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Sacramento Dog Bite Injury Lawyer

Dan McCrary' | McCrary Accident Injury Law Firm

Our trusted Sacramento Dog Bite Injury Lawyer is here to help you get Maximum Compensation

When you get injured in a dog bite in California, the state has specific laws in place that allows the injured victims to seek financial compensation from the animal's owner. However, These laws aren’t clear-cut in all situations, which can make it more complex than it should be for you to recover the compensation rightfully . The experienced Sacramento dog bite lawyer at McCrary Law Firm can help you with the best chance for successfully recovering your maximum compensation.

Contact our law firm to schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation. There is no cost unless we win your case.

We’ll review your incident, explain your legal possibilities, and be available to respond to any questions you might have. Our team is available 24/7 to take your call. Call (855) 752-6326 now for your free consultation.

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Who's Responsible For My Injuries After a Dog Bite in Sacramento, CA?

Anyone who is careless and contributes to your dog attack might be financially accountable for the resulting injuries. This could include:

  • The dog’s owner
  • The person responsible for watching or pet-sitting the dog
  • Property owners, or
  • Landlords

It’s vital to consult with an experienced Sacramento dog bite injury lawyer if you are bitten or attacked by a dog. You might have a valid claim against several parties. Naming more than one respondent in your dog bite claim can help to maximize your compensation.

How Bad Does a Dog Bite Have to be to Have a Case in Sacramento?

There are many types of dog bites. Some can be awfully damaging and cause severe injury or death, while other cases can leave with severe mental trauma as the dog bite. A physical injury does not have to be present in order for a dog owner to be charged, but it helps to have the following solid physical evidence rather than just stating about the severe mental trauma caused.

  • Stitches
  • Lacerations
  • Bruises, and
  • Medical Expenses

Mental trauma can be very serious as well that should never be downplayed. Being emotionally scarred by an incident with a dog bite can leave a victim with long-lasting and even permanent damage that can hinder their ability to live a normal life from that moment on.

What Actions Do I Need to Take After a Dog Bite Attack in Sacramento,CA?

You can help yourself, your loved ones or a friend who has been attacked by a dog bite. These are the steps for you to follow:

  • Any dog bite should be immediately investigated by a doctor. Make sure to get the proper medical treatment as soon as possible
  • Report the accident to the police and get a copy of the police report.
  • Collect the name and contact details of the dog owner if possible.
  • Gather contact details of eye witness and their testimony to back up your claim
  • Surveillance footage of the animal if available during the attack and the location of the incident.
  • Pictures of injuries if any as a result of the event with the animal.
  • Preserve clothing that may have been damaged by the animal attack
  • Save any assets or belongings damaged by the animal.
  • Do not contact the owner or the insurance company.
  • Do not accept any form of compensation that may set aside your right to sue for additional impairments.

What Type of Compensation is Covered in a California Dog Bite Claim?

A dog owner can be legally responsible for your medical expenses, in spite of whether that dog has been violent or attacked people in the past. If the dog owner was unmindful, or if the dog has a history of viciousness, you may claim additional reparation for loss. This could cover money for:

  • Lost wages and income
  • Disability
  • Reduced earning capacity
  • Emotional distress
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Disfigurement and scarring
  • Embarrassment, and more.

Don’t allow any insurance company to decide what your case is worth. At McCrary Law Firm, our goal is to maximize the settlement you deserve to secure. Our Sacramento dog bite lawyer has dealt with several dog bite claims, and have enough knowledge to interpret the intricacies created by insurance companies and the laws of California in order to make the most of our clients’ recoveries.

When our dog bite attorneys investigate the accident and build your case, we can rely on them for valuable information and instructions. With their help, we can understand your injuries and how they might affect your life. We’ll battle for you to compensate for your past, present, and future damages.

