A dog bite or attack can be a frightening and painful experience. Even after you have received medical care for your injuries, the path forward can seem confusing and stressful. You might be facing medical bills, time off work, physical pain, and emotional upset. If you’re searching for a San Jose dog bite and attack attorney, Harris Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help.
Our team helps people across California who have been hurt by dog bites and attacks seek fair compensation. We’ll explain your options, build a strong case, and fight for the payment you need to cover your losses.
Call Harris Personal Injury Lawyers today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS for a free consultation or contact us online.
Why Choose Harris Personal Injury Lawyers for Your Dog Bite Case?
Choosing the right law firm after a dog bite is an important decision. Here’s why Californians trust Harris Personal Injury Lawyers:
Focused Local Experience
Our dog bite attorneys have a strong track record of helping people injured throughout California. We have law offices with local lawyers all over the state. Call us today at (619) 864-7101 to find out which of our local 18 branches can serve you best.
Proven Results
Our animal attack attorneys have a comprehensive knowledge of the laws that govern these cases and will use our experience and resources to help you fight for a fair settlement. We have recovered more than $300 million for our clients.
Client-Centered Approach
We know you're going through a difficult time after a dog attack. Our team provides compassionate and dedicated support. We treat our clients with respect, listen to their concerns, and work hard to make the legal process as smooth as possible for them.
Resources To Fight for You
We have the resources and legal knowledge to handle complex cases and challenge insurance companies. We prepare every case thoroughly and are ready to negotiate effectively or go to trial if that's what it takes to achieve justice for you.
Call us today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS for a free consultation or contact us online.
What Kind of Payment Can You Seek After a Dog Bite?
If you've been injured by a dog bite in San Jose, you may be able to get payment (damages) to cover your losses. Harris Personal Injury Lawyers fights for fair payment:
- Medical expenses (past and future): This compensation is for the costs of the medical care you've already received, like the ambulance, hospital stay, doctor visits, surgery, medications, and therapy. It also includes the estimated cost of any medical care you are reasonably expected to need in the future because of the dog bite injury.
- Lost wages: If the dog bite injury caused you to miss work, you could seek payment for your lost income.
- Future earning potential: If your injury affects your ability to earn money in the future, either because you can't return to your old job or have lasting limitations, you can also seek payment.
- Pain and suffering: This is payment for the physical pain, discomfort, and emotional distress caused by the dog bite and your injuries. This includes pain from the injury, recovery, and any ongoing pain. It also covers fear, anxiety, sleeplessness, depression, or PTSD resulting from the attack.
- Scarring and disfigurement: Dog bites often leave permanent scars, especially on visible areas like the face, arms, or legs. You may be able to receive payment specifically for the scarring or disfigurement caused by the attack.
- Property damage: You may also be able to claim for the cost of repairing or replacing any personal items damaged in the attack.
Every dog bite case is unique. The amount you receive depends on factors like injury severity, medical bills, lost income, impact on your life, and scarring or disability.
The dog bite attorneys at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers can carefully review the details of your case to help determine the full extent of your damages and work towards getting you the fair compensation you deserve.
Understanding California's Dog Bite Law: Strict Liability
California has a law that makes dog bite cases different from some other types of injury cases. It's often called a strict liability law. In most cases, a dog owner is responsible for the injuries their dog causes when it bites someone, even if the dog has never bitten anyone before or shown any signs of aggression.
The owner cannot usually avoid responsibility just by saying they didn't know their dog was dangerous or that they tried to restrain the dog.
If their dog bites someone who is lawfully on private property (like a guest or mail carrier) or in a public place, the owner is generally liable for the damages caused.
Exceptions to Strict Liability
There are a few exceptions to this rule. For example, the owner might not be responsible if:
- The person bitten was trespassing illegally on the owner's property.
- The person bitten was provoking or teasing the dog.
- The person was bitten while committing a crime.
- The person was bitten by a police or military dog performing its duties.
It's also important to know that this strict liability law specifically applies to bites. If you were injured by a dog in another way—like being knocked down or scratched—different rules might apply, often involving proving the owner was careless (negligent).
The team at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers understands California dog bite laws deeply and can explain how they affect your specific situation during your free consultation.
How Harris Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help Dog Bite Victims in San Jose
When you choose Harris Personal Injury Lawyers to handle your dog bite claim, our goal is simple: to take the legal burden off you so you can focus on healing, while we work hard to get you the best possible result.
Investigate
Our team of personal injury lawyers will thoroughly investigate the dog bite incident. This may include gathering evidence such as police reports, animal control records, photos, medical records, and witness statements.
