Best Dog Bite Attorney in Los Angeles, CA
In recent times, more and more people are seeking to own a dog as pet or security purposes. With this need to own a dog, comes an increase in dog bite injury cases being reported.
When there is a dog accident that results in injuries for the victim, the dog owner is liable, and the victim is entitled to compensation from any damages resulting from such accident. However, between establishing a dog bite injury case and getting the compensation that you deserve, there is a series of complex legal analysis. To make it through this complex analysis, and come out successfully, you need the best dog bite injury attorney in Los Angeles.
The task of a dog bite attorney California is to help in analyzing your case and ensuring that the best settlement offer is drafted in your favor. An attorney who specializes in dog accident cases is skilled in the law, practice, and has the experience to represent you in and out of court.
How Often Do Dogs Bite People?
In the United States, there are about 4.7 million recorded cases of dog bites every year. 800,000 of these cases get complicated and require adequate medical attention to ensure the victims are well taken care of. These statistics is based on an annual report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The alarming nature of these statistics is why dog owners need to exercise control and restraint on the activities of their dogs.
They also have to ensure there is an insurance plan in place for any action carried out by the dog.
Homeowners Insurance
Every dog owner is expected to put an insurance policy in place for their dogs. While many owners adhere to this, there are still some who own dogs without a coverage plan. When there is an accident involving the dog and the victim, claiming compensation for damages suffered can get very difficult. When there is an insurance policy in place, the company is held liable and a claim is instituted against it seeking compensation.
Where there is no insurance policy in place, your attorney is to institute a direct action against the dog owner for acts carried out by the dog. This is because the owner of the dog is expected to control the dog from acting in a manner that is harmful to another person.
In filing a dog bite injury claim, the dog bite lawyer Los Angeles, CA is to find out the existence or otherwise of an insurance policy. Every insurance policy has a declaration page that provides for who and what is insured. Your lawyer is expected to go through this page to ascertain its existence. Where there is a denial of the existence of a dog insurance policy, the lawyer can schedule an appointment with the insurance company to carry out further investigation.
Liability in a Dog Bite Injury Claim
In determining liability for a dog attack, recourse has to be made to the applicable dog bite laws in Los Angeles. These dog bite laws differ from state to state and they provide for certain rules on how liability is to be determined and compensation measured. In Los Angeles here, the dog owner is liable for the actions of the dog outside that which is expected of it. What this means is that a dog owner will not be liable for any injury caused by the dog against a trespasser.
Another factor concerning liability in a dog attack is the degree of liability. The degree of liability of an attack by a dog on a person is dependent on the circumstances of each case. However, in many cases, the dog owners bear full liability for the action of their dogs on a third party. In some cases, where the attack happens to a person in the owner’s compound, the owner may not be liable.
Age and awareness are the factors that determine liability in the dog owner’s compound. Where the victim is above the age of six and there is a warning in a visible place in the home of the presence of dogs, the dog owner may not be liable.
Compensation to Be Sought in a Dog Bite Injury Claim
Several injuries can be suffered when there is an altercation with dogs. This is why every case is considered based on its merits when determining the compensation, the victim is entitled to. The circumstances of each case, the extent of the damage suffered, and the relevant dog attack laws are yardsticks used to measure compensation.
With these factors, the compensation sought by victims, through their attorneys, are directed to the dog owners or insurance companies. If you are a victim of a dog attack resulting in an injury, you can seek compensation for the following:
Treatment Cost
The general rule with regards to a dog attack is that the dog owner or insurance company is liable for all injuries that result from the action of the dog. Immediately you are involved in an altercation with a dog, you need medical attention to diagnose the damage caused by the attack. And ensure you get the required medical attention to recover from it. The cost of hospital services, diagnosis, medication, and doctor’s bills are what make up the total treatment cost to be included in the compensation sought.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering can be experienced by victims of dog bites or injuries. In some places, these damages are referred to as non-economic damages. Pain and suffering here could be mental, physical, emotional, or psychological depending on the attack. Sometimes, pain and suffering happen as a result of extensive medical treatment. Individuals with weak emotional quotients and pre-existing medical conditions like shock could suffer Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of the incident.
Victims can seek compensation for current pain and suffering as well as those likely to be suffered in the future. The challenge, however, with non-economic damages is the difficulty that comes with measuring it. This is why personal injury lawyers and insurance companies have come up with a means of measurement. The extent of the damage and the pre-existing living conditions of the victims are factors considered in measuring non-economic damages and adequate compensation for it.
Time and Income Lost Being Away from Work
Sometimes, time involved in treating a victim of dog bite injury and the time needed to recuperate might mean they would be away from work for a very long time. In drawing up a settlement offer to compensate the victim, this time and the wages lost from being away from work are being measured and added up. The worth of time spent away from work is measured by the working days of the victim against his/her payment structure and type of work. Compensation related to this is a loss in earning capacity which happens where the victim is permanently disabled or disfigured that he/she cannot work again.
Punitive Damages
Dog owners are guided by certain regulations as to the control to be exercised by them on their dogs. Where a dog attack happens as a result of the reckless or careless act or omission of the owner, such owner could be charged for punitive damages. To some, these punitive damages are referred to as exemplary damages and are aimed at deterring other dog owners from acting carelessly.
How to Find a Top Dog Bite Lawyer Los Angeles
Knowing where to look is the best way to find a top dog bite lawyer Los Angeles. You have to speak to friends, colleagues, and surf the internet for berg injury lawyers. When you find a law firm or attorney that specializes in dog bite cases, make sure to research about the firm or attorney. Read through their portfolio to ascertain their qualifications and experience.
Also, make sure to read through reviews and ratings of past clients they have worked with. Other factors to consider when choosing the best dog bite attorney in Los Angeles, CA includes:
The Lawyer’s Knowledge of Dog Bite Laws Applicable in the State
Dog attacks are governed by laws which differ from one state to another. In choosing an attorney to represent you, you have to be sure such a lawyer is versed in dog bite laws. To ascertain this, check the lawyer’s qualification, specialization, and organizational engagements.
The Fee Charged by the Lawyer for Services Offered
Best California personal injury attorneys either charge upfront for their services or agree on a percentage from the settlement offer. When agreeing on a percentage cut of the total settlement offer, make sure the lawyer has the human and financial resources to follow through on the case.
Lawyer-Client Relationship
As a victim of a dog bite, you might not fully get involved in the whole case because of medical treatment or the time needed to recuperate. So, you need a lawyer with a good lawyer-client relationship that can keep you updated on the case as it unfolds.
Contact Us at Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorneys
Working with a personal injury law firm California with a reputation of success is non-negotiable if you want to succeed with your dog bite claim. At Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorneys, we have the Best dog bite attorney in Los Angeles, CA. We are skilled, dedicated, and experienced with our out-of-court and court approaches. We work tirelessly all through the clock to ensure you get the compensation that you deserve when you suffer a dog attack.
To get started, we have to hear from you and analyze your case and this happens when you contact us.
