Nearly 1,000 people need emergency care for severe dog attacks every day in the United States. About 12,480 people are hospitalized each year due to dog bites.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dog attacks in the United States are on the rise. Recent statistics show that nearly 100 people in this country are killed each year from dog attacks.
When not fatal, dog bites can range from minor nicks to disfiguring gashes that leave a life-long reminder of the traumatic experience. The medical costs of dog bites can be significant, and the emotional trauma can be overwhelming.
If you or your loved one has suffered from a dog bite injury, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. California follows a strict liability rule for dog bites.
Whether the dog had a history of biting or whether the owner did not know the dog could be aggressive, the owner is still responsible.
You should consult an experienced San Bernardino dog bite lawyer to protect your rights and help you seek justice.
At Jacoby & Meyers, our injury lawyers have over 50 years of experience protecting the rights of their injured clients and recovering maximum compensation for them. We would like to do the same for you.
Call us at (909) 245-8920 or visit our contact page to schedule a consultation to discuss your case. We look forward to meeting you, answering your questions, explaining your rights, and helping you take the next steps to recover the compensation you deserve.
What to Do After a Dog Bite
Dog attacks are traumatic to the victim and even those nearby. The first step to take is to get to safety. Call 911 if you need emergency medical attention.
Secondly, find out if the dog is current with all vaccines. Report your injury to the proper authorities and inform your physician whether the dog was vaccinated.
Once you are out of immediate danger, there are several things you can do to protect your health. Some of the best steps you can take include:
- Wash the wound with mild soap and run warm tap water over it for five to ten minutes.
- Slow the bleeding with a clean cloth or gauze.
- Apply antibiotic cream if possible, then wrap the wound with a sterile bandage.
- Seek medical attention. Have your doctor look at the wound and determine what treatment is needed.
- Keep your wound dressing clean. Change it daily or anytime it gets wet or dirty.
- Watch closely for signs of infection, such as swelling, redness, pain, and fever.
Other smart steps to take to help protect your right to seek compensation for your injuries include:
- Take photographs or video evidence of the scene of the attack.
- Take photos or videos of your wounds.
- Keep all evidence, including torn and bloodied clothing.
- If there were witnesses to the attack, get their contact information.
- Have a medical professional check you out and document your injuries.
- Speak to a San Bernardino dog bite lawyer immediately.
The sooner you contact our law firm, the better we can protect your rights. When we take a case, we immediately investigate the accident to consider all causes and identify all potentially liable parties. We also take prompt action to gather and preserve essential evidence to support your claim.
Vital evidence can be lost if not secured quickly. For example, surveillance camera footage is often overwritten, memories fade if not memorialized soon after the event, and other evidence can be destroyed, diminished, or misplaced.
Another reason to act quickly is because there is a deadline for filing a claim. In most cases, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in California is two years.
However, there are exceptions to the two-year deadline. In rare circumstances, your statute of limitations may be tolled, allowing additional filing time. In other rare circumstances, you may be required to file your claim much sooner.
You need to immediately consult a San Bernardino dog bite lawyer to determine the deadline for filing your claim. You cannot recover damages for your injuries if you miss your deadline.
Types of Damages in San Bernardino Dog Bite Cases
The types and amount of damages you can recover in a San Bernardino dog bite claim depends on the facts of your case. However, you can generally recover economic and non-economic damages, and in rare cases, you may be able to recover punitive damages.
Economic and non-economic damages are intended to compensate the personal injury victim for their losses. Punitive damages, however, are designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar future behavior.
Economic damages include current and future medical expenses, current and future lost wages, and other costs incurred because of your injuries.
Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional and mental distress, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, scarring, and disfigurement.
Punitive damages are only awarded in California if the plaintiff can prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with fraud, malice, or oppression.
Contact a San Bernardino Dog Bite Lawyer Today
Dog attacks can be fatal. When the victim survives, they are often left with devastating injuries. Even seemingly minor dog bites can be traumatizing and leave permanent reminders of the wounding.
In California, if a dog bites someone, the owner is responsible for the victim’s injuries. This is true even if the dog has never attacked anyone before and the owner believes the dog to be safe.
If another person’s dog bites you or your loved one, you deserve to be compensated for your damages. You need the help of an experienced, skillful San Bernardino dog bite lawyer to ensure your rights are protected and you recover the maximum compensation you deserve.
At Jacoby & Meyers, we have over five decades of experience protecting the rights of personal injury victims. Let our dog bite lawyers help you recover the justice and damages you are entitled to.
Call us at (909) 245-8920 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. We look forward to meeting you, answering your questions, and explaining your rights. If we represent you, we will fight tirelessly to get you every dollar you deserve.