Huntington Beach Dog Bite Attorney
If you've been seriously injured in an animal attack our Huntington Beach Dog Bite Lawyers may be able to help you get the compensation you need for your medical care and injury costs. We've been representing dog attack victims since 1978 and have held a 96% success rate of winning settlements.
The Orange County dog bite attorneys of Bisnar Chase believe in holding a dog owner strictly liable for your pain and suffering.
Contact the law offices of Bisnar Chase at 949-203-3814 to receive a free consultation with a top Huntington Beach dog bite legal expert.
Statistics Show that Dog Bite Cases Have Increased in Southern California
According to the Wilderness Medical Society, approximately 4.7 million people experienced dog bites just in one year. In a span of 26 years, exactly 279 human fatalities resulted from dog attacks. Animals attack or dog bite fatalities occur for a variety of reasons which can stem from fear, stress or physical pain.
The following statistics demonstrate dog bite attacks and fatalities in the United States.
- The number of dog bite attacks requiring medical attention has increased 15 times faster than the increase in dog ownership.
- There are more than 850,000 dog bites requiring medical attention in the U.S. yearly.
- In a twelve-month period, at least 25 people in the U.S. have died from dog attacks, 20 of whom were children.
- Letter carriers suffer about 3,000 dog bites annually as they deliver the mail.
Dog bite victims can be rushed to the emergency room with serious injuries. In some instances, elders or children who are mauled in an attack have lost their lives.
Who is held responsible for the expenses, the pain and suffering that follow the incident? As a pet owner, you have a duty to care for your dog and also make sure the people around your dog are safe. Dog owners who fail to protect people against their animals are labeled as negligent.
California Civil Code section 3342 enforces a "strict liability" rule that state "The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness."
People who were attacked by a dog while committing a crime are an exception to this law. For example, if a trespasser was bitten by a dog that was performing police duties then the statute would not apply to this animal attack.
Contact an Orange County dog bite attorney to learn more on your rights as a victim and how much you can earn on your dog bite injury compensation amount.
5 Common Dog Bite Injuries in Huntington Beach, Ca
An estimated amount of 89.7 million people in the United States own a dog. Not all dog owners socialize their pets at an early age though. Due to the lack of socialization, many dogs become territorial and attack leading many to be admitted to the emergency room. Your personal injury attorney in Huntington Beach can offer you the best legal advice you will require after your hospital visit.
Dog bites can leave many victims with injuries that include:
- Disfigurement: The most common demographic that suffers from dog bites are children. A child's size and weight can make them vulnerable to dog attacks and some can even lose their lives. People who are mauled by large dogs can face extensive scarring to the face and body. Common areas where people are bitten are the cheek, eyes and lips.
- Infections: If a dog owner has not taken steps to make sure their dog is vaccinated this can increase the risk of a dog contracting a disease. The most common disease obtained from dog bites is rabies. Many do not know that they can contract other infections that can not only cause discomfort but can also lead to the loss of limbs. Infections that can lead to serious injuries include Capnocytophaga and Staph infections. The type of symptoms that are common with these type of infections ranges from fever or flu-like symptoms or puss-filled blisters.
- Nerve damage: A dog biting a very vital area of the body can lead to a lifetime of repercussions for a dog attack victim. Dog attack victims can be left with the loss of movement in a limb or can even lose function in the entire lower half of their body. There are three forms of nerve damage a victim can experience from an attack which consist of Axonotmesis, Neurapraxia and Neurotmesis. Neurotmesis is the most severe nerve damage that a person can experience from an animal attack because the injury may never heal.
- Eye injuries: The eyes are the most fragile and vulnerable parts of the face. If harmed or ripped during the attack even trying to repair the eye can be challenging. In catastrophic cases, the injury victim can become blind. A dog's bite can tear puncture the eye leaving a person with a dislocated lens or worse; an eye can be completely teared out from the socket.
- Psychological trauma: The types of psychological effects that a dog bite victim can experience can be Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety or even extreme fear of dogs for the rest of their life. Many children may suffer from nightmares or bed wetting as a result of the attack. Professional aid from a counselor or psychologist can possibly help with the healing process. When you file a dog bite claim you can claim emotional distress for you or your child's medical expenses.
“The reason why dog attack claims are higher than and other kinds of accidents is because the nature of the wound a dog bite wound is jagged it's full of germs, it leaves nasty scarring and many bites are to the face especially children and so you have a great deal of scarring and you wind up having plastic surgery bills.” – Former personal injury attorney, John Bisnar
Who Can Prove You Have Been Injured in a Huntington Beach Dog Bite Incident?
There are three main burdens of proof that you as the plaintiff will need to have. First, that the dog bit you. Second, that you were lawfully on the premises when you were bitten. Third, that the bite caused your injuries. The dog owner is morally and financially responsible for their dog's actions and you deserve just compensation.
The Huntington Beach Dog Bite Lawyers of Bisnar Chase operate under a contingency fee basis meaning that if we do not win your case you do not have to pay.
There are several other questions you may have regarding dog bites in Huntington Beach, so please give us a call at 949-203-3814 to discuss your case and receive a free consultation.
We're here to help.
