December 21, 2024

Dog Bite Injury Lawyer Van Nuys

Experienced Dog Bite Injury Attorney in Van Nuys

Dog bites can be traumatizing events for both adult and children. You should get in touch with a qualified dog bite injury lawyer Van Nuys if you or a loved one were attacked by a dog. Dog bites can result in severe injuries leading to exorbitant medical bills and time away from work. You shouldn’t have to be responsible for the losses on your own.

You should consult with a dog bite injury lawyer Van Nuys for the losses incurred while recovering. You may be entitled for compensation for lost wages, medical bills, out of pocket expenses, pain and suffering and other things.

Types of Compensation in Dog Bite Lawsuits

You should be able to file a lawsuit or injury claim for recovering compensation for your losses following a dog bite. Injuries caused by the careless or negligent actions of another person typically lead to losses. Dog attacks cause psychological injuries as well as physical injuries. You may be affected for life even if you are able to recover from the dog bite. There are severe emotional and mental consequences of dog attacks.

It is common for dog bite victims to develop PTSD. The monetary aspect of your lawsuit may compensate you for the following:

Emotional distress
Medical bills
Property damage
Loss of enjoyment
Pain and suffering
Lost wages
Physical disfigurement or impairment
Lost earning capacity

Common Causes of Dog Bites

There are several reasons that may compel a dog to attack or bite. It can be because the dog felt scared or threatened. There are times when a dog may also bite for reasons beyond its control. For instance, it may bite when feeling ill or when the owner has not cared for it properly. Even dogs that have zero history of violence can become aggressive.

These are a few other reasons:

Fear
Play
Startled dog
Possessiveness
Maternal instincts

Your dog bite injury lawyer Van Nuys should be able to help you seek compensation if you did not do anything to provoke the dog into biting you.

Common Dog Bite Injuries

Dog bites should not be taken lightly. You can easily suffer from infections and other forms of complications if you don’t seek immediate medical attention. Reconstructive surgery is required by few dog bite victims for repairing visible scarring and injuries. Ongoing treatment is sought by others for improving mobility and chronic pain.

These are a few common injuries:

Facial disfigurement
Nerve damage
Bone fractures in the hands or feet
Puncture wounds
Eye injuries
Psychological damage
Head and neck injuries
Torn tissue or muscle

Dog Bite Laws and Liability in California

California is a strict liability state when it comes to dog bites and attacks. Dog owners are responsible for losses if their dog bites another person while the person is on private property with the owner’s permission or in a public place. It doesn’t matter if the dog ever had a history of biting people. The dog owner doesn’t need to be aware of the aggressive behavior as well.

However, there is no liability if the dog did not bite the victim and the injury occurred because the dog jumped on them or knocked them on the ground among other actions. You need to comply with the two-year statute of limitations if you decide on filing a lawsuit.

However, there are two exceptions to the statute of limitations:

The victim was a minor when the dog bite occurred. The statute of limitations will come into force when the victim turns 18 years of age.
The defendant has left the state. The clock will begin when the defendant returns to the state. Their absence will not be counted as part of the statute of limitations.