One of the most frequently asked questions we receive in dog bite personal injury cases is the following:
Does the type of animal affect a personal injury bite case?
Yes, in some states, your rights may vary depending on the type of animal that bit you. In the case of dogs, when someone is injured, the animal’s owner will likely have to pay compensation for the victim’s past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other losses. The same compensation rules apply as in any personal injury case.
Generally, the most common animal attacks are dogs, horses, other domestic animals, and wild animals. In the case of people who own or keep wild animals, they are often subject to very strict liability.
The most common benefits that you can access as compensation are:
- Medical expenses like medicine, therapies, and surgeries.
- Pain and suffering.
- Loss of salary or income.
- Loss of Consortium or Services: If the injuries impacted the relationship between bite victims and their spouses, both spouses might be compensated for “loss of consortium,” which includes loss of companionship or intimacy.
- Multiple Damages: Under “dangerous dog laws” in some states, cities, and counties, the owner of a dog that has been declared dangerous or vicious could have to pay double or triple damages if the dog continues to hurt someone.
- Punitive damages: An owner whose conduct was especially reckless or scandalous, for example, repeatedly letting a vicious dog loose, may be punished by paying an additional amount, in addition to the amount necessary to compensate the victim.
In closing, we invite you to contact us so we can discuss your case and determine how California state law protects you.