San Bernardino Dog Bites Lawyer
If you're looking for a dog bite attorney in San Bernardino, Golden Gate Legal can help. We fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Call us.
A dog bite can leave you with more than just physical scars; the emotional trauma can be just as difficult to overcome. If you are looking for legal representation in the San Bernardino area, contact us at the number below to discuss your case.
Golden Gate Legal has a proven track record of successfully representing dog bite victims throughout San Bernardino. We will walk you through what to do after an attack, provide an overview of the legal process, and address the common questions you may have.
What to Do After a Dog Bite in San Bernardino
If you've been bitten by a dog in San Bernardino, it's important to follow the steps below:
Make Sure You're Safe
If you've been bitten by an animal in San Bernardino, your first priority is to create distance to prevent further harm. Once you are in a secure location, carefully check yourself and anyone else who was involved for injuries.
Seek Immediate Medical Care
Immediately seek medical attention by calling 911 or heading to an emergency room, even if the bite appears minor. This is vital for preventing serious infections and ensures there is an official medical record of your injuries.
Call the Police and Animal Control
It is important to report the dog bite to the police and animal control to get the incident on record. They will investigate what happened and gather details about the animal and its owner, so be sure to ask for a copy of their report for your files.
Collect Information and Evidence
Gather the owner’s contact and insurance information, confirm the dog’s vaccination records, and take clear photos of your injuries, the animal, and the location of the incident. This evidence is vital for protecting your health and is a critical foundation for any potential claim.
Contact Golden Gate Legal for Help
After a dog bite in San Bernardino, seeking legal guidance is a crucial step toward protecting your rights. The dedicated team at Golden Gate Legal will navigate the claims process for you, taking on insurance companies to ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries.
Why Choose Golden Gate Legal
With years of dedicated experience handling dog bite cases and other personal injury claims for clients in San Bernardino, our team is ready to fight for you. Here are a few reasons why you should choose Golden Gate Legal:
- We Will Get You Maximum Compensation: Our attorneys will aggressively fight to hold negligent parties accountable and help you obtain the full compensation you are entitled to.
- We Will Protect You at All Costs: It is our top priority to protect your rights and interests while you focus on your recovery.
- 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 available 24/7 to provide the legal and emotional support you need after an accident.
We encourage you to check out our Client Testimonials.
Legal Process Overview
To ensure our San Bernardino clients can focus on their healing, we take care of every step of the legal process, which works as follows:
- Free Consultation & Case Evaluation: We start with a free, no-obligation meeting to discuss the details of your dog bite incident, address your concerns, and determine the strength of your claim.
- Evidence Collection & Claim Filing: Our team will meticulously gather all necessary evidence—like medical reports, injury photos, and witness accounts—and manage all communications and paperwork with the insurance companies for you.
- Medical Treatment Coordination: As you recover, we can assist in coordinating your medical care and will track your progress to make sure the full extent of your injuries is documented for your case.
- Demand Letter & Negotiation: After you've completed your medical treatment, we will compile a detailed demand letter outlining your damages and negotiate aggressively with the dog owner's insurance provider, or directly with the owner, to secure the best possible settlement.
- Litigation (if necessary): Should the opposing party refuse to offer a fair settlement, our skilled trial lawyers are fully prepared to take your case to court and fight for your rights before a judge and jury.
- You Get Paid: Upon the successful resolution of your case, we handle the final paperwork swiftly so you can receive your compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other losses without delay.
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 damages you've suffered as a result 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 often try to undervalue claims to protect their profits, which is why it is crucial to have experienced California personal injury attorneys like Golden Gate Legal handling your case.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
While not an exhaustive list, here are the types of injuries we typically handle:
Puncture Wounds & Lacerations
A dog's sharp teeth can create deep puncture wounds or ragged tears in the skin and underlying tissue, which can result in substantial bleeding, a serious risk of infection, a need for stitches, and often leave behind permanent scars.
Infections & Soft-Tissue Damage
When a dog’s bite breaks the skin, it can introduce bacteria that may cause anything from a simple skin infection to a more severe abscess or a dangerous, body-wide infection like sepsis.
