Berkeley Dog Bites Lawyer
Bitten by a dog in Berkeley? Golden Gate Legal's experienced dog bite attorneys can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today.
The aftermath of a dog bite can be a painful and emotionally draining experience, leaving you with more than just physical scars. If you are seeking legal representation in the Berkeley area for such an incident, our team is here to help you navigate the path to recovery.
At Golden Gate Legal, we have extensive experience handling dog bite cases and fighting for victims' rights in Berkeley. We've created this guide to walk you through the immediate steps to take after a bite, provide an overview of the legal process, and address the common questions you might have.
What to Do After a Dog Bite in Berkeley
If you get a dog bite in Berkeley, it's important to follow the steps below:
Make Sure You're Safe
The first thing to do following an animal bite in Berkeley is to move away from the animal to prevent any further harm. Once you are in a secure location, carefully assess yourself and any companions for injuries.
Seek Immediate Medical Care
The most important first step is to get medical help right away by calling 911 or going to the nearest emergency room. This ensures the wound is properly treated to prevent serious infections and creates an official record of your injuries.
Call the Police and Animal Control
Filing a report with the police and animal control creates an essential record of the incident. Responding authorities will document what happened, and you should be sure to request a copy of the report for your own files.
Collect Information and Evidence
Exchange contact and insurance information with the dog's owner, verify the animal's vaccination records, and document everything with photos of your injuries, the dog, and where the attack occurred. This evidence is critical for ensuring you receive proper medical care and for supporting any claim you might make.
Contact Golden Gate Legal for Help
If you've suffered a dog bite in Berkeley, the experienced attorneys at Golden Gate Legal can step in to manage the legal process for you. They will handle the complexities of dealing with insurance companies and fight to secure the fair compensation you need to focus on your recovery.
Why Choose Golden Gate Legal
Golden Gate Legal has years of dedicated experience handling dog bite cases for Berkeley residents among many other personal injury proceedings. Here are a few reasons why you should choose our firm to represent you:
- We Will Get You Maximum Compensation: Our duty is to guide you through the recovery process and ensure you recover all the damages you are legally entitled to.
- We Will Protect you at All Costs: It is our top priority to protect your rights and interests so you can focus on your recovery while we take care of the rest.
- No Legal Fees Upfront: You do not pay any legal fees upfront, and we only receive a fee when we win or settle your case.
- We Are Available at all times: Our team is always ready to answer your questions and provide the legal and emotional support you need throughout your case.
We encourage you to see what our past clients have to say by checking out our Client Testimonials.
Legal Process Overview
We handle every step of your Berkeley dog bite case so you can focus on what matters most—your healing. Here’s how the process works:
- Free Consultation & Case Evaluation: It all starts with a complimentary meeting where we listen to your story, review the details of the dog bite, and evaluate the strength of your potential case.
- Evidence Collection & Claim Filing: Our team will then gather all crucial evidence, such as medical records and witness statements, and handle all communications and filings with the insurance companies for you.
- Medical Treatment Coordination: While you concentrate on your recovery, we can help coordinate your medical care and monitor your progress to ensure your case accurately reflects your injuries.
- Demand Letter & Negotiation: Once your treatment is complete, we will prepare a detailed demand package and negotiate with the dog owner's insurance company to get you the highest possible settlement.
- Litigation (if necessary): If the insurance provider or dog owner is unwilling to offer a fair settlement, our experienced trial attorneys are fully prepared to file a lawsuit and advocate for you in court.
- You Get Paid: After your case is successfully resolved, we finalize all the necessary paperwork to ensure you receive your compensation check for your medical expenses, lost income, and other damages promptly.
What Types of Damages Can You Claim After a Dog Bite?
In California, if you've been injured by a dog bite, the law allows you to seek financial compensation for the various damages you've suffered because of the incident. Compensatory damages for dog bites in California may include the following:
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Future medical care and treatment
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Psychological counseling
Insurance companies and at-fault parties frequently try to undervalue claims to protect their profits, which makes it important to have experienced California personal injury attorneys like Golden Gate Legal handling your case.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
While this is not a complete list, here are some of the most common types of injuries we handle:
Puncture Wounds & Lacerations
A dog's sharp teeth can create deep puncture wounds or tear the skin, resulting in injuries that often bleed profusely, carry a high risk of infection, may require stitches, and can lead to permanent scarring.
Infections & Soft-Tissue Damage
A dog bite that pierces the skin can introduce oral bacteria into the wound, creating a high risk for serious infections that may require immediate medical care and antibiotics to prevent severe complications.
