Downey Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog Bite Injury Attorney in Downey, CA 

If you live in Downey and you’ve been bitten by a dog, the dog’s owner is legally responsible for everything the dog does, according to California law. Therefore, even if this was the dog’s first time ever biting someone, the owner will still have to pay for the damages. This is known as strict liability.

Many Californians are dog owners, whether it’s for security or companionship. However, this also means there is potential for more dog bites. Many individuals want dogs as a form of protection, and this means these certain dogs may attack people more frequently. If you’ve suffered injuries from a dog bite, reach out to us at Setareh Law today.

What Should You Do If a Dog Attacks or Bites? 

Unfortunately, both dog attacks and bites are common. Each year, around 850,000 individuals require medical care because of dog bites. Even if the dog is otherwise friendly, there is still the potential that it can turn aggressive if they’re scared, startled, or hurt. It’s essential that you take certain steps to protect your rights in the aftermath of a dog bite. Setareh Law’s dog bite attorneys recommend doing the following after a dog bite accident:

• Contact law enforcement immediately
• Take note of which way the dog went following the attack
• Get contact information of any witnesses you notice at the scene
• Get a description of both the dog and its owner
• Get medical attention right after the attack

In the days that follow, we encourage you to contact our law firm and speak to one of our experienced lawyers who can help assist you with your next steps. While you are healing from your injuries, we’ll be focusing on doing our absolute best to get you the compensation you deserve.

Compensation for Your Dog Bite Injury 

Often, it doesn’t matter how the dog bit you or what its reason was for doing it – unless the owner of the dog can prove that you were trying to provoke the dog in any way or that you were trespassing on their property at the time of the bite, they will be required to compensate you for your injuries. Dog bite case damages depend on various things, including:

• The location of your injuries
• The emotional trauma you suffered
• How many surgeries have you required
• Whether you were permanently disfigured

It comes as a surprise to many individuals to learn that children often suffer dog bites more than adults in the U.S. Often, dogs are frightened by children or they are trying to protect their territory. Attacks on children often involve injuries to their neck and head since they’re often at the same level as the dog’s head. It’s these types of bites that cause the most serious injuries.

There’s a wide range of payouts for injuries sustained by dog bites, and oftentimes, that’s because insurance companies are attempting to settle cases at payouts they believe people will accept. Many individuals end up leaving a lot of money on the table when they don’t have an experienced attorney by their side to handle their Downey dog bite case. At Setareh Law, our job is to ensure that you don’t settle your dog bit case for less than it’s worth. We’ll negotiate with the insurance company to ensure you get the most reasonable settlement offer possible. 

Why Should You Retain a Dog Bite Lawyer For Your Case? 

It’s important that you seriously consider hiring a dog bite lawyer, as the defendant may attempt to claim defenses like:

• You provoked the dog
• You were trespassing
• The dog was carrying out police or military orders
• The dog was protecting its owner

If these types of defenses should arise, having a qualified dog bite lawyer on your side to help you build a strong case is important. Even if you weren’t actually bitten by the dog, but still injured, you’ll want to consult with an attorney to pursue a personal injury case. Strict liability law only applies to dog bites, therefore if you’re injured in another way, you’ll need to prove negligence. Negligence can be proved in three steps:

• You need to show that the owner of the dog owed you a duty of care
• You need to show that they breached this duty of care
• You need to show that this breach directly caused your injuries

For you to have the best chance of successfully winning either a dog bite case or a personal injury case, you need an experienced attorney by your side.

Call Setareh Law to Speak to One of Our Downey Dog Bite Lawyers 

Pursuing compensation for a dog bite case on your own can be daunting. Our team here at Setareh Law can help fight for your rights and will handle all the tasks related to getting you the compensation you deserve on your behalf.

You can reach out to schedule your free consultation for your potential Downey dog bite case by calling (310) 659-1826 or by filling out our online form on our website. Our Spanish-speaking lawyers are ready to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

Setareh Law, APLC