Beverly Hills Dog Bite Lawyer

Beverly Hills Dog Bite Attorney

Dogs are popular pets in Beverly Hills and widely considered man’s best friend, and while most people regularly have positive interactions with dogs, it is possible for any dog to attack a person unexpectedly. If you or a family member recently suffered a dog bite, it is natural to wonder whether you have grounds for any legal action against the dog owner. A Beverly Hills dog bite lawyer can help make sense of your situation and pursue compensation.

Helping Dog Bite Victims Recover in Beverly Hills, CA

The attorneys at Heimanson & Wolf, LLP, have years of professional experience in personal injury law, and our firm has successfully recovered many substantial case awards for past clients. In every case we accept, our goal is to maximize our client’s recovery as efficiently as possible. We know how damaging and traumatizing a dog attack can be and want to provide the support and guidance you need to navigate the legal proceedings likely to follow your recent attack.

If another person’s dog injured you or a loved one in Beverly Hills, you have the right to seek compensation for the resulting damages. California law is quite clear when it comes to dog attacks, upholding a strict liability rule that dictates a dog owner is fully responsible for any damages their pet inflicts on another person, regardless of whether the dog has a history of aggression or prior attacks.

However, despite the fact that the strict liability rule seems to align perfectly with a plaintiff’s interests, the reality is that any civil suit for damages in Beverly Hills can be more complex than the plaintiff initially realizes. Attempting to navigate your case without legal counsel could lead to procedural errors and/or unintentionally settling for far less than you legally deserve. With an experienced attorney helping you, you are more likely to win your case and maximize your recovery.

Filing a Personal Injury Suit in Beverly Hills

If you intend to pursue any type of personal injury claim in Beverly Hills, you first need to identify the target of your lawsuit. The defendant responsible for causing your damages must repay your damages, but before you can collect any compensation, you must clearly prove fault and the full extent of the damages resulting from their negligence or illegal misconduct.

The strict liability rule for dog owners makes proving fault a relatively straightforward issue in a dog bite case. As long as the victim was legally present wherever the attack occurred and did not provoke the attack, strict liability applies, and the dog owner is liable for the victim’s damages. Your Beverly Hills dog bite lawyer is your most valuable asset for firmly establishing liability for the attack.

It is important to remember that while the state upholds a strict liability rule for dog attacks, there is also a pure comparative negligence rule that applies to any personal injury case in which more than one party shares fault for the damages cited in the claim. If the facts show that you contributed to causing your damages, it will reduce your case award by an equivalent amount. For example, 10% fault means losing 10% of your final compensation.

Claiming Damages in Your Dog Bite Case

The main goal of any personal injury claim in Beverly Hills is for the plaintiff to secure compensation for the damages a defendant inflicted. While the average person may understand the immediately recognizable losses they can cite in their claim, accurate calculation of projected future losses and determining suitable pain and suffering compensation can be challenging without an attorney’s help.
Under the state’s personal injury statutes, the plaintiff in a dog bite case may seek compensation for:

• Medical treatment costs. Dog attacks can potentially cause severe injuries that require extensive medical care. The experience can also be traumatizing, leading to the victim developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues that require ongoing care. The defendant is liable for any medical treatment costs resulting from the attack.
• Lost wages. If the victim of a dog attack is unable to work while they recover from their injuries, the defendant is liable for the income they cannot earn during this time.
• Lost future earning potential. Some dog attacks result in permanently disabling injuries. If this applies to your case and you are unable to return to work due to the severity of your injuries, the defendant may be liable for the future income you are no longer able to earn.
• Property damage. You have the right to seek compensation for damaged or destroyed clothing and other personal effects lost in the incident.
• Pain and suffering. The plaintiff in a dog bite case has the right to seek whatever pain and suffering compensation they believe to be appropriate to reflect the severity of the harm they suffered. There is no limit on pain and suffering compensation in most California personal injury cases, so this could form the bulk of your total case award if you suffered severe injuries.

