Dog Bite Injury/Animal Attack Lawyers

Dogs bite nearly 5 million individuals a year in the United States. Practically half of those injured are kids, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says. About 800,000 Americans annually seek medical attention for injuries from dog bites, and 386,000 need emergency room treatment. Around 16 individuals die every year after being attacked by a dog. The CDC's figures do not consider the psychological trauma of experiencing an animal attack.

It is a basic fact of life that dogs bite. This includes any dog of any breed. A dog bite can be anything from a nip to a traumatic attack that leaves a serious injury. A serious injury suffered in a dog attack is cause to hold the dog's owner accountable, and for the dog bite victim to seek reimbursement for all medical costs, pain and suffering and other harm resulted in by the bite.

If you have sustained a severe injury or lost a loved one in an animal attack that took place in the Northridge area or anywhere else in California, the personal injury attorneys at Drake Law Firm, want to assist you.

Serious Injuries from Dog Attacks

A serious bite is not a playful nip or even a minor injury that bruises an individual who came into contact with a dog at the wrong time. A serious dog attack is one that includes biting and scratching that causes considerable traumatic injury, such as deep cuts, tearing, fractures or more. A serious attack by a dog can also result in significant emotional and psychological injury.

According to dog bite statistics from the CDC, approximately 885,000 dog bite victims every year-- or 20 percent of all of those who are bitten by dogs-- require medical attention for their injuries.

The most common victims are:

• Kids ages 5-9
• Elderly individuals
• Mail letter carriers

Dogs most often bite a person's arm, hand, leg, foot, head or neck, according to the CDC. Common injuries in dog attacks include:

• Cuts, bruises and scratches
• Puncture wounds
• Tearing (avulsion)
• Dislocations
• Bone fractures
• Amputations
• Crushing (head/ skull injuries)

DogsBite.org, a nonprofit, public education website concerning dangerous dog breeds, reports that serious dog attacks can result in severe injuries that can require $250,000 to $1 million in specialized medical care.

The CDC specifies that roughly 27,000 dog bite victims every year undergo reconstructive surgery. This may include skin grafting, tissue expansion and scar diminishment. A victim might require multiple operations over many years.

Seeking Compensation After a Dog Bite

Dog bite victims might pursue reimbursement to cover their:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost income and decreased earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Other relevant losses

Claims can be made against the dog owner and, possibly, a third party if that party's negligence caused the injury.

Individuals that have been seriously wounded by an attacking dog are entitled to compensation and should not hesitate to seek it via civil legal action and contact a dog attack attorney-- it will not come out of a friend or neighbor's pocket. The payment recouped in a dog bite claim usually comes from the dog owner's insurance, such as homeowners' insurance or business liability insurance.

The Insurance Information Institute and State Farm Insurance report that dog bites made up more than one-third of all homeowners' insurance liability claim dollars paid in 2013 and resulted in more than $483 million in compensation for victims. The average payment for dog attack cases was $27,862.

An experienced attorney can investigate your dog attack case to establish whether the dog's owner is liable and determine the compensation you might be due for your injuries.

Many claims can be settled through negotiations with the dog owner's insurance company. If a proper settlement agreement can not be reached, we would be ready to seek appropriate compensation for you in court.

Taking Action After an Attack

You can act to help yourself, a loved one or a friend that has been injured by a dog bite. Here are some steps you should attempt to follow:

• Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Any kind of dog bite should be seen by a doctor.
• Immediately report the injury to the police and obtain a copy of the police accident report.
• Obtain the name and contact information of the dog owner if possible.
• Obtain the name and contact information of any people that observed the attack.
• Photograph the animal that caused your injuries as well as the location of the incident.
• Photograph any visible injuries you have endured as a result of the incident with the animal.
• Keep any kind of clothing that might have been damaged by the animal.
• Keep and, ideally, photograph any kind of property damaged by the animal.
• Do not communicate with the owner of the dog or the owner's insurance company. If you accept any kind of compensation, you might forgo your right to sue for additional damages.

Reach Out to Our Dog Bite Lawyers

If you or a loved one has sustained a dog attack injury or other animal attack that resulted in serious injury or scarring, you have legal rights that deserve to be protected. Reach out to a Northridge dog bite lawyer at Drake Law Firm, without delay and arrange a free consultation.

We will offer a team of legal professionals, medical professionals and investigators who are dedicated to your case. We can help you make informed decisions about your legal options. Our dog attack lawyers will work hard to ensure you receive the compensation you are entitled to.

At Drake Law Firm, we've assisted numerous personal injury clients to get the compensation they require to recover. We won't let you accept unfair treatment from other law firms and we will defend you from beginning to end. If you need help with Dog Bite Injuries in Northridge, California, give us a call at (844) 513-7253 for a FREE consultation or visit our website at DrakeLawGroup.com to get started on your case today! 

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