There is no telling when a dog will bite you in Yuba City, CA. The medical expenses associated with a pet bite injury can be significant. Partner with a Yuba City personal injury lawyer, and you may be able to pursue compensation from the owner of the pet involved in your attack.
To explore your legal options after an animal attack, consult with the team at Triumph Law, P.C. Our Yuba City dog bite lawyer can help you figure out the best course of action following your pet bite accident. To get started, contact us today.
Who You Can Sue After a Dog Bite Attack in Yuba City
In California, Civil Code 3342 explains how a dog owner can be held liable for damages that you suffer due to an animal bite. Based on this code, a pet owner has a duty of care to others. This duty requires the owner to practice a reasonable amount of care with their canine.
If a pet owner violates their duty of care, their animal can attack and injure someone. At this point, the animal’s owner can be held accountable. Thus, if you are the victim of an animal bite attack, you may be able to sue the owner for the costs associated with your injury and other losses.
In a pet attack accident, you can ask for economic and non-economic damages. You can ask for economic compensation for your medical bills and other losses that you are able to quantify. Comparatively, you can seek non-economic compensation for suffering, pain, and other subjective losses.
When a Dog Can Be Euthanized After an Attack
Based on California FAC §31602, a dog can be classified as “potentially dangerous.” To receive this designation, the pet must be involved in two or more incidents within a three-year span in which people had to protect themselves due to the animal’s unprovoked aggression. Or, the dog must bite someone without being provoked and cause a non-severe injury or have injured or killed at least two domestic animals within a three-year span with no provocation.
According to California FAC §31603, a dog is considered to be “vicious” under certain circumstances. If a dog is classified as vicious, it may have to be euthanized. Here are the conditions that a dog must meet to be deemed vicious:
- The animal must have been previously listed as a “potentially dangerous” animal, with its owner notified accordingly.
- The pet’s owner did not follow the required restrictions, or the animal repeated its past behaviors that initially prompted it to be listed as potentially dangerous.
- It inflicts a severe injury or kills someone in an aggressive manner and without being provoked.
Ultimately, if a dog seems well-behaved and bites you, the incident may be a one-off occurrence. The dog is unlikely to be euthanized, but the pet’s owner can be held accountable. With help from a dog bite attorney in Yuba City, you can ask for compensation from the animal’s owner to account for your quantifiable and subjective losses.
How to Respond to a Dog Bite Attack
Do not assign blame in the moments after a dog bites you. Call 911, so emergency responders can come to the scene and treat your injury. Go to a hospital and undergo a medical evaluation.
Follow your doctor’s orders to recover from your injury. Keep track of your medical bills, too. In the days after your accident, contact a personal injury lawyer.
Meet with a lawyer to discuss your accident and injury. At Triumph Law, P.C., our team can learn about you and your case and help you decide if now is the right time to file a lawsuit. For more information, get in touch with us.
When to Submit a Dog Bite Accident Claim
California has a two-year statute of limitations relating to personal injury claims. The statute is one year if you discover an injury at a later time. You must file a personal injury lawsuit within the limitations statute, and if you do not, you lose the opportunity to get compensation from any at-fault parties.
A Yuba City dog bite attorney can help you request compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress, and other losses. To build your argument, your attorney can help you gather evidence and witness statements. They can discuss what can happen during your premises liability case trial as well.
Just because you file a claim against a negligent pet owner does not mean that you will automatically get compensation. Your attorney may attempt to negotiate a settlement with the defendant. If they do not succeed, you bring your case to court, and you can present a body of evidence to explain why you deserve compensation.
How a Defendant Will Argue Against a Dog Bite Accident Claim
One of the most common defenses that a defendant will use in a dog bite accident lawsuit involves trespassing. The defendant may argue that you entered their property without their consent. If this individual’s dog bit and injured you while you trespassed, you are liable.
There can be times when a defendant will claim that the plaintiff provoked their animal and may be partly or fully responsible for the attack and injury. To defend against this, it is paramount to have as much evidence as you can. Also, it is beneficial to have witnesses who can testify and explain what they saw that led to the incident.
Much in the same way a defendant will craft a legal defense, a dog bite lawyer in Yuba City does the same for their client. As you consider your legal options, look for a lawyer who has an outstanding track record in dog bite injury lawsuits. This lawyer likely has what it takes to protect your legal rights, advocate for you, and make sure that your best interests are represented throughout your litigation.
Get Legal Help with Your Dog Bite Injury
Do not wait any longer to pursue damages from a negligent dog owner. Triumph Law, P.C. makes it easy to partner with an experienced Yuba City dog bite injury lawyer. To request a consultation, contact us today.
