Sherman Oaks is a group of neighborhoods in LA where dogs and kids can be seen playing in the yards parks and streets. Most dogs are well-behaved, but a dog can get stressed or excited and bite at just about any time.
At Maison Law, we understand how much pain, anguish, and frustration a dog bite can cause. Whether it’s you or your child, these types of injuries can result in lost wages, sleepless nights, rising medical copays and coinsurance bills, trips to the doctor, and rehab.
We believe that people should keep their dogs secure so they don’t bite other people; and when they do, we will stand with the victim to get the justice and compensation they deserve.
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Dog Bite Claims
In some states, when a dog bites someone, the owner isn’t liable if he or she didn’t know that their dog was likely to bit. This is called the “one bite rule” because it means that after the first bite, the owner is now aware that the dog has the potential to be aggressive.
However, In California, when a dog bites someone, the owner is responsible for any injuries even if the dog hadn’t shown any aggressive tendencies or bitten anyone before. This is called a strict liability law, and it means that the victim doesn’t have to show that the owner did anything wrong but just that their dog bit the victim, and the victim sustained injuries.
However, there are some required conditions that must be present before liability can be determined.
- The victim must have been in a public place or invited to a private place when bitten, and
- The victim must not have provoked the dog into the attack.
Compensation for Sherman Oaks Dog Bite Injuries
Ideally, each person with a dog has the financial ability to pay for injuries if their dog bites. However, the reality is that unless the owner has some sort of insurance, then many times the victim is left paying for their own injuries.
Those who own their own house almost always have homeowner’s insurance that will usually pay for the damages due to a dog bite. This is also true if a renter has taken out a renter’s insurance policy. These policies will typically pay out for damages under the state law where the house is.
However, if you or a loved one is a victim of a dog bite, don’t take the word of the insurance company about the availability of insurance. They have one job to do, and that is to deny you money or pay as little as possible. You need to have a professional who knows the law and knows how to deal with insurance companies on your side.
Dog Bite Injuries
A dog bite can produce a significant amount of pain and can do serious damage to the victim. Depending on the type of dog, the teeth can penetrate the skin and damage muscle, ligament, nerves, and even bones.
Some of the most common injuries to a dog bite victim are:
- Puncture wounds.
- Broken bones.
- Eye injuries.
- Head and Neck Injuries.
- Face Injuries.
- Disfigurement
- Permanent Disability
- Emotional Scars
Depending on the severity of the wounds, and any permanent damage to the victim, the law allows for certain damages that are intended to help the victim recover from the accident both physically and financially.
Contact a Sherman Oaks Dog Bite Attorney
The best thing to do when injured by a dog is to talk to an attorney. Even if you don’t hire a lawyer, you owe it to yourself to be advised by an impartial legal professional. If you decide to get representation, choose an attorney who is experienced and understands your case, the community, and the law.
Call the Law Offices of Steers & Associates at (818) 851-1911 or click here to contact us online. We have attorneys with years of experience dealing with dog bite injuries. Call us now to even the playing field against the big insurance companies so that you can get the fair compensation you deserve.