Fresno Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog bites and attacks are traumatizing incidents capable of leaving people with physical and emotional injuries. Responsibility for harm from a dog bite generally belongs to the dog’s owner and can include liability for compensation to remedy your damages from the attack. Our Fresno dog bite lawyers have experience leading litigation efforts for innocent bystanders who sustain significant losses from another person’s failure to prevent their dog from causing injury. Call Valero Law Group for a free consultation with our energetic team of personal injury advocates to learn more about your options.

What to Do After a Dog Bite

Dog bites can happen fast and with little warning. The order of a person’s response to the incident can vary depending on the circumstances but could include the following steps:

• Cover and apply pressure to the wound to stop excessive bleeding
• Seek immediate medical attention from a licensed physician
• Take note of the key details from the dog bite incident

Important information to capture after a dog bite attack will generally include the name and contact details for the dog’s owner, a description of the biting dog, where the bite occurred, and other circumstances leading up to the attack. Depending on the situation, it may be difficult to obtain information about the dog or its owner. Our Fresno dog bite attorneys may be able to assist in investigating and gathering evidence to establish your case, identify any liable parties, and support a claim for damages.

Liability for Injuries From a Dog Bite

California Civil Code § 3342 imposes strict liability on the dog owners for the damages from a bite injury. This liability applies to dog bites that occur in either public spaces or to lawful visitors to private property, which includes the dog owner’s property. The ability to pursue damages under this statute exists regardless of whether the dog had a history of vicious behavior or if the owner knew about the dog’s past aggression. Liability for dog bite attacks in California does not generally extend to police and other government agency dogs for bites that occur while serving in a professional capacity. However, the government agency must have an adopted written policy on the necessary and appropriate use of the dog for this exception to apply.

Dog bite cases can become complex when issues of comparative fault and other defenses to a dog owner’s liability are made. For example, an owner may claim the victim of a dog bite attack was a trespasser and not lawfully on their property when the incident occurred. A plaintiff’s negligent actions in causing the dog bite to occur could also impact their right to compensation for damages. For example, provoking the dog by approaching it or ignoring warnings from the dog owner. California’s comparative fault rule, as explained in CACI No. 405, reduces a plaintiff’s damages by their percentage of fault for causing their own injury. Our Fresno attorneys can review the details of a dog attack and gather the necessary evidence to establish liability and refute allegations of shared fault.

Deadline to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Dog Bite

California has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits. This means the victim of a dog bite must generally file their claim for damages against the liable dog owner within two years of the attack. Meeting with a lawyer as soon as possible after an incident is an important step for determining the potential filing deadline in your case and avoiding a lapse of your right to pursue damages in court.

Schedule a Consultation With a Fresno Dog Bite Attorney

Our team of Fresno dog bite lawyers is ready to meet to discuss your injury and develop a strategy for pursuing compensation through insurance or litigation. We understand the many hurdles that our injured clients face, which is why we can either offer transportation or meet with you where you are. We are always available for calls. Schedule a free consultation today to get started with your case.