Were you recently bitten by a dog in Hermosa Beach, California? Don’t hesitate to reach out to the award-winning legal team at The Simon Law Group. You may have the right to demand compensation from the dog’s owner or another party, such as a landlord or business owner. Our experienced Hermosa Beach dog bite lawyers can help you maximize your recovery.
Since 2009, The Simon Law Group has been a passionate advocate for dog bite victims and grieving families throughout Southern California. Our team of award-winning trial attorneys has over 250 years of combined experience and an unrivaled ability to win life-changing results.
We’ve helped our clients win more than $600 million in damages. Let us fight to get you the best results in your dog bite injury case, too. Contact our law office serving Hermosa Beach, CA, or call (424) 722-3209 to learn more. Your first consultation is free.
How The Simon Law Group Can Help if You’ve Been Bitten by a Dog in Hermosa Beach, CA
Dog attacks can be traumatic. In addition to painful physical injuries, they can cause debilitating emotional distress that keeps you from enjoying your life. When dogs get aggressive, their owners must be held accountable. There are situations when other parties might be responsible for the consequences of a dog attack as well.
You don’t have to worry about how to recover compensation after a dog bite. Focus on your health and leave the rest to our experienced Hermosa Beach personal injury lawyers.
The Simon Law Group is California’s top-rated personal injury law firm. Thanks to our client-first approach, our attorneys have been recognized as leaders in personal injury litigation. When you ask for our help, we invest the resources and skills you’ll need to come out on top.
Count on us to:
- Thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your dog bite
- Gather medical records, vet records, photographs, video footage, witness statements, and other evidence
- Consult experts throughout the claims process
- Aggressively pursue a top settlement offer during negotiations with the insurance company and other parties
- File a lawsuit with the local Los Angeles County court and bring your case to trial, if necessary
You deserve to be compensated for the traumatic experience you’ve had. Our dog bite attorneys in Hermosa Beach are here to help you maximize your recovery.
We represent dog bite victims on contingency, so you’ll pay nothing unless we win money damages for your case. Contact our Hermosa Beach legal team to get started and schedule a time for your free consultation.
Are Dog Bites Common in California?
Yes. In fact, California ranks first in the nation in dog bite insurance claims, according to State Farm. In 2022, State Farm paid out more than $32 million to resolve 403 different dog bite claims.
That’s more than one dog bite a day, and this only involves claims from one of the several insurance companies that handle these types of matters.
This isn’t surprising, since an estimated 4.5 million dog bites are reported nationwide every year. Most of these dog bite victims are children. Kids account for half of all dog bites, with children under the age of 5 suffering the most frequent attacks.
Does California Have a One Bite Law?
Many states have a “one bite” law that protects owners from liability the first time their animal attacks another person. In essence, the dog’s first bite is free. After that, owners are responsible for other attacks because they have knowledge of their dog’s vicious propensities.
California is not one of these states. Instead, dog owners are strictly liable for every dog bite – including the first one. This is true as long as the victim was lawfully on public or private property and did not provoke the animal.
What Do I Have To Prove To Win a Dog Bite Case in Hermosa Beach?
First, it’s important to understand that dog owners aren’t the only ones who can potentially be liable for a dog bite. If the dog bite happened somewhere other than your own property, the owner of those premises might be responsible for the attack.
When filing a claim against an owner, the cause of action would be strict liability or negligence. In a claim against a third party, the cause of action would likely be negligence.
Strict Liability
Under California Civil Code Section 3342, a dog’s owner is strictly liable if the animal attacks another person.
When you file a claim, you must be able to prove:
- The animal was owned by the defendant
- The animal attacked you and caused an injury
- You were lawfully on the premises at the time of the attack, and
- You did not provoke the animal.
You must be able to prove your case by a preponderance of the evidence to win.
Negligence
Dog bites can also be a matter of premises liability. In California, property owners have a duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. This doesn’t just mean protecting visitors from slip and fall hazards. It also means protecting them from known threats of physical harm, which might include a dog.
If an owner knows or should know that a vicious dog is on the premises and does nothing to protect a visitor, they could be liable if there’s an attack.
In these situations, your claim based on negligence would need to prove:
- The owner of the premises owed you a duty of care because you were lawfully on the premises
- The owner breached this duty of care by failing to protect you from a dangerous dog
- The owner’s inaction was the direct and proximate cause of your dog bite injury, and
- You’ve suffered damages
You might have a legitimate negligence action against a business, school, or doggy daycare center.
What Types of Damages Can I Get if I’ve Been Bitten by a Dog in Hermosa Beach, CA?
In California, dog bite victims can seek compensatory damages through an insurance claim or lawsuit.
Compensatory damages include:
- Economic damages to offset costs related to medical bills, lost wages, disability, and other verifiable financial losses, and
- Non-economic damages to make up for harder-to-value pain and suffering, loss of consortium, disfigurement, and other intangible losses.
Punitive damages can also be awarded when a dog bite lawsuit makes it to trial. In these situations, a jury has the discretion to award punitive damages if there’s convincing evidence that a defendant’s conduct was intentionally harmful or that they exhibited a reckless disregard for your safety.
How Much Is My Hermosa Beach Dog Bite Lawsuit Worth?
There’s no standard value for dog bite injury claims in Southern California. Every dog attack is different. Each victim will suffer unique consequences. The specific details of a situation will drive valuation.
- What types of injuries did you suffer?
- What part of your body was affected?
- Are you temporarily or permanently disabled?
- Do you require personal care assistance?
- Has your income changed?
- Will you experience a reduction in your earning capacity?
- Can you continue to work?
- How old are you?
- Have you been disfigured because of the attack?
- Will you need long-term medical care?
- What have you done to mitigate your damages?
- What types of insurance benefits are available?
The more catastrophic your dog bite injuries, and the more they disrupt your life, the more you can generally recover through a legal claim for damages. The insurance company will work hard to downplay your suffering and limit how much money you’re awarded. Increase the odds of a maximum recovery by putting our trusted Hermosa dog bite attorneys in your corner.
Dogs Can Inflict Serious, Debilitating Injuries
No matter the breed, dogs have powerful jaws. They can inflict serious, potentially life-changing injuries when they attack.
At The Simon Law Group, our dog bite attorneys in Hermosa Beach are here to help you fight to recover compensation for all of your injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Cuts and lacerations
- Nerve damage
- Crushing injury
- Amputation injury
- Brain injury
- Eye injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Neck injury
- Back injury
- Puncture wounds
- Soft tissue injury
- Catastrophic injury
- Infection and disease
- Wrongful death of a family member
Report your accident to the local police right away. If the attack happened on someone else’s property, let them know, too. Then, seek prompt medical attention at the closest hospital in Hermosa Beach. These steps can help to ensure that your accident and injuries are reported, which will be crucial if you seek compensation in the future.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Dog Bite Claims in California?
Dog bite lawsuits are subject to a two-year statute of limitations in the State of California.
You must file your claim before the deadline expires. Failing to do so will prevent you from recovering the compensation you need and deserve.
However, there are exceptions to this time limit for some cases. Contact our legal team as soon as you can to confirm the deadline for your specific case.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Hermosa Beach Dog Bite Lawyer
Contact The Simon Law Group after a dog bite in Hermosa Beach, California. You may be entitled to compensation to offset the costs of your medical treatment and lost wages, as well as for any suffering you’ve endured.
Our Hermosa Beach dog bite lawyers have a combined 250 years of experience handling complex legal disputes like yours. Let us take on the insurance company and fight to get the maximum award you deserve.
We offer a free case evaluation. Contact our Hermosa Beach law office to get started.
