Most of us have a soft spot in our heart for dogs. Normally, our four-legged friends are sweet, loving, wonderful companions. However, even the gentlest animals can turn on us and attack without warning. If you or someone you know has recently been bitten by a dog, contact The Sevey Law Firm to speak to one of our dog bite lawyers.
We specialize in handling dog bite injuries and will gladly answer any questions you might have about your case. Our injury attorneys have specialized experience in dealing with dog bite attacks and understand how to help victims and their families.
Contact us today at (916) 788-7100 for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss the details of your incident. There’s no charge to meet with us, and we never collect a fee unless we win your case.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), 4.5 million dog bites occur each year in the United States. While most bites are not fatal, in nearly every instance the victim is left either physically or emotionally wounded (sometimes both) for months or years to come.
Even worse, the majority of these attacks happen to children - especially kids from 5-9 years of age. Boys tend to be bitten most often with their injuries nearly always requiring some form of medical attention.
Small, superficial wounds usually heal quickly. However, other attacks can result in deep lacerations, disfigurements or crushing injuries requiring extensive surgeries and huge medical bills to fully recover.
California law states that dog owners are responsible for damages to others caused by their pets. These rules say that it does not matter if the dog acted aggressively before or not - the pet owner is still liable.
While the details of each case are unique, the rules of law are relatively straightforward. However, as with any legal issue, it’s best to consult with a qualified personal injury attorney before attempting to file a claim on your own.
The highly-skilled professionals at The Sevey Law Firm have in-depth knowledge of California dog bite laws. Our helpful staff will gladly assist you in determining how these rules may apply to your situation. Contact one of our personal injury attorneys today at (916) 788-7100 for a free, no-obligation review of your case.
When most people think about dog attacks, images of rabid, foaming at the mouth beasts come to mind. That’s seldom the case, however. Dogs of all shapes and sizes can lash out at those around them - whether it be family, friends or complete strangers.
While some breeds (Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, etc.) are known for being more aggressive than others, the right triggers can elicit a bite from any dog. Emotions tend to drive animal behavior more often than anything else.
Fear - When animals feel threatened, their first instinct will always be to protect themselves.
Pain - Dogs who feel bad or are suffering should be left alone. Pain can cause normally friendly animals to take on an entirely different personality.
Possessiveness - Loyalty to their owners - and wanting to protect their food, toys, or shelter - is often cited as the reason for dog bites.
Natural or Maternal Instincts - Keep in mind that hunting prey is part of canines’ ancestral DNA. So is wanting to protect their offspring. These natural instincts can bubble up at any time and lead to attacks with little or no warning.
While dog owners can’t always prevent these urges from happening, they are responsible for damages resulting from them. If you have questions about a dog bite incident, contact us today and speak with one of our dog bite lawyers. We’ll review your case and help you determine what the next move should be.
You can reach us at (916) 788-7100
The damages from dog bite attacks are often different from other kinds of personal injury cases. Granted, some dog bites can lead to severe, life-threatening afflictions, but more often than not deep physical and emotional trauma is the usual result. Things like:
Scarring and Disfigurement- The most common injuries experienced from dog bites. Deep wounds on the hands, face and genitals are commonly seen in bite victims.
While some scars heal over time, others require multiple, expensive surgeries to repair the damages and fully recover. Some of these surgeries can exceed hundreds of thousands of dollars (depending on the level of disfigurement), and cause severe hardships on the families left to flip the bill.
Thankfully, the cost of plastic surgery can be recovered if the dog’s owner is found to be negligent of the attack.
Emotional Stress - Victims are often mentally traumatized following an attack. Anxiety, depression, and even nightmares are common side effects after an incident. These symptoms can be especially harmful to children as they may negatively impact learning, emotional growth and development and cause anxiety for years to come.
Our dog bite law firm can connect you with professional psychologists in your area to assist with treatment and help determine damages in your case.
Head, Face or Brain Injuries - If the victim is close enough to the dog, many times head or facial traumas are experienced. Additionally, being knocked down by an animal (and falling onto a hard surface afterward) can lead to broken bones, skull fractures and sometimes even brain damage.
Infections - Many of us grew up hearing that “dog’s mouths are cleaner than humans” but that’s not entirely true. People and pets have different types of bacteria in their mouths. Germs that don’t make dogs sick can wreak havoc in open wounds or bites on humans.
Not to mention the fact that dogs will eat most anything they come across. Many like a fresh can of food just as much as a rotting animal carcass. The risk of dog bite infections increases greatly the longer the victim waits to receive treatment.
Proving liability in a dog bite case might seem simple, but trying to do so on your own can be a dicey proposition. Once a pet owner’s insurance company gets involved, they will do everything possible to discredit your claim - often saying that the victim somehow “provoked” the attack.
Don’t let the insurance companies take you for a ride. Contact an experienced dog injury law firm to protect your rights and build a strong case for your defense.
The professionals at The Sevey Law Firm have years of legal experience and have been helping dog bite victims in northern California for decades. We take pride in helping our clients achieve the best possible outcome for their case and do everything in our power to make that happen.
Contact us today at (916) 788-7100 to schedule your free, no obligation consultation. There are no costs to speak with us and we never collect a fee unless we win your case.
Keep in mind that you must file suit in California within two years of an attack. Otherwise, you may forfeit your rights to compensation. Don’t let this happen to you! Contact one of our dog bite lawyers now to get the process started.