Santa Ana Dog Bite Lawyer

Santa Ana Dog Bite Attorney

Many people in Santa Ana enjoy spending time with dogs at the Centennial Park dog park, at their friends’ homes, or when they encounter neighborhood dogs out for walks with their owners. However, dog attacks can happen unexpectedly, even if a dog has no known history of past aggression. If you have been injured by someone else’s dog, it’s important to speak with a Santa Ana dog bite lawyer at your first opportunity to discuss your legal options.

Representing Victims of Dog Attacks in Santa Ana, CA

The attorneys at Duque & Price have been helping injured clients recover in Santa Ana and surrounding areas for many years, and we have earned a strong reputation as a leading choice for personal injury counsel in Santa Ana due to our commitment to client-focused legal counsel. If you have been hurt by someone else’s dog, we can help you hold them accountable for your damages under California’s dog bite statutes.

The aftermath of your experience can be confusing and traumatic. You may have suffered serious injuries that leave you unable to go back to work, and you are likely to have many questions about your legal options in this difficult situation. The right attorney can be an invaluable asset to your recovery, and we are confident we can guide you to a positive conclusion to your case.

Understanding California Dog Bite Laws

Dog attacks are more common and more damaging than many people realize. Every day, there are about 1,000 emergency room visits for dog bite injuries in the United States, and each year, roughly 12,480 United States citizens are hospitalized for these injuries. A dog attack can not only entail biting injuries, such as lacerations and puncture wounds, but also dislocated or broken bones, traumatic brain injuries from hitting the ground, and internal organ damage.

Any dog can attack and cause serious injuries, but there are some breeds that are statistically more dangerous than others. For example, between 2005 and 2019, there were 523 fatal dog attacks recorded in the United States, and pit bulls and rottweilers accounted for 76% of these deaths. However, pit bulls cause fatal injuries at seven times the rate of rottweilers and cause more fatal injuries each year than all other dog breeds combined.

In California, the strict liability rule applies for dog attacks, meaning a dog owner is fully responsible for any damages their pet causes to another person, regardless of whether their dog has any history of previous attacks. Dog owners are expected to handle their dogs responsibly and take reasonable steps to ensure their dogs will not injure anyone. If they fail in this responsibility or are negligent in handling the dog, they are liable for resulting injuries.

A Santa Ana dog bite lawyer can help their client establish strict liability for a dog attack. The dog owner may claim that the victim provoked the attack in some way, and the victim’s attorney will need to dispute these allegations to preserve their client’s right to claim compensation. When you choose Duque & Price to represent you in this type of case, trust our team to fight for maximum compensation for you.

Recovering Compensation for a Dog Attack in Santa Ana

After your attorney has helped you establish strict liability or negligence in your dog bite case, you can proceed with claiming compensation for your damages. It’s possible for the injured victim to claim compensation for any economic losses they suffered in the incident, including: 

• Medical expenses. Dog attacks can easily result in devastating injuries, and the injured victim has the right to claim compensation for the cost of all the medical care they need to reach maximum medical improvement from their injuries. Your attorney can help you gather any documentation you will need to prove the full scope of your claimable medical expenses, including the cost of necessary ongoing treatments.
• Lost wages. You may be unable to go back to work following your dog attack, and if so, you have the right to claim compensation for the income you are unable to earn. Your attorney can help you calculate these losses and add them as economic damages to your case.
• Lost earning power. If your dog attack results in any type of permanent disability, you may be unable to return to work in the future. If so, your attorney can help you claim compensation for the future income you otherwise would have been able to earn.
• Property damage. If the incident resulted in any damage to your personal property, the defendant is liable for these losses.

In addition to your economic damages, you also have the right to claim compensation for the pain and emotional suffering you experienced. Dog attacks can not only result in painful injuries, but they are also psychologically traumatic experiences. A skilled Santa Ana dog bite lawyer can help you maximize the compensation you obtain for your pain and emotional suffering.

It is also possible for other variables to influence the amount of compensation you recover. For example, if the dog that attacked you was known to be dangerous and the dog’s owner failed to follow previously established requirements assigned to them, they could face fines and other penalties, and it is also possible for them to be forced to pay punitive damages alongside the other compensation they owe to the plaintiff.

Ultimately, a dog attack can be a tremendously damaging experience, and while California’s strict liability rule may appear to make your situation easier, the reality is that winning your case and maximizing your compensation will be more difficult than you may expect. It’s crucial to hire a dog bite lawyer with proven experience to represent you if you want to have the greatest chance of not only winning your case but also maximizing your recovery.

The attorneys at Duque & Price know how to help you navigate the difficult legal proceedings likely to follow your dog attack in Santa Ana. You have limited time to pursue compensation for your damages, and we can help. Reach out to our firm as soon as possible to learn more about the legal services we offer and how we can help with your recovery.

FAQs

What Are Defenses in a Dog Bite Case in California?

The most common defenses in dog bite cases in California are provocation and trespassing. In order for the strict liability statute to apply, the victim of the dog attack must not have provoked the dog, and the victim must have been legally present at the location where the attack occurred. Your Santa Ana dog bite lawyer can help you establish strict liability for your recent dog attack.

How Much Recompense Can I Claim in a Dog Bite Case?

The amount of compensation you can claim in a dog bite case depends on the severity of the injuries you suffered. If you can prove that a dog owner is strictly liable for the incident, it is possible to seek compensation for any economic and non-economic losses you suffered from the incident. Your Santa Ana dog bite attorney can accurately calculate the full scope of damages you are legally eligible to claim from the defendant.

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

After a dog bites someone in California, animal health authorities may require that the dog be quarantined to check it for rabies or other infectious diseases. The dog is usually returned to the owner after this quarantine, and the owner will need to follow strict rules to prevent more attacks in the future. If the dog is deemed a serious threat to public health and safety, the court could order that the dog be put down.

What Are the Penalties for the Dog Owner After a Dog Bite in Santa Ana?

There could be penalties for the dog owner after a dog bite in Santa Ana, based on the details of the case. For example, if the dog was known to be dangerous and the owner failed to follow previously established requirements to prevent the dog from attacking anyone again, they could face fines or even jail time. Your Santa Ana dog bite lawyer can advise you of any such details and how they might influence your case.

What Will It Cost Me to Hire a Dog Bite Lawyer in Santa Ana?

The cost to hire a dog bite lawyer in Santa Ana depends on the billing policy of the attorney you choose to represent you. The attorneys at Duque & Price accept personal injury cases on contingency, so we only charge our clients a fee after we win their case. Our contingency fee is a percentage of the compensation we recover from the client, but if we are unable to obtain compensation for them for any reason, the client pays no fee.

Contact Our Santa Ana Dog Bite Attorneys

The team at Duque & Price has helped many past clients recover from all types of personal injuries in Santa Ana and the surrounding areas of California, and we are ready to put this experience to work in your case.

You have limited time to pursue accountability for your damages, and the right legal representative is an invaluable asset to have in this situation. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Santa Ana dog bite lawyer and learn how we can help.

Santa Ana, CA Dog Bite Resources

• Average Dog Bite Settlement Amounts in California