Dog bite injuries can be severe and leave victims with significant pain and suffering as well as major medical bills to contend with. At the Law Offices of John B. Richards, we are standing by to help when you need a Santa Barbara dog bite injury attorney by your side. Our team has the resources necessary to investigate every aspect of your claim, determine liability, and ensure that you receive the compensation you need. We are not afraid to stand up to aggressive insurance carriers when assisting our clients, so call us for a free consultation today.
When we look at data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we can see that approximately 800,000 people seek medical care each year across the country due to dog bite injuries. Dogs have very powerful jaws that can inflict severe injuries on victims. More and more frequently at the Law Offices of John B. Richards, our Santa Barabara dog bite attorney helps clients with have devastating injuries including:
When we turn to California Civil Code section 3342, we can see that California is one of the states that operates under a “strict liability” dog bite statute. This means that a dog’s owner can be held financially responsible for any injuries directly caused by the dog biting somebody, regardless of whether or not the dog has ever bitten anybody before or shown a propensity for aggression. The law in California says that the dog owner can be held liable so long as the victim was bitten in a public place or while lawfully in a private location, and as long as the victim did not provoke the dog.
It is important to point out that the strict liability law only applies to injuries that occur from a bite. If a dog barrels into somebody, knocks them over and causes the person to sustain a broken limb, this injury will not be covered under the strict liability law. However, victims can still hold dog owners accountable for negligence through a personal injury lawsuit.
If you or somebody you care about has been bitten and injured by a dog in or around Santa Barbara, contact the team at the Law Offices of John B. Richards today. Our team has the resources necessary to conduct a full investigation into the case and stand up to the insurance carriers involved. We will not back down until you receive the compensation you are entitled to, including coverage of your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering damages, out-of-pocket expenses, and more. When you need a Santa Barbara dog bite injury attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling 805-683-2736.