In the city of San Luis Obispo, dog bite victims may wonder how to claim compensation. Many dog bites never make it to court. Instead, they are settled through negotiations between the victim and the dog owner. The victim may also negotiate with an insurance company. Victims should be aware, especially in the case of severe injury, that compensation through legal means is possible.
Dog bite law in the state of California states, in part, “The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place…regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.”
The first step in claiming compensation in court is to contact an attorney experienced in dog bite law. Your attorney will want to know the name of the owner of the animal, the date of the occurrence and the details of the “attack.” Your attorney will also want to see a copy of your medical bills, know whether or not you had to take time off of work, and any lasting pain and suffering the bite caused.
Before a lawsuit is filed, a victim must write a demand letter to the owner. This gives the owner a chance to pay the asked for amount without having to be seen in court. If the owner refuses to pay the amount, your attorney will file a small claims court suit on your behalf.
