Modesto Dog Bite Lawyer

Modesto Dog Bite Attorney

Dogs are popular pets in Modesto and the surrounding communities in California, but it’s important for everyone to know what happens when a dog bites and injures someone. If you or a family member recently suffered a dog bite or similar injury in an unprovoked dog attack, you likely have grounds for a personal injury claim against the dog’s owner. If you intend to pursue any type of personal injury action in Modesto, it is crucial to find legal counsel you can trust to help you navigate your case.

Helping Modesto, CA, Dog Bite Victims Recover

The Law Offices of David Davidi, APLC, has years of professional experience guiding our Modesto-area clients through some of the most challenging civil claims for damages, including those resulting from dog attacks. When you are suffering in the aftermath of a damaging and traumatic dog attack, legal counsel you can trust is an invaluable asset for your recovery efforts.

The sooner you connect with an attorney, the sooner they can begin helping you secure compensation for the losses you suffered. You have a limited time in which to file any kind of personal injury claim in California, and you must meet the statute of limitations or risk losing your ability to recover your losses. Additionally, seeking legal counsel as soon as possible helps you preserve whatever evidence you may need to firmly prove liability for the attack you experienced and prove the extent of the harm you suffered.

Proving Strict Liability for a Dog Attack in Modesto

California enforces a strict liability rule for dog owners, meaning all dog owners are entirely responsible for any harm their pets inflict on others, regardless of whether their dog has a history of aggression. The only prerequisites for strict liability to apply are:

• Legal presence of the victim at the location where the attack occurred
• Lack of provocation

This means the victim must have been legally present on private or public property when their attack occurred, and they must not have done anything to provoke the attack.

Your Modesto dog bite attorney can assist you in gathering any evidence required to prove that the attack in question fulfills the legal requirements for strict liability. Dog owners sometimes attempt to claim that victims caused their own injuries by provoking attacks, but eyewitness statements and other evidence can potentially counteract any such false claims that arise in your case. Once you have asserted strict liability, the next phase of your case is proving the scope of the damages you suffered from the attack.

Your legal team can assist you in building the foundation of your claim, which includes the evidence needed to assert strict liability and proof of the full scope of the damages you suffered. Every dog bite victim will face unique challenges as they seek compensation for the losses they’ve suffered, but every victim in this situation benefits from investing in legal counsel they can trust.

Recoverable Damages From a Dog Attack Claim in Modesto

The purpose of any personal injury claim is for the plaintiff to obtain the compensation they need to recover as fully as possible from the damages they suffered. Your Modesto dog bite attorney can help you claim compensation for the entire scope of economic damages you suffered from the attack, which may include:

• Property Damage: You can hold the defendant accountable for any property you lost in the recent dog attack, including clothing and personal belongings. Your attorney can help you calculate these losses accurately and add them to your claim.
• Medical Expenses: Dogs are capable of inflicting severe physical injuries, including broken bones, puncture wounds, lacerations, soft tissue damage, and even traumatic brain injuries if they knock victims to the ground. Your Modesto dog bite attorney can help you assess the full range of medical expenses you can include in your dog bite claim, including the cost of any future medical care you will require to reach maximum improvement from your injuries.
• Lost Income: If your injuries are severe enough that you are unable to work for an extended time, you have the right to hold the defendant accountable for the wages you are unable to earn during this period. Additionally, some dog attacks cause permanent disabilities, and if a victim cannot return to work in the future, the defendant is liable for their lost earning capacity as well.

Aside from your economic losses, you also have the right to seek compensation for the pain and suffering you experienced, and California does not limit pain and suffering compensation in dog attack claims. Any dog attack can be traumatic, and severe injuries that cause lasting damage can impose long-term or permanent complications on the victim. They may suffer from mental health conditions like anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, and they may also face diminished ability to work due to their physical health complications.

Your Modesto dog bite attorney might seek a large lump sum of pain and suffering compensation if your dog attack resulted in any measure of permanent harm. Alternatively, if you are expected to fully recover from your injuries, they might instead seek a settlement based on the number of days it takes you to reach maximum medical improvement.

An experienced Modesto dog bite attorney can help their client determine a suitable amount of compensation for their losses based on the severity of their damages. You could be entitled to recover far more than you initially anticipated if you hire the right legal team to represent you. The Law Offices of David Davidi, APLC, has cultivated a professional reputation for excellence in personal injury representation thanks to our commitment to compassionate and client-focused legal counsel. Whatever your case entails, you can rest assured that our firm can provide the ongoing support you need and guide you to the optimal outcome of your recovery efforts.

FAQs About Modesto, CA Animal Bite Injury Law

How Much Is a Dog Bite Claim Worth in California?

The owner of the dog that attacked you is liable for any damages you suffered from the attack. These may include the cost of your medical treatment, lost income for the time you could not work during your recovery, and property damage. You can also hold them accountable for the pain and suffering you endured. Your Modesto dog bite attorney can help you calculate the total potential value of your claim.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in California?

There is a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury cases in California. This means a plaintiff has two years from the date of their injury to file a civil claim against the defendant who caused the injury. Do not make the mistake of assuming this is more than enough time to file your case. Plaintiffs increase their chances of success with their civil claims when they seek legal counsel as soon as possible after their injuries occur.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer for a Dog Bite Claim in Modesto?

It is technically possible to file your own civil claim against a dog owner in California, but you would face several legal challenges in doing so. You could make procedural mistakes with your case or overlook available channels of recovery, ultimately jeopardizing your ability to recover as fully as possible from the attack. Hiring legal counsel you can trust helps eliminate these risks and preserves your ability to recover compensation from the defendant in a timely manner.

What Happens to the Dog After It Bites Someone in California?

California law requires the dog to be quarantined by Animal Control and for the dog to undergo a veterinary examination to check for rabies infection. Typically, the dog is released back to its owner after the completion of this process. However, if the court determines that the dog is unreasonably dangerous and/or poses a significant public health risk, or if the dog has a history of multiple serious unprovoked attacks resulting in injuries, they may order the dog to be destroyed.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Modesto Dog Attack Attorney?

You do not need to worry about paying more in legal fees than you can recover for your damages when you choose the Law Offices of David Davidi, APLC, to represent your dog bite case. We take our fees on a contingency basis, meaning you will only pay a fee once we win your case. Additionally, the fee we take is a percentage of your total case award, and you keep the rest. If our team cannot secure compensation on your behalf for any reason, you pay nothing.

Contact the Law Offices of David Davidi, APLC

The Law Offices of David Davidi, APLC, has a strong record of successful personal injury claims in Modesto, including those arising from dog attacks. We know how traumatic and damaging these incidents can be for victims and their families, and we can help our clients recover as fully as possible.

If you find yourself in the aftermath of a motor vehicle accident, whether it’s a car accident, truck accident, or motorcycle accident, our attorneys possess the expertise to help you through the legal intricacies. We also specialize in handling cases related to rideshare accidents, pedestrian accidents, slip and falls, bicycle accidents, dog bites, and wrongful death.

If you need legal counsel you can trust to assist you in recovering from your recent dog bite injury, contact us today and schedule your consultation with a Modesto dog bite attorney.