With over 4.5 million dog bites occurring annually across America and most of them requiring medical care, dog bites lawsuits are pretty common. Besides leading in dog bite lawsuits, California is also among the leading states in dog bite fatalities. Whether it’s you or a loved one who sustains a dog bite, dog attacks can be horrifying.

In addition to the physical injuries, a dog bite can leave you with life-long emotional scars. California law entitles most dog bite victims to compensation for their injuries and other damages. The law also allows you to seek other actions, including removing the dog from your neighborhood. 

If you are in Sacramento, CA, and you or a loved one are a dog bite victim, our Sacramento dog bite attorneys at Heidari Law Group will help you determine if you are entitled to compensation. We will also help you pursue the dog owner or the defendant for compensation.

California Dog Bite Laws

California laws impose a strict liability rule on dog owners. The rule holds a dog owner liable for damages suffered by any person bitten by their dog even where the dog has never bitten anyone else before, and the owner had no reason to believe the animal was dangerous. 

California’s strict liability rule is unlike the “one-bite rule” in other states that only holds a dog owner liable if the dog has a history of prior bites or there was reason to believe the dog is dangerous. Besides strict liability, dog bite victims can also seek to recover compensation based on the doctrine of negligence.

However, there are exceptions to the strict liability and negligence rules that make a victim ineligible for compensation, including where you were trespassing, or you provoked the dog. As per California’s self-defense laws, you may also be ineligible for compensation if the dog was protecting its owner or another person. 

Recovering Damages in a Sacramento Dog Bite

Some of the damages you can recover in a dog bite lawsuit include medical costs, lost wages and lost earning potential, damage to property, pain, and suffering. You may also recover punitive damages in some lawsuits. However, you need to prove three critical elements to recover damages, including: 

• the defendant owns the dog that attacked you
• the dog attacked you while on public property or while on private property legally, and
• your injuries are the direct result of the dog bite

Common Dog Bite Injuries

Some of the common injuries associated with dog bites in Sacramento include:

• Skin punctures, lacerations, and abrasions
• Bruises and Contusions
• Infections
• Fractures and broken bones;
• Disfigurement
• Amputations

Additionally, dog bite victims are also likely to suffer psychological and emotional trauma, including anxiety.

Contact a Sacramento Dog Bite Attorney

If you or a loved one is a victim of a dog bite, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. At Heidari Law Group, we have broad experience dealing with dog bite cases and understand how horrifying dog bites can be. Our skilled Sacramento dog bite attorneys are committed to helping you get compensation for your injuries. Call us today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about our services.

Get a Free Consultation

If you need a personal injury attorney with a history of success, good communication at all stages of your case, and who will help you manage and settle your case call Abogados Con Experiencia. We will handle your case so that you can heal and put your life back together.