the environment, and so forth.
Medical attention. It’s necessary. Even if the injury seems minor, you do not know anything about the dog. Being examined by medical professionals is crucial.
After you’ve done all of the above, contact us. By taking all of these actions, you not only protect your health, but you protect the potential compensation you could receive in a dog bite lawsuit as well.
How Can an Animal Attack Lawyer Help You?
First, we can answer any questions that you might have. Nothing in life prepares you for being bit by a dog so severely that a lawsuit is the best course of action. We have a proven track record of successfully guiding clients like you through the process every step of the way.
Once we take your case, we file an insurance claim for you while also dealing with the insurance claims adjuster. They don’t want you to contact an attorney. Instead, they want you to take their first off, no matter how much lower than what you deserve it may be. It’s our job to make sure that you receive the maximum compensation.
The other side knows that they have to negotiate with us for many reasons, not the least of which is our 99% success rate. They understand how poor their odds are should they actually let this get to trial, so they tend to negotiate with us in good faith. We represent our clients as aggressively as possible so that they receive maximum compensation.
If, however, we do have to represent our clients in court, we’re always grateful for the opportunity to stand up for our clients. We work on contingency as well, so you don’t have to pay unless we win. Even when we do, our payment will most likely come out of your compensation.
Moreover, we also know medical providers who, like us, work on contingency. So, if necessary, you can receive care from them and then their payment will come out of your settlement as well.
Who’s Liable in an Animal Attack/Dog Bite Case?
More likely than not, the dog owner is liable in a dog bite case. Their dog bit you, they should’ve controlled the dog better, thus, they are liable. That said, other parties may be liable, too. For example, maybe the dog that bit you, at the time it bit you, was controlled by a paid dog walker, a family member, or someone else. In that event, the person who controlled the dog at the time it bit you would be liable.
However, that does not extend to children under the age of 18. If a child controlled a dog and it bit you, causing an injury, then the child’s parents are liable.
Over the years, we’ve found that many clients were unaware that a landlord can be liable for a dog bite as well. It doesn’t have to be the landlord’s dog. Indeed, perhaps the landlord was aware that a tenant had a dangerous dog and did nothing about it, then the landlord can be liable.
When we take your case, we’ll conduct a thorough investigation to find who’s responsible. Then, we’ll bring a suit against everyone who is liable for your injuries. That’s one more way we can work to help our clients to recover maximum compensation for their injuries.
What are the Causes of a Dog Bite Injury?
Any dog can bite you and cause an injury, sadly. Even the sweetest, kindest, nicest dog can lash out, particularly when they’re scared, threatened, and such. As a defensive mechanism, they may bite. If the owner can’t keep that from happening, and the dog injures you, then something should be done. We have helped so many to recover everything that they should from a dog bite injury. Now, we can put that experience to work for you.
What Do I Do If a Family Member’s Dog Bit Me?
Too often, a potential client has asked us some version of this same question. When a family member or friend’s dog bites you, it can seem like the last thing you want to do is to sue them. We respect that you want to be there to support those you care about. It’s a good instinct. The good news is that, when it comes to a dog bite/animal attack case, your worries are misplaced.
In almost all of these cases, it’s the insurance company of the pet’s owner that pays, not the owner themselves. So, if your uncle’s dog (to use an example) bites you, you can sue without your uncle having to pay. Instead, it’s their insurance company. You don’t have to worry about the financial stability (and relationship) with a family member/friend in a dog bite case.
As with everything else related to a dog bite injury, we can walk you through the process so as to make it as simple as possible.
The Damages You Can Claim in an Animal Attack/Dog Bite Case
In any case involving a dog bite, animal attack, and the like, you can claim economic and non-economic damages. During your free case evaluation, Belal and the team will sit down with you and go over your case. From there, we’ll use our experience to let you know definitively which damages you can claim. Then, we’ll get right to work helping you to receive the maximum amount.
The expenses that you may have accrued as a direct result of the injury can be compensated by economic damages. That means your medical bills, any surgery, operations, doctor’s visits, therapies, rehab, and the like.
If you were unable to work for a period of time, or cannot go back to your job (or even your job in the same capacity), we can help you to recover those lost wages as well.
If you were bit and injured by a dog, it’s entirely possible that you suffered great pain, suffering, trauma, and emotional distress, perhaps you’ve lost enjoyment in life, perhaps even lost consortium, and more. Those can be covered by non-economic damages. When you work with us, our team is dedicated towards helping you to receive the most non-economic as well as economic damages.
Common Animal Attack/Dog Bite Injuries
Every dog bite is different, but they can all lead to serious injuries. Optimistically, should someone’s dog bite you, hopefully it causes no damage nor leaves any mark. Alas, we’ve seen broken bones, puncture wounds, and ligament damage as well as injuries to the nerves, eyes, face, and more. Worse, we’ve had cases where clients suffered permanent scars, disabilities, caught diseases, and, unfortunately, wrongful death.
If you have any inkling that a dog bite may have injured you or someone you love, it’s worth it to reach out to us.
How Long Do You Have to File Your Animal Attack/Dog Bite Case?
The short answer to this is: less time than you might think. You have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. It is not as long a period of time as it might seem. The sooner you contact us, the better. We can get on your case right away, thus shortening the period of time within which you have to wait for your eventual compensation.
Belal Hamideh: Winning Animal and Dog Bite Lawyer in Los Angeles
Dog bites and animal attacks can negatively affect your life in so many ways. One moment, you’re walking along, the next, you’ve suffered an injury from an animal. When this happens, it’s natural to feel powerless. But, we can help.
You don’t have to pay us unless we win. We win 99% of the time, so if you reach out to us, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have experienced pros handling your case. We know how challenging this time can be. So, we can handle your case while you focus on what’s most important: your recovery.
To schedule a free case evaluation with us to see how we can help, you can reach out to us through our site or give us a call.