If you, your child or another loved one has been attacked by a dog, you have the right to pursue compensation. California law is very clear in these matters. When a dog bites or attacks someone – regardless of what may have happened that led up to the attack and regardless of the dog’s breed or history – the dog owner is responsible. However, you should not expect the insurance company to help you. Insurance companies are motivated to pay as little as possible.
We will fight to get them the insurance company to pay what is fair. We handle all dog bite cases with an understanding of what is at stake and a deep sense of commitment to the people I serve. Talk to our office about your case as soon as you can. There is no financial obligation. You pay no fee for our services unless we recover money for you.
We encourage you to take the following steps after a dog attack:
- Find out who owns the dog and get the owner’s contact information
- Get contact information from any witnesses
- Report the accident to police or animal control
- Take photographs of your injuries
- Get medical attention
The insurance company may ask you to provide a recorded statement. Do not provide one. Do not make statements about your injuries or have any discussion about fault. These statements could be used against you. We encourage you to talk to our office first.
Mounting medical bills, lost paychecks and other costs can make the idea of a fast settlement sound very enticing. Insurance companies take advantage of the victim’s need by offering a quick dog bite settlement that may seem fair at first, but it does not end up covering everything. We want to make certain that you receive compensation that covers all costs – past, present and future. In dog bite cases, we never accept any compensation until the wounds have been looked at by a cosmetic surgeon. This is particularly important when a child is the victim, because the recommended cosmetic surgery to repair facial injuries and other scarring may not be able to be conducted for several years. If the injury requires such a procedure, we will do everything we can to make certain you get the compensation to cover it.
