Riverside Dog Bites Lawyer

Looking for a dog bite attorney in Riverside? Golden Gate Legal can help you understand your rights and get the compensation you deserve.

A dog bite can leave you with more than just physical scars; the emotional trauma can be just as challenging to overcome. If you are looking for representation in the Riverside area, contact us with the number below.

Golden Gate Legal has extensive experience handling dog bite cases and fighting for victims in Riverside. This article will provide clear direction on what to do after an incident, give an overview of the legal process, and address the most common questions you might have.

Call to schedule a free case evaluation today
(310) 445-3425

What to Do After a Dog Bite in Riverside

If you get a dog bite in Riverside, it's important to follow the steps below:

1

Make Sure You're Safe

Your first priority after an animal bite in Riverside is to get to a safe place, putting distance between yourself and the animal. Once you are out of immediate danger, carefully check yourself and anyone with you for any injuries sustained during the incident.

2

Seek Immediate Medical Care

Your first priority after a dog bite is to seek immediate medical care by calling 911 or going to an emergency room. This ensures the wound is properly treated to prevent infection and creates an official medical record of your injuries.

3

Call the Police and Animal Control

Call the police and animal control to create an official report, which is an important step for your protection. They will document the incident and gather information, and you can then request a copy of the report for your records.

4

Collect Information and Evidence

If possible, get the owner's contact and insurance details, ask about the dog's vaccination history, and take photos of your injuries, the animal, and the location where the bite occurred. This information is crucial for your immediate health and for properly documenting the incident for any future claim.

5

Contact Golden Gate Legal for Help

When a dog bite happens in Riverside, securing experienced legal support can make all the difference in your recovery. Golden Gate Legal will champion your case, managing the intricate legal details and insurance negotiations so you can concentrate on healing.

Why Choose Golden Gate Legal

At Golden Gate Legal, we have dedicated years of experience handling dog bite cases and other personal injury claims for clients in Riverside. 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 when you are most vulnerable after an injury.
  • No Legal Fees Upfront: You do not pay any legal fees to start your case, and we only receive a fee when we win or settle.
  • We Are Available At All Times: Our team is here for you around the clock to provide both legal and emotional support throughout your case.

We encourage you to check out our Client Testimonials.

Legal Process Overview

We take care of every step of your personal injury claim in Riverside so you can focus on what matters most—your healing. Here’s how the process works:

  1. 1. 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.
  2. 2. Evidence Collection & Claim Filing: Our team takes over gathering crucial evidence like medical records and witness statements, and we handle all the complex paperwork and communications with insurance companies on your behalf.
  3. 3. Medical Treatment Coordination: While you concentrate on getting better, we can help coordinate your medical care and monitor your progress to ensure your case accurately reflects the full extent of your injuries.
  4. 4. Demand Letter & Negotiation: Once your treatment is complete, we assemble a comprehensive demand package and negotiate with the dog owner's insurance company to secure the highest possible settlement for you.
  5. 5. Litigation (if necessary): If the insurance provider refuses to offer a fair settlement, our experienced trial attorneys are prepared to file a lawsuit and fight for you in court.
  6. 6. You Get Paid: After your case is successfully resolved, we finalize all the details to ensure you receive your compensation check promptly to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.

What Types of Damages Can You Claim After a Dog Bite?

In California, if you've been injured by a dog, the law allows you to seek financial compensation for the various losses 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 the parties responsible for your injury will often try to undervalue your claim to protect their own profits, which is why it's so important to have experienced California personal injury attorneys like Golden Gate Legal on your side.

Common Dog Bite Injuries

While this is not an exhaustive list, here are the types of injuries we typically handle:

Puncture Wounds & Lacerations

A dog’s sharp teeth can cause deep puncture wounds or create jagged tears, known as lacerations, that break through the skin and damage underlying tissue. Such injuries frequently lead to significant bleeding, pose a high risk of infection, often require stitches to heal correctly, and can leave permanent scars.

Infections & Soft-Tissue Damage

Should a dog's teeth puncture the skin, bacteria from its mouth can invade the wound, leading to skin infections, abscesses, or more severe, body-wide infections.

Nerve Damage & Functional Impairments

A powerful bite, particularly in vulnerable areas like the hands or face, can damage underlying nerves. This may cause numbness, tingling sensations, or persistent pain, and if not addressed by a doctor, could lead to a long-term loss of function in the injured area.