Deal With Insurance Companies
We handle all communications with the dog owner's insurance company. We know their lowball tactics and will protect your rights:
- Offer a quick, low payment: Insurers might offer you money soon after the bite, before you even know the full extent of your injuries or future medical costs. This offer is almost always much lower than what your case is actually worth.
- Delays: Adjusters might drag out the process, repeatedly ask for unnecessary documents, or simply not return your calls promptly. They hope that you'll get frustrated or financially desperate and accept a lower offer just to be done with it.
- Downplay your injuries: The adjuster might suggest your injuries aren't as serious as you say, question the need for certain medical treatments, or argue that you won't need much care in the future.
- Shift blame: Insurers might try to argue that you did something to provoke the dog, were trespassing, or were somehow careless to shift the blame and reduce the amount they have to pay.
- Ask for a recorded statement: Insurance companies hope you'll say something innocent that they can later twist or use against you to deny or lower your claim. It's best to speak with a San Jose dog bite lawyer before giving a recorded statement.
- Discourage you from getting a lawyer: They might imply that hiring a lawyer will complicate things or slow down the process.
Calculate Your Damages
We carefully calculate the full value of your claim, considering all your current and future medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, scarring, and other losses.
Negotiation and Litigation (if Necessary)
Our lawyers are skilled negotiators, and we'll work diligently to reach a fair settlement agreement with the insurance company.
If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, we’re prepared to file a lawsuit and take your case to court. Our trial attorneys will present your case strongly before a judge and fight for the compensation you deserve.
We’ll keep you informed and updated throughout the entire process, and we’re always available to address any questions you may have.
Call Harris Personal Injury Lawyers today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS for a free consultation or contact us online.
Don't Wait: Time Limits in California
There are deadlines for filing a dog bite lawsuit in California. This deadline is called the statute of limitations. Generally, you have two years from the date of the dog bite injury to file a lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you’ll likely lose your right to seek compensation through the court system forever.
Two years might sound like a long time, but building a strong case takes time. Evidence can disappear, witnesses' memories can fade, and delays can hurt your claim.
Contacting an attorney soon after the incident allows them to start investigating promptly, preserve critical evidence, and ensure all legal deadlines are met.
Frequently Asked Questions About San Jose Dog Bite and Attack Claims
How Can a Lawyer Help Me With a Dog Bite in San Jose?
Insurance companies have experienced adjusters who want to settle claims for the lowest amount possible. They might try to downplay your injuries, argue you were partly at fault, or offer you less money than your claim is truly worth.
A lawyer from Harris Personal Injury Lawyers understands California's dog bite laws and knows how to deal with insurance companies. We can handle the investigation, gather necessary evidence, calculate the full value of your damages, and negotiate strongly on your behalf.
Having a lawyer levels the playing field. We handle the stress of the legal process so you can focus on getting better.
How Much Compensation Can I Expect To Get?
It's impossible to give an exact amount without knowing all the details of your specific situation. Every dog bite case is different, and the amount of compensation depends on many factors, including:
- The severity of your injuries
- The total cost of your past and expected future medical treatment
- The amount of income you lost
- Whether your ability to earn income in the future is affected
- The presence and severity of any permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Your level of physical pain and emotional suffering
- The strength of the evidence proving liability and damages
During your free consultation, an attorney at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers can discuss the specifics of your case.
Our goal is always to fight for the maximum compensation possible under the law for your unique circumstances.
Will Making a Claim Affect the Dog?
This is a common concern for many people, especially if the dog belongs to a neighbor or someone they know. It's important to understand that filing a personal injury claim is a civil matter between you (the injured person) and the responsible party (usually the dog owner and their insurance company).
The purpose of your claim is to seek financial compensation for your injuries and losses.
What happens to the dog itself is typically handled separately by local animal control authorities. Reporting the bite to animal control (which is often required by law) may trigger an investigation. Depending on the circumstances, the severity of the bite, and the dog's history, animal control might take action.
Your civil lawsuit for damages does not directly decide the dog's fate; that decision rests with animal control based on public safety laws and regulations. You can still pursue compensation for your injuries regardless of the actions of animal control.
Contact Harris Personal Injury Lawyers Today for Free
You don't have to carry the burden of a dog bite injury alone. Harris Personal Injury Lawyers is ready to help you understand your rights and pursue the fair compensation you need to recover and rebuild.
Let our dedicated San Jose dog bite attorneys handle the legal complexities while you focus on healing. We are here to answer your questions and guide you through this challenging time.Call us today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS for a free consultation or contact us online.