San Diego Dog Bite Injury Lawyer

Despite the fact that San Diego has strict leash laws, dog bites are a common occurrence. In fact, about 2,500 dog bites are reported across San Diego County every year. That’s about 6 or 7 dog bites every single day.

When a dog bites, it can cause catastrophic injuries, including puncture wounds, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and serious infections. As a dog bite victim, you shouldn’t have to struggle with these types of consequences on your own. You deserve to be compensated, and the experienced San Diego injury lawyers at Singleton Schreiber can help you fight for the justice you deserve.

Singleton Schreiber is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm that’s helped injured victims and families win over $2.5 billion in monetary awards.

Put our local lawyers and national resources in your corner after your dog bite. Your first consultation is free, so contact our law office in San Diego, California, to get started.

Why Dog Bite Victims in San Diego Trust Singleton Schreiber

Getting bitten by a dog can be scary and change your life in a moment. While you may have the right to seek compensation from the dog’s owner, an insurance company, or another party, the road to recovery won’t necessarily be easy. Hiring an experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer to handle your dog bite claim can help.

Trusting the top-rated litigators at Singleton Schreiber can set the stage for the top-dollar financial recovery you deserve.

Here’s why:

• We have decades of collective experience handling complex personal injury disputes
• Our lawyers are recognized as leaders in personal injury law by some of the most respected organizations in the country, including Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, the National Law Journal, and the San Diego Business Journal
• Fearless advocacy has helped us win over $2.5 billion in jury verdicts and settlements for our clients
• Contingency fee representation means it costs nothing to hire our dog bite attorneys in San Diego until we win your case

We know you have one shot at getting compensation for your catastrophic dog bite injuries. Focus on your recovery and trust our team to handle the rest.

We’ll:

• Conduct a prompt investigation into your dog bite
• Determine liability for your resulting damages
• Gather key pieces of evidence, including medical records, vet records, video footage, witness statements, and police reports
• Work with experts and specialists who can lend insight as we build your case and assess your damages
• Offer guidance and advice to you throughout the claims process
• Force the defense to agree to a favorable settlement or risk going up against our award-winning California trial attorneys in court

Now’s the time to take action. Don’t hesitate to ask for our help. We offer a free consultation, so call our San Diego law office today.

Does California Have a One Bite Rule?

Some states have a one-bite rule that protects dog owners from automatic liability the first time their animal attacks someone. California is not one of those states.

Rather, pursuant to California Civil Code Section 3342, dog owners in the state of California will be strictly liable for damages when their animal bites someone, regardless of that dog’s history of aggression, when the victim is:

• In public, or
• Lawfully on private property, including the dog owner’s property.

Strict liability means the plaintiff (dog bite victim) does not have the burden of proving the defendant (the dog’s owner) was negligent in any way (e.g., violating San Diego’s leash laws). Rather, liability attaches as long as the plaintiff can prove that their injuries were caused by the dog’s bite.

An owner will not be strictly liable for a dog bite if they can prove that the victim’s own negligence contributed to the dog attack or that the dog was provoked.

Who’s Liable For a Dog Bite?

Liability for a dog bite isn’t necessarily limited to the dog’s owner. There are times when dog bite cases become a matter of premises liability.

Owners of property have an obligation to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. If the owner knows or should know that there’s an aggressive dog on the premises, they can be liable for a dog attack if they haven’t taken any steps to remove the animal or provide adequate warnings of risk to visitors.

If you were bitten by a dog on someone’s property and can prove that the owner’s negligence contributed to your injuries, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the owner and demand compensation from them.

What Compensation Can I Get If I’ve Been Bitten By a Dog in San Diego?

The consequences of a dog bite can be physically debilitating, emotionally traumatic, and downright expensive. Fortunately, dog bite victims in San Diego have the right to seek compensation from the dog’s owner and/or another liable party.

Many times, this involves filing a claim for insurance benefits or seeking damages in a dog bite lawsuit.

In California, both economic and non-economic damages can be awarded for:

• Current and future medical bills, including hospitalization, surgery, medical devices, and medication
• Disability and lost wages
• Costs paid out of pocket
• Rehabilitation and therapy
• Funeral expenses if a dog bite in San Diego is fatal and results in wrongful death
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Loss of consortium
• Inconvenience
• Chronic physical pain
• Disfigurement and scarring

Don’t stress out about how to recover compensation after a dog bite, or from whom. Take the time you need to focus on getting better and trust Singleton Schreiber to help you maximize your financial recovery.

Our San Diego dog bite attorneys have decades of experience defending the rights of dog bite victims and families in California. As fearless advocates for our clients, we’ve helped them win billions in monetary awards.

Now, we’re ready to help you move forward after you were bitten by a dog, too. You’ll only have a limited time to file a dog bite lawsuit with a California state court. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our law office in San Diego for help today.