Ontario Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog Bites, Attacks and Maulings Attorney in Ontario, CA

Being bitten by someone’s dog can have traumatic effects on victims. If you’ve suffered because of a pet owner’s negligence, you deserve to consult with an Ontario dog bite lawyer to understand your legal rights and full options under California law.

Work With an Ontario Dog Bite Attorney to Represent Your Legal Rights

Duque & Price has been representing injured California residents since 2006. We value helping our clients feel in control of their legal case after experiencing destabilization and trauma. Our attorneys offer transparent, honest legal advice to all new clients, allowing them to take the reins and decide what they want for their case. When you work with Duque & Price, you’re working with a team that is available for you around the clock.

Compensation You Can Request After a Dog Bite

In 2023, there were an estimated 20,237 dog-owning households in Ontario. Every year in the United States, approximately 4.5 million people are bitten by a dog. In 2022, in California, there were 48,596 trips to the emergency room for a dog bite. After a dog attack, a victim’s medical bills can skyrocket quickly.

The amount of compensation you can recover in your personal injury case against the dog’s owner depends on liability, the severity of your injuries, and the extent of your financial and non-financial losses. You can request compensation for:

• Medical bills, including doctor and hospital visits, surgeries, medications, medical supplies, mobility aid devices, in-home care, physical therapy, and mental health counseling. This compensation can help you recover past, present, and future medical-related losses.
• Lost income due to not being able to work because of your injuries
• Damage to your personal belongings during the attack, such as your clothing, headphones, or cell phone
• Pain and suffering
• Disability
• Dogs tend to attack exposed limbs and faces, especially on younger victims. Having to see a physical reminder of your attack can be extremely traumatic.
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Your attorney can help calculate a realistic amount of damages that can be requested in your dog bite claim. Who pays the compensation can depend on who was at fault. This can include multiple parties, such as:

• The dog’s owner
• A dog product manufacturer, in cases where the dog slips free from a leash or collar
• The owner of an apartment complex where a bite happens in a common space, in cases where they knew the dog had a history of aggression
• The owner of a home, who was dog-sitting, failed to warn visitors of the dog’s aggressive nature
• A dog walker or pet sitter
• A business, such as a groomer, a veterinarian’s office, or a dog daycare center
• Animal shelters and rescue organizations

California Dog Bite Laws: Punitive Damages

Depending on what happened during the attack, you may be able to request punitive damages from the responsible party. For example, if a dog owner lets their dog walk off-leash on public property, they are breaking the laws set by San Bernardino County and may have to pay punitive damages if their dog attacks and bites someone.

Deadline to File Your Dog Bite Case

Before filing, it’s important to hire a dog bite lawyer to help explain what to expect during the entirety of your case. They are able to make sure you file within the proper deadlines and don’t miss any necessary paperwork.

In California, victims of dog bites generally have two years from the date of the attack to file their legal case. Dog bite cases in Ontario are typically filed at the Civil Division of the San Bernardino District, located at 247 West Third Street in San Bernardino.

While this timeline may seem long, you want to file as early as possible to help increase the chances of your desired outcome. Relevant evidence tends to fade quickly after personal injury incidents, such as witness memories and surveillance footage of the attack, taping over itself after a short period of time.

FAQs

How Do Courts in California Determine Fault in a Dog Bite Case?

Courts in California determine fault in a dog bite case by assigning everyone involved a percentage of fault. Even if the victim is found to be 99% at fault for the incident, they can still recover any compensation. Any compensation awarded to them is reduced by their personal fault. For example, if you’re found to be 30% at fault for provoking the dog, and you’re awarded $100,000, you would only receive $70,000.

What Is Strict Liability in a Dog Bite Case?

In a California dog bite case, state laws impose strict liability on dog owners if the attack happened in public or if the victim was lawfully on private property. All you need to do is show the court that you got bitten by the dog, and that the responsible party was the dog’s owner or the person in charge of the dog at the time of the attack, such as a dog walker.

What Happens if I Am Bitten by a Dog While on Private Property?

You can still pursue compensation even if you were bitten by a dog while on private property.  The dog’s owner is in charge of paying compensation during a dog bite case, even if they weren’t around at the time of the attack. Trespassers who were bitten by a dog can still pursue a legal case, but it may be harder to succeed.

Does California Have a “One Bite” Law?

California does not have a “one bite” law, unlike many other states in the United States. A “one bite” law is often applied when a dog owner knows that their pet has a history of aggression and violence. If a dog has no history of attacking, they typically can’t have a legal case filed against them. Luckily, California doesn’t impose this law, meaning you can file your legal claim against the dog owner even if it’s the dog’s first attack.

Hire a Dog Bite Lawyer From Duque & Price

The attorneys at Duque & Price are here to listen to the full details of your situation. Reach out to one of our locations today to schedule a confidential consultation with our team. We’re honored to serve residents of Orange County, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and surrounding Southern California cities.