The owner of the dog that attacked you could face extensive liability for your damages. Additionally, if their dog has a history of prior attacks and they failed to meet previously court-ordered requirements for handling their dog, they could face criminal charges as well. If a judge determines that the dog’s history of attacks qualifies it as a threat to public safety, they may order the dog to be euthanized.

When you choose Heimanson & Wolf, LLP, to represent your dog bite injury case in Beverly Hills, you can rely on us to swiftly gather the evidence needed to form the foundation of your claim, and you can trust our team to help accurately calculate the full scope of your claimable damages. Once we compile your case, we can aim to resolve it as efficiently as possible to shorten the time you must wait to receive compensation for your damages.

The team at Heimanson & Wolf, LLP is dedicated to providing comprehensive personal injury representation to clients throughout the Beverly Hills area. Our seasoned attorneys have successfully handled a wide range of civil claims, including:

• Medical Malpractice: When medical negligence devastates lives through preventable errors, our team vigorously pursues claims against healthcare providers. We fight to secure full compensation for disabilities, ongoing treatment, diminished quality of life, and other damages stemming from substandard care.
• Premises Liability: Property owners must maintain reasonably safe conditions. When negligence leads to hazards, our litigation holds them accountable through comprehensive premises liability claims. We recover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages for preventable injuries.
• Spinal Cord Injury: Few injuries are as catastrophic as spinal cord trauma causing paralysis. Our representation ensures victims have access to resources for lifetime care, mobility equipment, home accommodations, and full compensation reflecting profound loss of quality of life.
• Traumatic Brain Injury: Traumatic brain injuries can permanently impair cognitive, physical, and emotional capabilities. Our focused advocacy maximizes recovery so TBI victims can afford specialized rehabilitation, therapies, personal care, and resources essential to regaining function.

FAQs About Beverly Hills, CA Dog Bite Laws

How Much Does a Dog Bite Lawsuit Pay?

A dog bite claim is a type of personal injury claim, and the victim of a personal injury has the right to seek full repayment of any economic losses they suffered from a dog attack. Additionally, the owner of the dog is also liable for the victim’s projected future damages and their pain and suffering. Your Beverly Hills dog bite lawyer can estimate the total potential value of your claim.

Will I Win More Compensation if I Hire a Beverly Hills Dog Bite Lawyer?

Even if the fault for your accident is clear and you have a firm understanding of your immediate claimable damages, the average person is unlikely to reach the same result in any civil case that a seasoned attorney could manage. Your Beverly Hills dog bite lawyer can make handling your claim much easier, and you are not only more likely to secure more compensation with their help but also do so in a more efficient manner.

How Much Time Do I Have to File a Dog Bite Claim?

Almost every personal injury claim is subject to a two-year statute of limitations. This is the time limit in which the plaintiff must file their suit against the defendant; otherwise, they lose the opportunity to claim compensation for their losses. Two years may sound like more than enough time, but it may take longer than you expect to compile the foundation of your claim. It’s advisable to start the claim filing process as soon as possible.

What Are a Dog Owner’s Defenses to a Dog Bite Lawsuit?

The state’s strict liability rule only provides for two exceptions that would allow a dog owner to avoid liability for damages their pet caused. The first one is provocation. If the victim provoked the attack, such as abusing the dog or aggressing the owner, strict liability does not apply. The second is unlawful presence on private property. A trespasser cannot assert strict liability on a private property owner after a dog bite when they did not have permission to enter.

What Will It Cost Me to Hire a Beverly Hills Dog Bite Lawyer?

Most personal injury attorneys in Beverly Hills accept cases on a contingency fee basis. When you have a contingency fee agreement with your attorney, they will only take a fee if and when they win your case, and you pay nothing if they are unable to obtain a case award for you. If you do win your case, your contingency fee is a percentage of the total compensation your attorney secures from the defendant.

Contact Us Today

The team at Heimanson & Wolf, LLP, has years of experience helping clients throughout the Beverly Hills area with all types of personal injury cases, and we know how damaging and traumatic any dog attack can be. If you believe you have grounds to pursue legal recourse against a dog owner, we can help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with a Beverly Hills dog bite lawyer you can trust with your recovery.