Dog Bite Accidents

Since the beginning of time, humanity has had a love affair with our furry canine friends known as dogs. However, sometimes things can go wrong, and a dog who is aggressive or frightened may bite a human, causing serious injury. Dog bite injuries commonly cause infection and can range in severity from a simple puncture wound to the life-threatening rupture of an artery. While some injuries heal quickly, others may require a lifetime of medical treatment and may cause the loss of an occupation as well as other life-altering changes. When this occurs, it makes sense to hire an expert attorney from the Law Offices of Ginger S. Marcos, APC. 

California Strict Liability Law

In the state of California, a strict liability law applies to the issue of dog bites. This means that if a person is bitten by a dog, the owner is liable for the victim's injuries regardless of whether the owner did or did not know that the dog could be aggressive. All that needs to be shown by the victim's attorney is that the dog owner did in fact own the dog, the dog bite happened on either public property or on private property that the victim was legally allowed to enter, and that the victim did suffer an injury from the bite. The strict liability law does not apply if the dog was unduly provoked, or if the victim was trespassing on the dog owner's property illegally. 

Dog Bite Injuries                       

There are many ways in which an angry or scared dog can injure a victim. The bite may be a small puncture wound that will heal with a good cleaning and some antibiotic ointment, or it may be a deep wound that becomes infected and requires extensive treatment. A dog bite can crush a finger bone or can cause a wound that results in scarring or disfigurement, especially if it bites someone on the face. These wounds are easily infected as the teeth of dogs may often be dirty. If a dog is trained to bite or is particularly aggressive, it may bite a major blood vessel, causing hemorrhage. A diseased dog may even cause rabies, and anyone who has not had a tetanus shot can get tetanus from a dog bite if not treated. Some of the more severe dog bite injuries may require extensive skin grafting or wound care.

Types of Dog Bite Compensation

Depending upon the severity of the dog bite injury, there are many types of compensation that a victim may be eligible for. Some of these include:

• Medical and surgical expenses - Wounds from dog bites may require surgical debridement, skin grafting or other plastic surgery repairs. Bone fractures may require orthopedic surgery as well as rehabilitation.
• Lost wages - The victim may lose time from work as a result of the dog bite injury, resulting in lost wages.
• Loss of future earnings - If the dog bite injury was severe and caused a fracture that takes a long time to heal or some form of disability, the victim may lose future earnings as a result.
• Emotional suffering - Sometimes those who have been bitten by a dog suffer from PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, as a result. They may fear leaving home or being in areas where there may be dogs.

A skilled dog bite accident attorney will understand the laws related to dog bites and can work with the local courts to obtain appropriate compensation for the dog bite victim. 

Call to Schedule a Free Consultation With a California Dog Bite Attorney Today

If you've suffered from a dog bite injury, call to schedule a free consultation with a California dog bite attorney today. The compassionate legal experts at the Law Offices of Ginger S. Marcos, APC are familiar with California dog bite law and are dedicated to getting you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. We serve the cities of Anaheim, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Buena Park and surrounding SoCal communities. Visit our web page at marcoslawfirm.comor give us a call at 949-417-6202 and let us give you legal advice you can rely on.