San Diego Dog Bite Lawyer

San Diego Dog Attack Attorneys

Dog owners in most areas of the United States are required by law to keep their dogs enclosed on their own property when not on a leash. San Diego County is no exception. So, why is it that nearly 2% of the U.S. population is victimized by a dog bite attack each year? Some dog owners simply do not take the precautions necessary to keep others safe from their dogs.

Dog bite sufferers have rights. They deserve compensation, not only for the physical injuries a dog bite inflicts, but possibly also for emotional distress. If you or someone you love have suffered a dog bite, take steps to secure your legal rights. Call an experienced San Diego dog bite attorney who can help you to get the compensation you deserve.

After a Dog Bites

If you may have been bitten by a dog while walking down a sidewalk, in San Diego County or elsewhere. When that happened, you probably put all your energies into getting to a safe place, away from the dog. But once safe, there are several important things you should turn your attentions to. What can you do to protect yourself and your rights?

• Get a medical evaluation: Even if you think the dog bite wound is only a small one, you need medical attention. The dog might have had a disease, even rabies. Even if the dog was healthy, a dog bite wound can easily become infected if not treated correctly.

• Identify the owner of the dog: Finding the dog's owners is an important step, as the owners needs to know that their dog has bitten someone in order to prevent similar future dog attacks. The dog's owners may also want to submit a claim to their homeowner's insurance carrier for payment of your dog attack damages.

• Inform local authorities: San Diego County has an animal services department that handles all sorts of dog-related issues. They and the local police should be told about the dog attack so that they can make a dog bite report.

• Collect and preserve evidence of the dog bite incident: Until you have secured the services of a San Diego dog bite lawyer, you and your family or friends can take steps to ensure evidence is not lost or destroyed. Take pictures of the dog bite injuries, both before and after medical treatment. Take photographs of the location of the dog bite incident, being careful to show blood stains, scuff marks and torn clothing there, if any. If there were witnesses to the dog bite attack, get their names and contact information.

Proving the Dog Owner's Responsibility

According to California law, dog owners can be held responsible for dog bites their pets inflict even if they never knew their dogs were dangerous. So, if you were bitten by a dog while walking down a San Diego street, or anywhere else in the state, you may be able to recover damages. All that you, with the help of your San Diego dog bite lawyer, must prove is that:

• The dog that bit you belonged to the person you have brought suit against;

• That the dog bit you while you were on public property or were lawfully on private property;

• That the dog in question actually bit you during the dog attack; and

• That you were injured by the dog's bite.

If you can establish all of these things, you might be able to collect damages from the dog's owner.

What kinds of damages are available to dog bite victims? Each dog bite case is different. For instance, a child bitten by a dog might suffer minimal physical injuries but be extremely emotionally disturbed by the dog attack. Another child might be severely maimed, due to the facts that he is closer to the ground, where the dog is. An adult dog bite victim might have to miss work while recovering. The damages each of these dog bite victims will recover will likely reflect the difference in the kind of dog attacks they suffered through.

Damages for dog bite injuries might include payments for:

• Past and future medical costs

• Lost income

• Pain and suffering

• Medical monitoring

• Loss of enjoyment of life

• Lifetime care costs

• Wrongful death

In addition to these, punitive damages are sometimes paid to dog bite victims. Punitive damages in dog bite cases are meant not to compensate the victim but to punish the dog owner, and they will be awarded only when the owner is guilty of more than mere negligence. For example, if a trained dog attacks because the owner orders it to, without provocation, punitive damages might be awarded to the dog bite victim.

Finding the Best San Diego Dog Bite Attorney

Finding the right San Diego dog bite lawyer as soon as possible after a dog attack is important to your claim. An attorney who takes the dog bite case sooner rather than later has the best chance of proving exactly what happened, because the evidence is fresh. The longer you wait, the harder it will be for your San Diego dog bite lawyer and the firm's affiliated investigators to discover and prove the truth surrounding your injuries.

We at The Reeves Law Group have handled numerous dog bite claims in our 20+ years of practice. The firm, which handles only personal injury claims, has a well-deserved reputation for getting our clients outstanding results. We have the expertise and resources necessary to do the same for you. If you or someone you care for have been the victim of a dog bite attack, whether in San Diego County or elsewhere, call us for a free consultation at (800) 644-8000 or e-mail us.