Riverside Dog Bite Lawyer
Dogs have powerful jaws, and any type of dog bite can lead to significant physical and financial setbacks. At Bentley & More LLP, our team is standing by when you need a Riverside dog bite attorney. We have a thorough understanding of California dog bite laws, and we know what it takes to help individuals recover the compensation they need, even if the insurance carriers play hardball. Let us get to work on your claim today.
Why Choose Bentley & More LLP for a Dog Bite Claim?
- At Bentley & More LLP, we provide aggressive legal representation to every dog bite victim that we assist, which means we work to recover full compensation for clients.
- Our Riverside injury lawyers have a thorough understanding of dog bite laws in Riverside and throughout California, and we know what it takes to investigate these claims and present them to the insurance carriers or a jury.
- Our team proudly handles Riverside dog bite accident claims on a contingency fee basis. This means clients pay absolutely no legal fees until after we successfully recover the compensation they need.
Dog Bite Injuries Can Lead to Major Expenses
Unfortunately, dog bites often lead to significant injuries for those involved. Some of the most common types of injuries caused by a dog bite in Riverside include the following:
- Lacerations or puncture wounds
- Amputations of fingers
- Broken bones (usually digits and hands)
- Major facial trauma
- Avulsions of the skin
- Brain injury
- Infections caused by the bite
- Lacerated veins, arteries, tendons, or muscles
California Dog Bite Laws
When we examine California Civil Code section 3342, we see that this state will hold dog owners strictly liable for any dog bite that occurs. This means that the dog owner will typically have to compensate victims even if the dog showed no prior signs of aggression or has never bitten somebody before.
Under the California dog bite law, the owner will be strictly liable if:
- The incident happened in a public place, or
- The incident occurred in an area where the victim had a lawful right to be
In order to prove a case under the California dog bite law, a plaintiff will need to show that:
- The defendant owned the dog in question
- The dog bit the plaintiff in a public place or in an area where the person had a lawful right to be
- The individual sustained actual injuries caused by the dog bite
Under these laws, the injury victim will not have to prove negligence on the part of the dog owner. Even if the owner has taken all necessary precautions, they can still be held responsible if their dog bites somebody.
Additionally, individuals may be able to pursue more compensation if they can show that the dog owner knew or should have known about the dog’s propensity for violence or if the owner was negligent in failing to prevent the incident from occurring (i.e. the dog owner allowed the dog to roam without a leash on public property).
Call a Riverside Dog Bite Lawyer Today
If you or somebody you care about has sustained a dog bite injury in the Riverside area, reach out to the team at Bentley & More LLP for a free consultation today. We want to make sure that you recover the compensation needed to get through this. This includes coverage for medical bills, lost wages, and your pain and suffering damages. When you need a Riverside dog bite attorney, reach out to us for a free consultation of your claim by filling out our contact form or calling us at (949) 264-0226