If you or your child have been attacked or bit by a dog in Palm Desert or nearby Riverside County, California, we can help. California’s Dog Bite Statute may allow you to recover compensation from the owners or their insurance, and Nordstrom, Steele, Nicolette & Blythe will make sure you get it.
Dog bites are distressingly common, especially among children. They remain one of the leading sources of injuries among kids, and Riverside County is no exception. With a rising population and an abundance of parks, golf courses and residential neighborhoods, Palm Desert, in particular, sees regular dangerous dog attacks. Nearly every year, there is at least one serious dog attack in Palm Desert alone, which can leave families feeling helpless, stressed, or covering extensive medical bills.
The law firm Nordstrom, Steele, Nicolette & Blythe was created almost 50 years ago to help injured victims of all kinds in California. Dog bites, among other accident and injury cases, are always a priority for us; there are few things as cruel as seeing a child’s life altered or ruined because of their simple desire to play with a dog or a hound owner’s careless recklessness in failing to keep others safe.
California’s laws allow dog bite victims or their parents to claim compensation, though not in every circumstance. Our dog bite personal injury lawyers will help you determine if you are eligible to pursue the owner or their insurance and will help you recover the compensation you need.
California has very little tolerance for dangerous dog behavior, and this is reflected in its laws. The Statute on dog bites is clear: if a dog bites, regardless of its history or prior behavior, the owner is liable for the injury caused.
There are, of course, some exceptions to this. But generally speaking, whether it is in a park or in a house, in a yard or on a trip, if you or your child is bitten, the owner is legally responsible and can be made to pay damages.
Those exceptions are important, however, and if you are ever bitten, the only way to know for sure what you might be eligible for is to call a dog bite lawyer (760) 852-7134. In the meantime, here are three frequently asked questions to help you understand how dog bites are handled under the law in California.
Many dog bites will be caused by stranger’s dogs, in the park, for example, but sometimes, the dog will belong to a friend or family member. You might be reluctant to pursue them for damages for fear of endangering that relationship.
But if they are a true friend and wish to take responsibility for the harm caused to you or your child, you should not be afraid to approach them. Chances are a settlement can be reached that you and they agree on, which a dog bite injury lawyer will help negotiate.
Sometimes, even after a traumatic injury and expensive recovery, it will simply not be possible to seek damages in a dog bite lawsuit. Fortunately, these scenarios are quite rare and easy to avoid, especially in Palm Desert.
