When some dogs bite, the results can be disastrous. Dog attacks can inflict life-changing wounds, especially when the victim is a child or senior citizen. At Jacoby & Meyers, our San Francisco dog bite injury lawyers can help if you or a loved one is a victim of an animal attack in the Bay Area.
Our San Francisco personal injury lawyers have decades of experience in this practice area and a long history of achieving successful case results for seriously injured clients. Contact us today for a free case consultation.
Why Hire Jacoby & Meyers for This Dog Bite Injury Case?
- Jacoby & Meyers has been representing dog bite and personal injury victims in California since 1972. That’s over 50 years of experience.
- We have a 99 percent case success rate, with more than $2 billion collected in settlements for our clients. We work hard to achieve real wins when our clients suffer real impacts from dog attacks.
- There are no fees unless we win your San Francisco dog bite injury case. We don’t take any money unless the claim results in a settlement or financial award for the client.
- We practice client-first legal representation. We know how hard it is to go through a dog bite incident. Your lawyer will be there to guide you and keep you informed through every step of your injury claim.
How a San Francisco Dog Bite Lawyer Can Help You
Dog bite injury cases can encounter many legal challenges, from an insurance company attempting to blame the victim for the injury to catastrophic damage that exceeds the coverage offered on the policy. If you wish to maximize your financial recovery without the stress, hire a San Francisco dog bite lawyer.
A lawyer can help you navigate California’s dog bite injury laws and deal with insurance company claims adjusters in pursuit of a fair settlement. Your lawyer can identify the correct liable or financially responsible party/ies. Then, your lawyer can file the necessary legal paperwork within California’s statute of limitations (two years under Code of Civil Procedure §335.1).
California’s Dog Bite Laws
There are two main types of dog bite injury liability laws: the one-bite rule and strict liability. The one-bite rule is a law that only holds dog owners legally accountable for injuries inflicted by their dogs if the owner knew or reasonably should have known that the dog presented an injury risk. In other words, the owner has one “free” bite before being held liable for future incidents.
Strict liability laws are more plaintiff-friendly, as they don’t require a victim to prove negligence or prior knowledge of the dog’s propensity for viciousness. California is a strict liability dog bite state under Civil Code § 3342(a), which says:
The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.
Under this rule, the owner or controller of a dog that bites someone in San Francisco can be held liable for damage caused by the attack, even if the dog had no prior history of aggression and the individual did not realize the dog could pose a risk. It is not necessary to show that a pet owner neglected to prevent a foreseeable attack to qualify for compensation.
Attacked by a dog?
Contact Our Experienced San Francisco Dog Bite Attorneys Today
Who Is Liable for a Dog Bite Injury in San Francisco?
If you are seriously injured by a dog in San Francisco, whether or not the pet owner or controller was negligent, you can file a claim with that person’s insurance company. Typically, property insurance covers damage caused by a policyholder’s pets. If the owner does not have applicable insurance, you can hold them personally liable.
In cases where the dog was at large (running off-leash without an owner), you may be able to file a claim against the owner of the property where the attack took place. This could be a private property owner or the government responsible for public property in San Francisco. It could also be a landlord or tenant. It is a property owner’s legal responsibility to ensure the reasonable safety of a premises, including keeping it free from dangerous dogs.
How Do Insurance Companies Fight Dog Bite Injury Claims?
When an insurance company receives a dog bite injury claim, it will likely try many tactics to avoid offering a payout, especially if the victim suffered serious injuries with expensive costs. Be prepared for common defense arguments, such as:
- You were trespassing on private property
- You provoked the dog attack
- Your injuries are not as severe as you are claiming
- Your injuries or pain were pre-existing
- You failed to mitigate your damages
- The breed of dog was excluded from coverage under the terms of the policy
A San Francisco dog bite attorney from Jacoby & Meyers can build a strong claim that is designed to counter insurance defenses for you. That way, you can receive the full settlement and just recovery that you deserve.
Common Types of Dog Bite Injuries and Health Risks
Dog attacks and dog bite injuries send hundreds of victims to hospitals in San Francisco every year, with the Tenderloin seeing the highest incident rate. These events can cause severe, life-threatening and fatal injuries, such as:
- Puncture wounds
- Lacerations
- Soft-tissue damage
- Broken bones
- Facial injuries
- Hearing and vision loss
- Crush injuries
- Avulsion and other tissue injuries
- Infections
- Diseases such as rabies
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Internal injuries
- Psychological trauma
The traumatic nature of a dog attack can mean painful injuries, expensive medical costs, ongoing treatments, multiple cosmetic procedures and permanent disabilities for those who survive. Sadly, it can also mean the wrongful death of a loved one in fatal cases. Our experienced wrongful death lawyers in San Francisco can guide you through the legal process of filing a wrongful death claim.
Contact Our San Francisco Dog Bite Attorneys Today
If you were hurt in a dog attack in the San Francisco Bay Area, get guidance and legal advice from the lawyers at Jacoby & Meyers when you contact us. Our highly experienced San Francisco dog bite injury attorneys understand exactly how to navigate these cases for clients and achieve the highest possible settlements when results matter most.
As your dog bite injury lawyers, we will secure the justice you deserve at no upfront cost. Call our local law office at (415) 855-4289 today for a free initial case review. We’re located at 50 California Street, Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94111.