Ventura Dog Bite Lawyers

If you or your child were attacked by a dog and injured, contact our dog bite attorneys in Ventura right away. At Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, we are highly experienced in handling animal attack and dog bite claims. We will fight for you and your loved one to receive fair compensation for your injuries. After a dog bite, we recommend you get medical help right away. Even if you believe your injuries are minor, you should have a physician clean the wounds. You may need a rabies booster or antibiotics if you face a high risk of infection. Once you have received appropriate medical attention and are home or admitted to the hospital, your next step should be to contact an experienced Ventura dog bite lawyer. By hiring an attorney, you have someone who knows California law regarding dog bites and understands how to pursue maximum compensation for your injuries. At Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, we are proud of winning more than $300 million in settlements and verdicts for over 5,000 clients. To talk with us about what your claim may be worth and how to pursue compensation, call us at 1-800-GO-HARRIS.

Common Dog Bite Injuries

At Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, we routinely handle dog bite claims in Ventura that involve:

• Severe lacerations
• Puncture wounds
• Soft tissue injuries
• Facial and eye injuries
• Broken bones
• Nerve damage
• Infections
• Rabies
• Emotional trauma

Dog injuries on their own can be severe enough. Injuries sustained on the neck and face often require plastic surgeons to strive for as little scarring as possible. In severe cases, dog attacks can lead to disfigurement. Dog bites also lead to various complications, like rabies, tetanus, or bacterial infections. We have handled many cases in which the dog’s saliva causes the victim to suffer from a serious bacterial infection, including MRSA (antibiotic-resistant infections). When a strange dog attacks you, you have no way of knowing what that dog carries. Because of the risk of infection, it is important to see a physician as soon as possible after a dog bite.

California Makes Dog Owner’s Strictly Liable for Dog Bite Injuries

Under California Civil Code Section 3342, dog owners are liable for damages suffered by anyone bitten by their dog in a public place, or when the victim is lawfully on property private, regardless of the dog’s previous viciousness or whether the owner knew about the dog’s prior viciousness. This type of law is known as strict liability. The dog owner is strictly liable for a victim’s injuries as long as the victim was not trespassing or instigated the attack. The dog owner can use the fact of your trespass or antagonizing the dog as a full or partial defense. This is not a “one bite rule.” Whether or not the dog has ever attacked or bitten someone before does not matter.

Dog Bite Claims Based on Negligence

Based on California law. You can hold a dog owner automatically liable for your injuries in most cases. However, you also may be able to hold the dog owner or another party responsible based on negligence. When someone is in charge of the dog, they are reasonable for keeping that dog under control. This includes keeping a dog confined to their property or on a leash while in public. It also means keeping the dog under control in designated off-leash areas. If you or your child were attacked and hurt because someone failed to contain and control the dog, then you may have a claim based on negligence. It is important to talk with an experienced Ventura dog bite lawyer about strict liability and negligence-based claims.

Dog Bite Compensation

When you can establish that the dog owner is strictly liable or another person was negligent and responsible for your injuries, then you can demand compensation from the liable party. Our Ventura dog bite attorneys are here to help you win the maximum compensation for your:

• Medical Costs
• Lost Income
• Property Damage
• Out-of-Pocket Expenses
• Pain and Suffering
• Emotional Distress
• Disfigurement
• Physical Limitations
• Reduced Quality of Life
• Reduced Earning Potential

Depending on the circumstances, we may hire one or more experts to support your claim for damages. We may use an economic or vocational expert to prove how the resulting disfigurement or disability has hurt your financial future. Also, if your child suffered serious dog bite injuries and is now disfigured or disabled, we will pursue significant damages. We will account for how this impacts the rest of your child’s life.

Contact Harris Personal Injury Lawyers Right Away

If you or a loved one were bitten by a dog, we recommend you call us at 1-800-GO-HARRIS or submit your information through our online form. We want to meet with you right away to explain your options and get started on your claim.