Can You Sue for a Minor Dog Bite Injury in Glendale?
Are you a victim of dog bites in Glendale? If yes, you may want to know if you can take legal action against the dog owner and what compensation can you get.
Fortunately, there are specific California laws applicable in your case. Hiring the best Glendale personal injury lawyer can help prove the owner liable for your injuries. And help you get the compensations you deserve as well.
Applicable California Laws in Dog Bite Accidents
These three California laws generally come into play when a dog attacks you in Glendale.
1. California’s Dog Bite Statute
The Dog Bite Statute proves the dog owner accountable when their dog bites a person and causes injuries. The victim doesn’t have to confirm the dog owner’s negligence or that the dog had previously bitten someone.
However, the victim should have been in a public place during the accident or on private property with the owner’s permission. The dog owner isn’t liable if their dog bit someone trespassing on their property.
Moreover, a victim can’t take legal action if they had provoked the dog into becoming aggressive. The accident should also involve dog bites in particular, as the dog owner isn’t liable for any other type of dog attack.
2. Premises Liability Rules
The Premises Liability rule applies when a person sustains injuries because of a dangerous element in a property. And this law can take effect when a dog attacks a person without biting, such as knocking a person down.
The victim only needs to prove the dog owner’s negligence and failure in keeping their dog from hurting anyone.
For example, you can sue the dog owner if they let their aggressive dog run around while you were on their property. However, you can’t take legal action if you approached a leashed aggressive dog after the dog owner told you not to.
3. Personal Injury Law
What if a dog attacks somebody without biting the person in a public place? The best course of action is to apply for a California personal injury lawsuit.
The victim only needs to prove the dog owner’s negligence in a public place while handling a dog.
For instance, the owner brought their dog out from their home without a leash. Another example is when the owner didn’t prevent their dog from attacking the victim.
However, remember that the Comparative Negligence Rule applies in such a case. That means the judge will assign the amount of fault for the plaintiff and the defendant.
For example, if the judge finds that the victim was 30% at fault. Then the victim’s compensation amount will also decrease by 30%.
Not provoking the dog to attack you is the to avoid this consequence. Hiring a professional attorney in such a case also helps defend you in court.
Compensations You can Get from a Personal Injury Claim because of Dog Bites
The amount of compensation you deserve for sustaining dog bite injuries depends on a few factors:
- Medical expenses
- Severity of injuries
- Lost wages and income
- Pain and suffering
- Psychological trauma
- Damage compensations for your damaged clothes, smartphones, and other belongings during the attack.
Moreover, you can file a workers’ compensation claim if you were on the job during the incident. An example is a dog biting you while delivering a product to a customer’s home.
Hire a Personal Injury Attorney in Glendale for Your Dog Bite Injury Case
You deserve compensation for your injuries from dog bites. However, you must hire a Glendale personal injury lawyer to get the best results from your claim. They can prove helpful, especially if you sustain critical injuries from dog bites.