Scarring & Disfigurement

Severe dog attacks can leave behind lasting scars, especially on visible areas like the hands and face, sometimes requiring cosmetic or reconstructive procedures to address the disfigurement.

Crush Injuries & Fractures

The sheer force of a bite, especially from a larger dog, can crush soft tissue and even break bones, leading to complex fractures that may necessitate surgery, splints, or a lengthy period of physical rehabilitation for a full recovery.

PTSD & Emotional Trauma

The emotional scars from a dog bite can be as profound as the physical injuries, often resulting in lasting trauma such as post-traumatic stress disorder, a persistent fear of dogs, or severe anxiety, which can require professional counseling—especially for children—to help them rebuild their sense of safety and well-being.

Common Causes of Dog Bites in Riverside

To help keep everyone safe, it's important to know what can cause a dog to bite, so here are some of the most common reasons for dog attacks in Riverside:

Lack of Proper Training

A dog lacking adequate training or socialization may not possess the skills to navigate stressful encounters, potentially resorting to a bite driven by fear or confusion.

Fear or Startling

Likewise, if a dog is caught off guard by an unforeseen noise or a quick, unexpected movement, its instinct may be to bite as a form of self-protection.

Territorial Behavior

Dogs can be very protective of what they consider their territory, which could be their home, yard, or even their owner. A dog may bite defensively if it feels this space is threatened by an approaching person.

Rough Play

When playtime gets too rough, a dog might feel threatened and could bite or snap in an attempt to stop the interaction it perceives as dangerous.

Protective Instincts

A dog may become fiercely protective of things they value, from their food to their favorite human. Attempting to remove the guarded item or person can be perceived as a threat, often resulting in a bite.

Pain or Illness

When a dog is sick or injured, it may bite if startled or touched, as it might view any physical contact as a source of more pain.

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(310) 445-3425
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Frequently Asked Questions

How much will a Personal Injury Attorney Cost?

For personal injury cases in Riverside, you won't pay any legal fees upfront. We only collect a fee if we successfully win or settle your claim, meaning you face no financial risk to pursue your case.

What if the dog’s owner denies responsibility?

In California, the law holds dog owners strictly responsible for injuries their pets cause. This means that even if an owner denies responsibility, they are generally liable for a bite, regardless of whether the dog had a history of aggression or if the owner was careless. You typically only need to establish that their dog bit you and that you were harmed as a result.

However, there are a few situations where an owner's responsibility might be lessened or even dismissed. For instance, if the person who was bitten was trespassing on private property or had provoked the dog, the owner may not be held fully liable. Navigating these details is why understanding your rights is so important for dog bite incidents in Riverside.

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, as established by Civil Code § 335.1. It is crucial to act within this timeframe. If you miss this deadline, the court will likely reject your case, even if the dog's owner was clearly negligent.

There is a key exception for minors. If the person bitten was under 18, the two-year clock does not begin to run until their 18th birthday, providing them with more time to file a claim.

In California, how long does an insurance company have to settle a claim?

In California, once you notify your insurance company, they have 15 days to acknowledge your claim and start their investigation. After you provide all the necessary paperwork, they have an additional 40 days to review everything and make a decision to either approve or deny your claim.

If your claim is approved, the insurance company is required to issue payment within 30 days. Based on the state's Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations, this means the entire process from when you first file to when you receive payment should not exceed 85 days.

Can I file a claim if the dog was on a leash or had no prior bite history?

Yes. Here in Riverside, the dog’s owner is still accountable even if the dog was restrained by a leash or had no previous history of aggression. According to California law, the owner is liable as long as you were legally on the premises when the bite took place.

How will Golden Gate Legal actually help me?

Here at Golden Gate Legal, we first listen to understand your unique situation in Riverside, ensuring you feel supported. We then assess the full scope of your injuries, connecting you with the right doctors to aid your treatment.

While you concentrate on getting better, we will manage the legal fight to win the compensation you are owed. This covers everything from your medical bills to your pain and suffering.

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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Protecting your rights when you need it most

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 are available at all times

No legal fees paid upfront

We will protect you at all costs

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When dealing with the aftermath of an accident, you need strong support by your side to help you make the right decisions.

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