Dog bites are an unfortunate reality. Dogs bite more than 5 million Americans each year. A portion of those are directly because the owner did not use good judgment to protect the other members of the community.
California has enacted a law to help protect victims from owners who endanger others. The law states that a dog owner is legally responsible for any damage done to the victim. Victims of dog bites must deal with both physical and emotional trauma. A serious dog bite can make a victim afraid of dogs for the rest of their life.
When a dog acts aggressively towards other members of the community, the owner of the dog knows that his or her pet may be dangerous. It demonstrates poor judgment if the owner lets his dog get in positions that may be hazardous to others. If a dog has been known to be aggressive before, the owner is responsible for any damage if the dog bites or injures someone else.
What Happens in a Dog Bite Case?
Dog bites and attacks can result in a wide range of injuries. Some of the most common include:
- Disfigurement
- Maiming
- Permanent, severe scarring
- Other Trauma
If you have been the victim of a dog bite, you are entitled to compensation from the dog’s owner. This compensation is paid by either the owner himself or his insurance company. While the emotional trauma caused by a bite is not simply repaired by money, we do know not having to worry about how you will pay your new medical bills will be a relief. Besides medical bills, compensation may also cover emotional damage, lost wages, and other costs.
What’s the Basis of a Claim?
Unfortunately, not every victim of a dog bite receives compensation for their injury. Obviously, if the dog has no owner, you cannot claim compensation. But there are other less obvious stipulations at play as well. These include:
- The dog’s history
- If the owner’s carelessness caused the injury
- If the owner was obeying local leash laws
- Whether you were trespassing on the property, resulting in the attack