Santa Barbara County residents often take their furry, four-legged friends to local parks, stores, restaurants, and other establishments. Unfortunately, when they fail to properly restrain their pets, serious personal injuries can happen. At Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, Inc, we help victims of dog bites in Santa Ynez hold negligent owners accountable.

You can count on our legal team to assist you in getting the compensation you need to recover. As experienced Santa Ynez dog bite attorneys, we are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer your call. With decades of combined experience on our side, top case results show verdicts and settlements worth millions of dollars. To request a free consultation, call 1-800-GO-HARRIS today.

Get Trusted Legal Guidance From Our Santa Ynez Dog Bite Attorneys

Dogs are popular among local residents and welcome at many public places. However, under the Santa Barbara County Municipal Code, dog owners are required to keep their pets properly restrained and under their control at all times. When they fail to do so, they can be held legally liable for injuries others suffer as a result. 

At Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, we provide the trusted legal guidance dog bite victims and their families need. While you focus on recovering from your injuries, our Santa Ynez dog bite attorneys get you the compensation you are entitled to. We hold dog owners accountable for negligence, which includes:

• Failing to follow leash laws at public parks and other places; 
• Failing to control their pets in restaurants, stores, office buildings, and on public transportation; 
• Failing to properly restrain pets at home, allowing them to run free in neighborhoods; 
• Failing to warn visitors to their property that a dangerous dog is on the premises.

What Are Common Types of Dog Bite Injuries In Santa Ynez?

According to the Canine Journal, more than 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States each year, with over 800,000 of these requiring emergency medical care. While there is some controversy over whether certain breeds are more aggressive than others, the fact is that even the most mild-mannered dog can bite.

Regardless of the dog’s size, serious and potentially life-threatening personal injuries can occur as a result. At Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, our Santa Ynez dog bite attorneys provide the caring support and professional legal representation victims and their families need to get compensation. Common types of dog bite injuries suffered by clients in cases we handle include:

• Deep scratches and claw marks, which can cause scarring and infections; 
• Broken bones and soft tissue injuries, due to the force of a dog jumping or while trying to fight off an attack; 
• Deep bite marks and puncture wounds, resulting in loss of limbs and damage to body organs; 
• Life-threatening infections, caused by bacteria in the dog’s saliva;
• Post-traumatic stress disorder, which is common in dog bite cases and can impact the victim’s quality of life for years after.

How Can I Get Compensation For Dog Bite Injuries In Santa Ynez?

Dogs can turn aggressive and may bite or attack for a variety of reasons. It may be a reaction to loud noises or other stressful situations, the dog may be hurt or defending their owner or property, or there may appear to be no reason at all.

In some states, there is a ‘one bite rule’. This means that the owner cannot be held liable if the dog never bit anyone before or showed no prior aggressive tendencies. This can leave victims with no legal options, but is fortunately not the case concerning dog bites in Santa Ynez. Under Section 3342 of the California Civil Code, dog owners can be held responsible for your losses, even if there were no previous incidents.

Depending on the situation, property insurance policies they have in place can help cover your expenses. At Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, our legal team aggressively negotiates on your behalf with insurance representatives to get the maximum amount in a settlement. If the dog owner is uninsured, our Santa Ynez dog bite attorneys can take them to court. Compensation available in a California dog bite lawsuit includes:

• Economic damages, which cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other tangible costs; 
• Non-economic damages, covering intangible losses, including pain, suffering, scarring, disfigurement, and lost enjoyment in life; 
• Exemplary or ‘punitive’ damages, which punish the dog owner for gross negligence. 

Reach Out And Call 1-800-GO-HARRIS To Schedule A Free Consultation

At Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, we help dog bite victims and their families get the compensation they need to recover from their injuries. As we work on a contingency basis, there are no out-of-pcoket attorney fees. Reach out and call 1-800-GO-HARRIS or contact our Santa Ynez dog bite attorneys online to schedule a free consultation today.