Dog Bite Attorneys in Fresno, California
Since 2007, our dog bite lawyers in Fresno, California have been protecting the rights of personal injury victims inside and outside the courtroom, so they have the tools and resources they need to pursue the best financial outcome for their unique claims.
Before founding our Fresno dog bite law firm, Frank Nunes, was employed as in-house counsel for a leading national insurance company where he gained the intimate knowledge necessary to pursue personal injury claims to achieve maximum success for our clients.
Our customized approach to pursuing personal injury cases allows us to propose real-time legal solutions for our Fresno County residents when they have suffered a dog bite or attack caused by a pet owner’s negligence.
How May Dog Bites Occur in the United States Each Year?
Over five million people suffer from dog bite injuries each year, which is the equivalent of one dog bite every 75 seconds, every day.
The Centers for Disease Control reports that nearly one million dog bite injury victims require medical attention annually, and another nearly 335,000 must be admitted to a hospital because of their injuries over the same period.
What are the Most Common Dog Bite Injuries in Fresno, California?
Dog bite injuries are unique to each person who suffers from them, as the type of dog and the circumstances surrounding the attack will differ.
Some of the most common dog bite injuries may include, but are not limited to:
- Torn muscles, tendons, and skin
- Broken or crushed bones
- Facial injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Mobility problems
- Nerve damage
- Puncture wounds
- Rabies and other serious infections
- Scarring and disfigurement
When our dog bite attorneys in Fresno, CA pursue compensation for our clients’ injuries, we explain their legal options and why settlement amounts differ based on their medical care, lost wages, or other expenses required to treat each victim.
For instance, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that over 28,000 reconstructive surgery procedures were performed over a single year because of dog bite injuries. When our clients require long-term or repetitive surgeries to get their quality of life back, our recovery demands will match their unique dog bite circumstances.
What are the Average Costs Associated with Dog Bites in Fresno, California?
The cost of each person’s dog bite injuries in California will differ.
However, hospital stays near $20,000 for dog bite injuries, which is approximately fifty percent higher than average injury stays.
Since over half of all dog bites in California and throughout the United States occur on the dog owner’s property, the animal’s homeowners’ insurance policy will be the target of our financial recovery pursuit.
Dog bite injuries are part of California’s premises liability laws, which makes property owners responsible for making reasonable efforts to maintain a safe environment for visitors, which includes protecting them from their pets.
Last year alone, these policies paid nearly $700 million in liability claims related to dog bites.
What are the Legal Statutes for Dog Bites in California?
Our California dog bite statute clearly states that the owner of any dog is liable for damages if the person bitten was lawfully in a private place — including as a guest on someone’s property — or in a public place when the bite occurred.
For homeowners, our strict liability law says that even if the dog owner had no knowledge their dog would act aggressively, he or she cannot avoid liability for a dog bite and is still responsible for the damages that result.
When the dog owner is not a homeowner, but a tenant, the injured party must show the landlord knew or should have known about the tenant’s dog’s vicious tendencies, usually through prior bites, or the rental agreement that includes a pet clause. If the dog is owned by the landlord, the same homeowner’s statute applies, and he or she may be pursued for their negligence.
While the laws are clear, nearly 80% of all dog bites occur from interactions with a family member or friend’s pet. While we never recommend personal injury victims handle their cases on their own, we understand that personal relationships can make it even more difficult to pursue financial compensation from someone they know.
Our dog bite attorneys in Fresno, CA will take the lead in pursuing your personal injury claim and communicate directly with the insurance company to pursue your claim without your direct involvement.
Contact Our Dog Bite Attorneys in Fresno, California Today to Schedule a Free Consultation
If you have been bitten by a dog and suffered injuries that required medical care or time away from work, contact our experienced personal injury attorneys in Fresno, CA today by calling 559-436-0850 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.