Nerve Damage & Functional Impairments
A particularly deep bite, especially in a delicate area like the face or hands, can injure the nerves beneath the skin. This can cause anything from numbness and tingling to a lasting loss of function in that part of the body if it doesn't receive prompt medical attention.
Scarring & Disfigurement
A common result of a dog attack is scarring, which can be particularly noticeable on the face or hands. If the bite causes major tissue damage, surgical procedures like plastic or reconstructive surgery might be needed to repair the area and lessen the disfigurement.
Crush Injuries & Fractures
The powerful jaws of a large dog can exert enough pressure to break bones and inflict serious damage on joints. These crushing injuries are typically marked by major swelling and bruising, and recovery may require surgery, a splint or cast, and physical therapy.
PTSD & Emotional Trauma
The psychological impact of a dog attack can be as devastating as the physical wounds, often causing long-term emotional trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder that may require therapy, particularly for children, to help them feel safe again.
Common Causes of Dog Bites in Berkeley
Dog bites in Berkeley often stem from a few key situations that owners and residents should be aware of:
Lack of Proper Training
An improperly trained or socialized dog might not know how to handle a stressful encounter, causing it to react defensively with a bite because it's scared or unsure what to do.
Fear or Startling
In the same way, a dog that is caught off guard by an abrupt noise or action may bite as a defensive reflex.
Territorial Behavior
A dog's instinct is often to guard its territory, which can be its home, yard, or even its owner. This protective behavior can turn into aggression, resulting in a bite if someone they don't know gets too close.
Rough Play
If play becomes too aggressive or forceful, a dog may feel endangered and bite or snap as a way to defend itself from what it sees as a threat.
Protective Instincts
A dog might bite if you try to take something they are guarding, whether it's their food bowl, a favorite toy, or even a person in the family.
Pain or Illness
A dog that is sick or in pain may react by biting if it's touched or surprised, as it might expect any contact to be painful.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will a Personal Injury Attorney Cost?
For our Berkeley clients, you won't pay any attorney fees upfront for your personal injury case. Our firm only gets paid when we win or settle your claim, so hiring us comes with no financial risk.
What if the dog’s owner denies responsibility?
California operates under a “strict liability” rule for dog bites, as outlined in Civil Code § 3342. This means that even if an owner denies responsibility, they are generally held liable for injuries their dog causes. It doesn't matter if the dog had no history of aggression or if the owner wasn't negligent; what matters is that the bite took place and you were injured as a result.
There are a few exceptions, though. An owner's responsibility might be lessened or even dismissed if the person who was bitten was trespassing on private property or provoked the animal. This is why the specific circumstances of any dog bite incident in Berkeley are so important to establish.
How long do I have to take legal action after a dog bite?
In California, you have a two-year window from the date of the incident to file a lawsuit for a dog bite, according to Civil Code § 335.1. If you don't act within that time, you will almost certainly lose your right to pursue a claim, even if the dog's owner was clearly negligent.
For victims who were children at the time of the attack, the rule is different. The two-year statute of limitations doesn't start until they reach the age of 18, giving them an extended period to take legal action.
In California, how long does an insurance company have to settle a claim?
In California, insurance companies are given specific timelines to handle claims. Once you notify them of a claim, they have 15 days to acknowledge it and start their investigation. From the day they receive your completed proof-of-claim paperwork, they have another 40 days to make a decision on whether to accept or deny it.
If the insurance company approves your claim, they are required to issue payment within 30 days of that approval. This means that, according to the state's rules for fair claim handling, the entire settlement process should ideally be completed within 85 days from when you first filed.
Can I file a claim if the dog was on a leash or had no prior bite history?
Yes. In Berkeley, California's dog bite law applies even if the dog was leashed or had a clean record. If you were lawfully present when the bite occurred, the owner is still considered responsible for your injuries.
How will Golden Gate Legal actually help me?
First, we listen. Here in Berkeley, our team at Golden Gate Legal takes the time to hear your story and grasp the full impact of your accident. We then evaluate the extent of your injuries and can connect you with top medical experts to ensure you receive the right care.
Your job is to heal; our job is to handle everything else. We take on the legal burdens, fighting to get you the financial support you need for your medical bills, lost wages, and the personal toll the injury has taken on your life.
Contact Golden Gate Legal for legal support
Golden Gate Legal has helped countless personal injury victims get back on their feet. Let’s do the same for you.
Call us now at (310) 445-3425 or click below for your free consultation.
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We believe in doing what’s right: you focus on your recovery, and we’ll handle the legal process from start to finish.
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We will protect you at all costs
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