Nerve Damage & Functional Impairments
When a dog bite is deep, it can injure nerves, especially in delicate places like the face or hands. This might lead to a loss of feeling, tingling sensations, or persistent pain, and without proper medical care, it could cause a permanent loss of function in the affected area.
Scarring & Disfigurement
Dog bites often leave scars that are particularly visible on the face and hands. When an attack results in significant tissue damage, reconstructive or cosmetic surgery may be needed to help restore function and appearance, reducing the long-term disfigurement.
Crush Injuries & Fractures
The powerful jaws of larger dogs can exert enough force to break bones and damage deep tissue, resulting in fractures or serious joint injuries. These severe wounds often come with significant swelling and bruising and may require surgery, splints, or physical therapy to properly heal.
PTSD & Emotional Trauma
The impact of a dog attack often goes far beyond the visible scars, leaving behind deep emotional wounds such as lasting anxiety, a fear of animals, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These experiences can be especially difficult for children, who may need counseling to help them process the trauma and rebuild their sense of security.
Common Causes of Dog Bites in San Bernardino
Dog bites can happen for many reasons, but several major factors are frequently seen in cases across San Bernardino:
Lack of Proper Training
When a dog hasn't received adequate training or exposure to different environments, it can easily become overwhelmed and may bite because it's scared or doesn't understand what's happening.
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 might consider its home, yard, or even its owner to be its territory, and it may bite if a stranger comes too close and is seen as a threat.
Rough Play
When playtime becomes too intense or forceful, a dog may feel cornered and react defensively out of a perceived need to protect itself.
Protective Instincts
A dog's protective instincts can cause them to guard things they value, like food or toys, and they might bite if you try to take the object away.
Pain or Illness
When a dog is injured or ill, a sudden touch can lead to a bite because the dog may anticipate that the contact will be painful.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will a Personal Injury Attorney Cost?
For personal injury cases in San Bernardino, you don’t pay any legal fees out of pocket. Our firm only gets paid after we successfully win or settle your claim, removing any financial burden from you.
What if the dog’s owner denies responsibility?
In California, a dog owner is held responsible for injuries their dog causes, even if they try to deny it. This is because of the state's "strict liability" law, which means it doesn't matter if the dog had never been aggressive before or if the owner wasn't being careless. Generally, you only have to show that you were bitten and that the bite resulted in an injury.
There are a few exceptions, however. An owner's responsibility might be lessened or even dismissed if the person who was bitten was trespassing on their property or had provoked the dog. This is why the specific circumstances of any dog bite incident in San Bernardino are so important to consider.
How long do I have to take legal action after a dog bite?
In California, you have a two-year window from the day you were bitten to file a personal injury claim under Civil Code § 335.1. If you don't act within that time, you will likely lose your right to sue, even if the dog's owner was clearly at fault.
There is an exception for minors, however. For children who are bitten, the two-year clock does not start running until they reach the age of 18, giving them an extended period to pursue legal action.
In California, how long does an insurance company have to settle a claim?
In California, insurance companies are held to a strict schedule when handling claims. Once you notify them, they have 15 days to acknowledge your claim and start their investigation. From the day they receive all your necessary paperwork, they then have 40 days to make a decision on whether to accept or deny your claim.
If the insurance company approves your claim, they must send payment within 30 days of making that decision. This means that, according to California's fair claims settlement rules, the entire process from start to finish should typically be wrapped up within 85 days.
Can I file a claim if the dog was on a leash or had no prior bite history?
Yes, you can. In San Bernardino, dog owners are held accountable for bites even if their dog was leashed or had a perfect behavior record. As long as you were lawfully in the location where the bite took place, California law holds the owner responsible.
How will Golden Gate Legal actually help me?
Here at Golden Gate Legal, our first step is to listen to your story. For our clients in San Bernardino, we want you to feel heard and supported from the very beginning. We'll help you get a clear picture of your injuries, often by connecting you with top medical professionals to ensure you receive the proper care.
Your only job is to focus on getting better. Meanwhile, our team takes on the entire legal burden, fighting to get you the financial recovery you're entitled to. We work to ensure you're compensated for everything, from your medical bills to the personal impact the accident has had 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.
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.
Fighting for your full compensation
We are available at all times
No legal fees paid upfront
We will protect you at all costs
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