Long Beach Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog Bite Attorney in Long Beach, CA

Dogs are popular pets in Long Beach and surrounding areas of California, but when they unexpectedly attack, they can cause tremendous damage. If you were recently bitten by someone else’s dog, you may be eligible to file a personal injury case against the dog’s owner. A Long Beach dog bite lawyer at Duque & Price can help you win your case.

Experienced Legal Counsel for Dog-Bite Cases in Long Beach, CA

There are many dog parks in the Long Beach area, including Bixby Dog Park, Recreation Dog Park, and Signal Hill Dog Park. You might encounter dogs walking with their owners in your neighborhood or while visiting friends and family in their homes. While most people regularly have positive interactions with dogs, it is possible for them to attack and cause severe injuries unexpectedly.

Every day in the United States, about 1,000 people require treatment in emergency rooms for dog attack-related injuries. Nearly 13,000 people are hospitalized for dog-bite injuries each year. It’s possible for attacks to result in injuries from biting, but it is also possible for a victim to be knocked to the ground, and they can suffer severe injuries when this happens.

The attorneys at Duque & Price have extensive experience handling a wide range of personal injury cases in Long Beach and the surrounding areas of California, including dog-bite claims. If you believe you have grounds for legal recourse against a dog owner, our team is ready to help you build your personal injury case and pursue compensation for your damages.

Trust our team to provide several valuable legal services throughout all stages of your personal injury proceedings in Long Beach:

• We can explain California’s strict liability rule for dog attacks and gather any evidence and documentation you may need to firmly establish liability for your damages.
• Trust us to accurately calculate the full range of economic and non-economic damages you are eligible to claim from the defendant. Our goal in every personal injury case is maximum client recovery.
• We can help you settle your case if possible, but we are fully prepared to represent you in litigation if necessary.

You have a limited time to file any type of personal injury case in California. If you do not meet the statute of limitations, you will miss your chance to recover compensation from the defendant, so it is crucial that you reach out to a Long Beach dog-bite lawyer at Duque & Price at your first opportunity after the incident.

Understanding California’s Strict Liability Rule for Dog Attacks

In California, the strict liability rule applies to dog attacks. This means that if a dog bites someone, the owner is strictly liable for any resulting damages, regardless of whether the dog has any history of aggression or previous attacks. This law intends to ensure dog owners are attentive and responsible in handling their pets.

The average dog-bite settlement amount in California varies, but victims can often recover substantial compensation depending on the severity of their injuries.

Strict liability applies as long as the victim did not provoke the attack, and they were legally present at the location of the attack. For example, if someone breaks into someone else’s house and the homeowner’s dog attacks them, strict liability will not apply as the intruder was not legally present on the property.

Your Long Beach dog-bite lawyer at Duque & Price can gather any evidence needed to establish liability for the dog attack you experienced, and we can accurately calculate the full scope of economic and non-economic damages you are eligible to claim from the defendant.

Recovering Compensation for Your Dog-Bite in Long Beach

Under California’s personal injury laws, it is possible for an injured plaintiff to seek compensation for economic damages like medical expenses, lost wages, and future economic losses like ongoing medical treatment costs and lost earning power if they suffered a permanently disabling injury. They also have the right to claim pain and suffering compensation that reflects the severity of their experience.

After you have been attacked by someone else’s dog, you should seek medical attention right away and then hire a dog-bite lawyer at your first opportunity. Your attorney can help you gather any evidence necessary to establish liability for the incident.

Various types of evidence could come into play in this type of personal injury case. If there were any witnesses to the incident, their testimony could be crucial. Your attorney may also look for any records showing that the dog has previously injured someone, and they can also gather the medical records necessary to show the full scope of the damages you suffered.

You have limited time to build and file your personal injury case in Long Beach, so it is crucial that you hire a dog-bite lawyer right away. This will ensure your attorney has time to gather the evidence needed to establish liability and that they will be adequately prepared to address any unexpected complications that arise in your case.

It’s possible that a dog owner could dispute strict liability, claiming that you were trespassing or that you provoked the attack in some way. The two main defenses a dog owner could use against strict liability would be the victim’s unlawful presence on private property and/or provocation. You must prove you were legally present wherever the attack occurred and that you did not provoke the attack in order for strict liability to apply.

Hiring an experienced Long Beach dog-bite lawyer can not only ensure the greatest chance of winning your case, but you will also be more likely to maximize your recovery with their assistance. Your attorney can also identify any variables that could influence your total compensation. For example, if the defendant owned a dangerous dog and failed to comply with restrictions that led to your injury, they could be forced to pay punitive damages.

What to Expect in Your Long Beach Dog-Bite Case

Once you have received medical treatment for your injuries and consulted a Long Beach dog-bite lawyer, they can help you build your case. Your attorney can help you establish strict liability or prove negligence, calculate the total damages you are eligible to claim, and then prepare you for the legal proceedings ahead of you.

Most personal injury cases filed in California end in pretrial settlement. This is an effective way to resolve a personal injury case quickly, as long as the plaintiff and the defendant are both willing to compromise. The attorneys at Duque & Price prepare all cases for trial, ensuring we have the strongest possible negotiating position for our client and that we are prepared to litigate for them if necessary.

Duque & Price has the skills and experience you need on your side to navigate your dog-bite case efficiently. If you are ready to speak with an experienced Long Beach dog-bite lawyer about your case, reach out to our firm right away so we can explain the steps you will need to take to recover maximum compensation for your damages.

FAQs

Why Should I Hire a Long Beach Dog-Bite Lawyer?

You should hire a Long Beach dog-bite lawyer to increase your chances of success with your case. Even if California’s strict liability rule seems straightforward enough in your case, you may encounter various legal challenges that you will not know how to resolve on your own. You have a better chance of success with your personal injury case and a greater chance of maximizing your compensation if you have an experienced attorney representing you.

How Much Compensation Can I Claim for a Dog Bite in Long Beach?

The amount of compensation you can claim for a dog bite in Long Beach largely depends on the nature and severity of the injuries you suffered. It’s possible that you could recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and the pain and suffering you experienced. The attorneys at Duque & Price are ready to work diligently to help you maximize your case award.

How Long Does It Take to Resolve a Dog-Bite Case in Long Beach?

The time it could take to resolve a dog-bite case in Long Beach will depend on the severity of your damages, whether you have experienced legal counsel on your side, and whether liability for the incident is contested. It could take anywhere from several weeks to several months for your case to reach a conclusion.

Will Hiring a Lawyer Increase My Compensation?

Hiring a lawyer is likely to increase your compensation, as they will know how to accurately calculate your total economic damages and determine appropriate pain and suffering compensation to seek from the defendant. Even after accounting for the cost of hiring your lawyer, you are likely to secure far more compensation with their help than you would likely be able to obtain if you tried to handle your case by yourself.

What Are Attorneys’ Fees for a Long Beach Dog-Bite Lawyer?

Attorneys’ fees for a Long Beach dog-bite lawyer are a percentage of the total compensation you recover from the defendant if you choose Duque & Price to represent you. We accept personal injury cases on contingency, meaning our client will only be charged a fee after we have won their case. There are no upfront attorneys’ fees from our firm, and you pay nothing if we are unable to secure compensation for you for any reason.

Contact Long Beach Dog-Bite Lawyer Today

Duque & Price has successfully resolved many dog-bite cases in Long Beach and the surrounding areas of California, and we are ready to leverage this experience in your upcoming case. If you believe you have grounds for legal recourse following a dog bite, contact our team right away to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Long Beach dog-bite lawyer.