800,000 people a year head to the emergency room each year because of dog bites. In addition to these unlucky victims, thousands of others go to their own doctors for bites or for injuries related to dog encounters (primarily falls). When a dog has bitten you, the owner is held responsible for the injuries you’ve incurred; learning what to expect can help you determine your next steps.
Compensation for Redlands Dog Bite Injuries
You should seek out a lawyer after you’ve been bitten, because there are many factors that go into determining compensation, including:
- Medical bills: the cost of treatment, restoration and rehabilitation, including physical and other therapies if needed.
- Pain and suffering: Dog bites can take a long time to heal and are painful.
- Lost wages: That long recovery period may mean you can’t go back to work, or can’t perform your specific job, leading to loss of income.
- Property damage: Did the dog damage your property, like a bicycle or watch? That could be included as well.
- Punitive damages: Was the owner particularly negligent – either setting the dog loose or knowingly allowing it around others, despite a past history of biting?
Dog Bites and Liability
The other side will work hard to show you share some liability or blame for your bite. Owners are generally held responsible for their dogs’ actions in Redlands. Some exceptions include victims that were trespassing on the dog’s own property; someone climbing over a fence to access a yard who is then bitten by the resident dog will not have much of a case.
Someone who was bitten after taunting or harming the animal in question would also be liable for their own actions – if the dog is protecting itself or it’s owner’s home, then the owner will not likely be liable.
Owners are liable if their dogs break through a fence, run out the door or are simply neglected and allowed to run around loose. An owner who knowingly takes a dog that bites to a park or other public place would also likely be considered responsible for the damage caused by the animal.
What to do After a Dog Bite
It is essential to seek out prompt medical attention after you have been bitten, even if the injury does not seem severe. Dog bits can cause lasting damage to skin and muscles, and if left untreated, can become horribly infected.
Your medical records also help document your case and ensure you receive all you are legally entitled to after you’ve been bitten. The best way to get help for your bite is to contact a dog bite lawyer right away.
Contact us to learn more about your options and to make sure you can recover financially and physically after a traumatic incident like a dog attack. We understand just how scary and damaging a bite can be and will work hard to ensure you are treated fairly by the responsible owner.