California Dog Bite Laws

Each state has its distinct laws in place for dealing with private injury cases. In California, it’s crucial to know there is two-year legislation of constraints for filing a dog bite personal injury lawsuit from the date of the event. Our personal injury lawyers have handled various dog bite claims, and have the proficiency to clarify the complexities posed by insurance companies and California laws in order to maximize our clients’ returns.

You should not endorse any settlement offer made by the responsible party without consulting with the attorneys of McCrary Law Firm

Our law firm works precisely on a contingency basis that you do not pay us unless we receive a monetary recovery. Call us today at (855) 752-6362 for a free consultation so that we can discuss your issue in person and clarify the legal procedures.

Laws: Who Is Liable For Dog Bite Injuries in Sacramento?

In California, the penalty for a dog bite falls on the dog’s owner. Many states, including California, have authorized laws that are meant to hold the dog owner accountable for the dog bite on a “strict liability” basis.

The owner of any dog is responsible for the injuries suffered by a dog biting while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog. They are strictly liable for a dog bite even if it was not lenient and the dog had never attacked anyone else in history. Stringent liability places a charge on the dog’s owner even if they had no reason to know the dog was risky and regardless of whether the owner failed to safeguard others from the outbreak. The owner must have been taking care of their pet and confirming it does not attack other people. Under California Dog Bite Law, Civil Code § 3342, the owner of any dog is liable for injuries if:

  • The damage is caused by a dog bite
  • The bite happens while the injured party is in a public place or legally in a private place, comprising the private property of the dog owner

Other elements that may be liable for a dog bite, besides the owner, involve anyone credible for the maintenance or custody of the dog including kennels or animal shelters. Besides, possessors can also be held liable for dog bites if they permitted the dog onto the property or allowed a tenant to house a harmful pet. Most of the time, these cases are covered by the homeowner’s insurance policy.

Exceptions to the rule

There are, still, exceptions to California’s strict liability Dog Bite Statute. A government agent, such as the police and military, cannot be held susceptible to dog bites that happen when the agency uses a dog while carrying out official duties. This exception only pertains if the dog bite sufferer was a suspect or player in acts that urged the use of the dog in the police or military job.

Another exception to the rule that dog owners are 100% at-fault for a dog bite attack is when the victim is trespassing. Normally, property owners are not obligated to maintain a safe property for trespassers. A trespasser is someone who reaches someone else’s property without the property owner’s approval. California law delivers an exception to the strict liability of dog owners for dog bites that occur when the injured person is trespassing or otherwise unlawfully on the property.

California also makes exceptions for victims who assumed the risk of being bitten, that they realized the risk of being bitten but proceeded anyway. This rule usually relates to veterinarians who are bitten while dealing with a dog. (See Nelson v. Hall, 211 Cal. Rptr. 668 (Cal.App.1985).

Contact us today at 855-752-6362 and get a free consultation and case examination.

Why would I Need an Attorney in my Sacramento Dog Bite Case?

Dog bite cases are very sensitive and delicate. To understand the law and the course of action, you have to get professional guidance from the Sacramento dog bite injury lawyer. They will help you find out

  • Does the dog have a history of aggressive behavior
  • Was the dog bite victim given permission to be on the propereceive the best legal advice is always recommended, exceptionally in dog bite cases.
How Much Is A Dog Bite Case Worth In California? | McCrary Law Firm

What Information Do I Need to Gather When Preparing to Talk to a Dog Bite Attorney About My Case?

You need to possess the documents of injury caused during the dog attack.
Documentation of the injuries with photos and a detailed summary of the vent including

  • Location and the time of the event
  • How the attack began through and how it ended
  • Having witness information including
  • a. eye-witness
  • b. who the witnesses are
  • c. where they were during the attack
  • d. their contact information
  • It is important to preserve the bills of medical costs with photos of surgery or stitches with documentation and any police reports that are important to keep handy.

    How Long Do I Have to File a Dog Bite Lawsuit in California?

