Granite Bay Dog Bite Lawyer

When a dog attacks a person, the damage can be catastrophic and even life-threatening. Take, for example, the two people who were attacked by two dogs on Grover Beach. The attack involved a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois and a German shepherd.

The attack was so bad that one of the victims, a 64-year-old man, had to be transported to the hospital and was listed in critical condition in Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center’s intensive care unit. The man’s family reported that his arms were so viciously damaged during the attack that he may lose the use of his hand.

The other victim was the next-door neighbor of the 64-year-old man. She suffered serious injuries as well, according to The Tribune.

The dogs involved in the above-described attack were owned by a Grover Beach police officer. It is important to identify the owner of the vicious dog because, under California Civil Code section 3342, the owner of a dog is held strictly liable for any harm caused by their dog. Strict liability effectively means that the victim does not need to prove that the dog owner was negligent or careless in some way. In most cases, if a dog attacks and bites someone, the owner is liable.

There are some important exceptions to the strict liability dog bite statute you need to be aware of.

First is the provocation defense. The strict liability statute does not apply if the dog bite victim did something to provoke the dog that caused it to bite. So, for example, if you were involved in an altercation with the owner and the dog bites you, the owner may have a viable defense against a claim of strict liability. However, the defense of provocation does not apply if a child under the age of five was bitten by the dog.

Second, the strict liability statute does not apply if you were not bitten. For example, if you were knocked down by a dog while jogging or walking around Granite Bay, the strict liability statute does not apply. However, you could still have a viable personal injury claim. It would just need to be based on a negligence theory as opposed to strict liability.

Third, if you were bitten by a dog while you were at your place of work and the owner of the dog is your supervisor or manager, the statute would not apply. Instead, you would be able to pursue damages through a worker’s compensation claim.

If you or a family member was bitten by a dog, you may be able to pursue financial restitution for harms and losses associated with the bite. For example, if you had to seek medical treatment for the wounds caused by the attack, those medical expenses could be recovered through a claim. You can also pursue reimbursement for lost wages if you had to take time off of work to heal.

You can also pursue damages for your pain, suffering, and anguish. For more information contact a Granite Bay Personal Injury Lawyer.

Watch the following video for more on the types of damages that can be claimed in a dog bite case.

I’m Ed Smith, a Granite Bay Dog Bite Lawyer. If you or someone that you love has suffered serious injuries in a dog bite incident, please call me at 916.921.6400 or 800.404.5400 for free, friendly and compassionate advice.

When you make the call, we will go over the details of the incident and determine the best way to proceed with a claim for damages. I take cases on a contingency fee. This means there are no fees to pay upfront. I get paid after the successful resolution of your case.

We are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.

See our case history of verdicts and settlements and our client reviews on Google, Yelp, and Avvo.

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Editor’s Note: This page has been updated for accuracy and relevancy [cha 12.28.20]