Have you been bitten by a dog in Porterville, California? Now’s the time to contact Matadores Accident & Injury Lawyers at (559) 500-1000 for a free consultation. The dog’s owner may be held accountable for your damages, and our experienced Porterville dog bite lawyers can help you maximize your recovery.
Our team includes award-winning California trial lawyers with 25+ years of combined experience who’ve forged a multi-million-dollar track record of success. Standing up for the injured, our personal injury law firm has successfully recovered more than $100 million through settlements and jury awards.
Why Choose Matadores Accident & Injury Lawyers for Help After a Dog Attack in Porterville, CA
Dog bite victims in Porterville, CA, trust Matadores Accident & Injury Lawyers because we’re passionate legal advocates with a demonstrated ability to win tough personal injury cases.
Committed to exceptional legal representation founded on trust, communication, and winning legal strategies, our Porterville personal injury attorneys are recognized as:
- Members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- NAOPIA’s Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys
- Distinguished litigators by Martindale-Hubbell
- Super Lawyers
We know that dog bite litigation can be stressful and confusing, especially when an insurance company is fighting your claim every step of the way. Our in-depth knowledge of California dog bite law and hands-on experience navigating high-stakes legal disputes can make a world of difference on your road to recovery.
You’re sure to have questions, so don’t hesitate to contact us to schedule a complimentary case review.
Understanding California Dog Bite Laws
While some states have a “one bite” rule that gives dog owners some breathing room the first time their animal attacks someone, California does not. Instead, California imposes strict liability on dog owners, even if the dog has never bitten anyone before.
As a victim, you generally do not have to prove that the dog previously bit someone, displayed aggressive tendencies, or had a history of dangerous behavior. Instead, you need to show that a dog owned by the defendant attacked you without provocation and you’ve suffered injuries (and damages) because of it.
There are some limited exceptions. If a dog’s owner can prove that the animal was provoked or that you were trespassing at the time of the attack, they might not be strictly liable for your injuries. It’s important to anticipate attempts to argue these things, even if they’re untrue. Left undisputed, these victim-blaming tactics can potentially hurt your ability to recover full compensation for your dog bite injuries.
Dog Bites and Premises Liability
The dog’s owner isn’t the only one who might be responsible for a dog attack in Porterville. If a dog attack happens on someone else’s property, the owner of the premises could be liable, too. This is particularly true if the owner of the premises knows or should know that a dangerous dog (one with a history of aggression) is on the property.
If you can show that the property owner failed to take reasonable steps to protect you from a foreseeable dog attack, they might be considered negligent and, in turn, responsible (at least in part) for your damages.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
Millions of Americans are bitten by dogs every year. About 850,000 people are bitten severely enough that they require emergency medical care or hospitalization.
These injuries tend to include:
- Puncture wounds
- Cuts and lacerations
- Crushing injuries
- Nerve damage
- Internal organ damage
- Eye injuries
- Facial injuries
- Brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Leg injuries
- Degloving injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
Dog bites can also cause serious infections and transmission of diseases, leading to secondary injuries that can affect a victim’s life for years to come or result in wrongful death.
How Much Is My Dog Bite Lawsuit Worth?
Many factors will impact the potential value of your dog bite case. As our California dog bite attorneys in Porterville assess your damages, we’ll consider:
- The type of dog that bit you
- The specific physical injuries you’ve suffered
- Permanent disfigurement and scarring
- The extent of medical treatment required to help you achieve maximum medical improvement
- Whether the dog bite affects your ability to work
- Temporary and/or long-term disability
- Changes in your overall quality of life
- Your age and life expectancy
- Available insurance benefits and policy limits
- Whether someone other than the dog’s owner may be liable for your dog bite injuries
- Shared responsibility for your dog bite injuries
- The strength of the evidence supporting your case
- Whether the dog’s owner failed to properly control the animal or knew the dog had displayed vicious tendencies in the past
The more your dog bite injuries change your life and put you in financial distress, the more your dog bite lawsuit might be worth.
Knowing your claim’s value will be important when you enter negotiations. Often, it can be the difference between recovering a moderate settlement and pushing for a full and fair monetary award. Matadores Accident & Injury Lawyers can offer the legal guidance and insight required to maximize your recovery.
What Types of Damages Can Be Awarded to Porterville Dog Bite Victims?
In California, victims of serious dog bites can take legal action to recover two types of compensatory damages.
Economic damages are awarded to alleviate the financial stress caused by an avoidable dog bite injury, such as:
- Medical bills, including those related to emergency room treatment, hospitalization, medications, diagnostic testing, surgery (corrective and/or plastic), prosthetics, medical devices, and specialist consultations
- Lost wages and job benefits
- Temporary disability
- Diminished earning capacity
- Long-term or permanent disability
- Nursing assistance
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Funeral expenses if a dog attack is fatal
Non-economic damages are intended to acknowledge personal trauma and suffering that are harder to value, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Physical disfigurement
- Bodily scarring
- Embarrassment
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Chronic physical pain
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages can sometimes be awarded in California dog bite cases. However, pursuant to state law, punitive damages are only permissible when a jury is convinced that a defendant’s actions were malicious, oppressive, or fraudulent.
Generally speaking, this involves behavior that’s intentionally harmful or exhibits a conscious disregard for another’s safety.
Can Shared Fault Affect My Dog Bite Settlement?
Yes. California’s pure comparative fault rules can reduce compensation in certain dog bite cases if the victim is found partially responsible for the incident. Under the law, your damages can be reduced if the dog’s owner successfully argues that you share some of the blame for the dog attack.
The reduction in damages is proportionate to fault. If you’re 15 percent liable for a dog bite injury, your financial settlement or jury award can be reduced by 15 percent of its value. You can lose the right to recover compensation if you’re assigned 100 percent of the blame for a dog bite injury.
How Much Does It Cost To Pursue a Dog Bite Claim in Porterville?
Recovering from a dog bite injury can be expensive. Hiring Matadores Accident & Injury Lawyers to help you pursue compensation from the dog’s owner or another responsible party doesn’t have to be. Our Porterville dog bite attorneys work on a contingency fee basis.
We front the costs of pursuing your claim. You pay nothing until we’ve won compensation for you.
Our fees are contingent on your case results. We’re paid a percentage of whatever compensation we obtain on your behalf. If we don’t win compensation for your dog bite case, you owe us nothing.
What Is the Statute of Limitations on Dog Bite Cases in California?
California has a two-year statute of limitations that applies to most dog bite lawsuits. This gives you up to two years from the date you were bitten by a dog to formally pursue compensation for your injuries.
There can be exceptions to this rule, especially if a child is bitten by a dog. In these situations, the statute of limitations can be tolled until the victim turns 18, giving them until their 20th birthday to sue the dog’s owner or another liable party.
Once the statute of limitations runs out, you give up the legal right to sue for compensation for your dog bite injuries.
Schedule a Free Case Review With Our Experienced Porterville Dog Bite Lawyer
If you’ve been bitten by a dog in Porterville, CA, Matadores Accident & Injury Lawyers can help you understand your rights and take action against the dog’s owner.
Our Porterville dog bite attorneys have 25+ years of combined experience fighting on behalf of the injured and grieving families in California. Going toe-to-toe with powerful insurers and corporations, we’ve helped our clients recover more than $100 million in monetary awards.
Focus on recovering from your dog bite injuries and count on our respected legal team to take care of the rest. We offer a free consultation, so contact us for assistance today.