    It can take a while to get back on your hand after you’ve been hurt in a Sacramento dog attack. However, you might be encountering the reality of permanent damage. The powerful shock may cause emotional trauma of your attack that may have long-lasting effects between you and life. It will make the entire episode difficult right now.

    However, you cannot be reluctant to assert your right to claim your compensation. If you hold back too long, you will miss out on the finance you are entitled to and worthy of. In California, the statute of limitations for filing dog bite injury lawsuits within two years from the date of injury. Otherwise, it would forfeit your right to claim.

    Still, you may have more or less time depending on the nature of the case. The best thing you can do is to call our dog bite injury lawyer in Sacramento for help. The sooner you contact us, the better we will be able to serve you on your case.

    Stats on Dog Bites in the United States and California

    Animal bite lawsuits can differ from state to state with a great deal and it is difficult to collect dog bite data as there is no centralized system for documenting these kinds of injuries. This is from a relay of data collected from police, veterinarians, animal control, and emergency rooms.

    According to reports, around 4.5-4.7 million dog bite incidents were reported in the United States annually and these numbers do not account for non-reported incidents. Nearly 885,000 people needed medical attention and around 344,200 victims received emergency attention for injuries and around 9,400 of those were hospitalized annually in the United States.

    Unfortunately, a disproportionate number of dog bite fatalities are children. According to national statistics, 50% of the dog bite victims are children ranging the age from 5 to 12 years. The reason is, children, especially young kids who are involved in a majority of these attacks, don’t always know that dogs can be dangerous.

    In 2017 California was found as the top state for dog-related injury lawsuits according to State Farm. The insurance company paid out $18.7 million for 468 dog-related injury claims for incidents that happened in California itself. Across-the-board, comprising all dog-related injury claims across the country, State Farm paid a total of $132 million for the 3,600 cases.

    A more recent action to collect data by the site DogsBite.org established that pit bulls contributed to 66% of reported canine casualties from 2005 through 2018 (311 of 471). Pit bulls and Rottweilers together account for 76% of the total listed deaths reported. Surprisingly, the most loveable breeds like Labrador are also included in the list of most risky breeds despite being generally known as a less vicious breed. Overall Dog bites cause 26% of total animal related injuries in the United States.

    Here’s a list of the dog breeds known to bite the most

    To save you and your loved ones from dog attacks, you must know the most dangerous dogs. The following breeds are associated with serious injuries and disastrous attacks because of their aggressive behavior

    • Pit Bull
    • Rottweiler
    • German Shepherd
    • Mixed-breed
    • American bulldog
    • Mastiff/Bullmastiff
    • Husky
    • Labrador retriever
    • Boxer

    Which Breeds Have The Strongest Bite?

    Below are some of the dogs with the strongest bite force in terms of psi (pound per square inch or pound-force per square inch). We definitely recognize that there are many well mannered and good dogs, not typically aggressive especially the dogs owned by responsible owners.

    • Pit Bull: 235 psi
    • Boxer: 230 psi
    • Doberman Pinscher: 228 psi
    • Alano Español: 227 psi
    • Dutch Shepherd: 224 psi
    • Chow Chow: 220 psi
    • English Bulldog: 210 psi
    • Belgian Malinois: 195 psi

    Call Our Sacramento Dog Bite Lawyer For Help

    Whether you’ve been injured by a dog you know or a harmful dog on the streets of Sacramento, the Sacramento Car Accident Lawyers at McCrary Law Firm, California’s Recognised Leaders in Personal Injury Law are here to help. At the very least, you have the right to demand compensation if you require medical attention. You may also have the right to seek additional damages related to lost wages, continual pain, and mental suffering. California stands with the highest number of dog bite claims in 2019. We’ll work tirelessly to recover every dollar that you deserve.

    Contact our law firm to schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation. There is no cost unless we win your case.

    We’ll review your incident, explain your legal possibilities, and be available to respond to any questions you might have. Our team is available 24/7 to take your call.

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