DOG BITES
California has passed a specific statute that applies to dog bites. Under the CA Civil code, the owner of any dog is liable for damages if:
1. The damages were caused by a dog bite, and
2. The victim was bitten in a public place, or was bitten in a private place where he or she was lawfully at the time of the attack.
California DOES NOT have a one-free bite rule like many other states. In the past, dog owners were only responsible if they knew that their dog was dangerous or aggressive.
It is crucial to understand that while this statute does have exceptions when a dog is carrying out police work or military work, our firm will do our best to work around these exceptions and get you the compensation you deserv
You never know when a dog bite may take place.
Here are the steps we advise you take if a dog were to bite you.
SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT
Dog bites are extremely serious. We recommend that the first thing you do is call for an ambulance and immediately see a doctor.
OBTAIN OWNER INFORMATION
If possible, get the critical information of the dog owner. If you or somebody around you is able to do this, it can be crucial in obtaining compensation later.
REPORT THE BITE
If possible, report the dog bite to animal control and/or the police.
PHOTOS/DOCUMENT YOUR INJURY
Make sure that you or somebody you know take good quality photos of all of your injuries immediately following the incident. It’s smart to take photos and document your injuries throughout the process. This can be on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. In addition to photos, at Bandari Law Group we find that writing down your recovery process helps as well. This includes doctors’ visits, pain levels, good days, bad days, etc. Our firm can and will use all this evidence in support of your case.
CONTACT AN ATTORNEY
Dog bites are very serious and can have long lasting impacts on our lives. We can’t stress how important it is to speak to an experienced attorney immediately following the bite. We suggest that, until you speak with an attorney, you do not speak to any insurance representatives under any circumstances. If you decide to retain Bandari Law Group, we will do all the talking for you. We have years of experience dealing with insurance companies and we fight for you every step of the way.