Sacramento Dog Bite Injury Lawyer

Dogs are excellent protectors and companions. Loyal dogs will stand by their owners until the end of their days. They are loving and playful, so it’s no wonder thousands of people own a dog. 

However, a dog is still an animal, and an animal can attack at any minute. Each year, about 20,000 people are bitten by dogs in Los Angeles Country alone. The national average estimates around 4.5 million dog bites among those 585,000 required medical attention. 

Being attacked by a dog can not only be scary, but also traumatic if the bite results in severe bodily harm or disfigurement. Dog bites can leave you in a state of constant pain that may even prevent you from working and living your daily life as you usually would. If a dog bit you and you suffered injuries, you may be entitled to compensation.

What to Do if a Dog Bites You in Sacramento

Before you do anything else, you should seek medical help. The dog bite might not look severe, but there may be germs, infections, or viruses transmitted from the dog’s saliva into the bitten area. Even if you know the dog is vaccinated, the risks of infection or virus are not worth skipping out on seeking medical care. Fear of infection is not the only reason to seek medical help. A strong dog bite can cause bleeding, muscle damage, nerve damage, and even broken bones. 

When you feel safe to do so, it’s essential to start documenting the incident. The medical cost of a dog bite can quickly add up. There might be a need for stitches, antibiotics, or pain medication, all of which can be costly. If you want to seek compensation, whether from an insurance company or through a civil lawsuit, you will need to have documentation of the incident. 

• Get the dog owner’s contact information.
• Get the dog’s vet information.
• Speak to witness, if there were any, and write down their contact information
• Call animal control. Animal control will report the dog bite.
• Take pictures of any injuries.
• Write down your memory of the events as soon as possible.
• Keep track of any expenses and hardships related to the dog bite injuries.

Getting a fair settlement from insurance companies can be difficult. Filing a civil lawsuit can be even more challenging. A reliable Sacramento dog bite lawyer knows how to calculate the total cost of damages owed to you. The Law Offices of J.G. Winter can help you build a solid case to ensure a fair settlement.

Who is Liable in a Dog Bite Incident in Sacramento? 

California Civil Code section 3342 states that dog bite cases fall under strict liability. Strict liability means that dog owners are responsible for any injuries the dog bite caused, whether or not they knew their dog could be aggressive. California does not abide by the “one-bite” rule. Under the one-bite rule, dog owners may not be liable if their dog bit someone, and they were unaware of any aggressive tendencies. Under strict liability laws, dog owners cannot argue they were unaware their dog was dangerous or that they took care to prevent the dog from hurting someone. Under the strict liability law, the injured individual does not need to prove negligence or fault. 

There are exceptions to strict liability laws. A dog owner is only strictly liable if the person was bitten in a public or lawfully private place. Police and military dogs in the line of duty are an exception. California’s dog bite laws do not apply to circumstances where the victim was not bitten.