Dog bites can cause severe injuries, leave long-term emotional scars, and prevent you from working for weeks or months. If you suffered a dog bite injury in Stockton, CA, turn to Demas Law Group for help seeking fair compensation.
Our experienced lawyers have recovered over $200 million for our clients over more than 30 years of service to our community. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf, so you have nothing to lose. Call now or complete our contact form to arrange a free case review with a Stockton dog bite lawyer.
What to Do Immediately After a Dog Bite in Stockton
Take these steps immediately after a dog bite to protect your health and legal rights:
- Seek medical attention.
- Write down everything you remember about the attack if you can.
- Try to identify the dog and its owner, but don’t risk further injuries or an angry confrontation.
- Save your medical bills, receipts, and other documents related to the attack.
- Don’t speak to any insurance companies.
- Consult a Stockton animal attack lawyer for help determining your right to financial compensation.
Understanding California’s Strict Liability Dog Bite Law
Under California law, dog owners are strictly liable for injuries their dogs cause in most cases. That means if a dog bit you while you were lawfully in a public place or on private property, the owner is automatically responsible for your injuries. You do not need to prove that the dog was dangerous, had bitten anyone before, or that the owner acted negligently.
Even so, there are ways for dog owners to defend themselves in these cases, such as claiming you were trespassing or that you provoked the dog. These arguments can complicate your dog bite claim, but a skilled attorney can review the facts and build a strong case asserting your right to compensation.
Common Dog Bite Injuries We Handle
Our dog bite attorneys help people who’ve suffered many kinds of dog bite injuries, including:
- Puncture wounds – A dog’s sharp teeth can pierce the skin and underlying tissue, leaving deep wounds that are highly susceptible to infection.
- Lacerations and tearing injuries – Dogs often clamp down and shake when they bite, which can cause jagged cuts or torn flesh requiring stitches or reconstructive surgery.
- Nerve damage – A bite that penetrates deeply into muscle tissue can sever or damage nerves, leading to lasting weakness, numbness, or loss of function.
- Fractures – Large or powerful dogs can crush bones in the hands, arms, or legs when they bite with enough force.
- Disfigurement – In severe cases, dog bites can cause permanent scarring and disfigurement, especially among child victims.
Compensation You Could Recover in a Stockton Dog Bite Claim
Your compensation in a dog bite injury claim in Stockton could include money for:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
How Our Stockton Dog Bite Lawyers Can Help You
At Demas Law Group, we know how physically and emotionally overwhelming a dog bite can be. Our legal team can act immediately to investigate the attack, collect your medical records, and gather witness statements to craft a dog bite injury claim on your behalf.
Our firm can also manage all communications with insurance companies. That way, you don’t have to worry about adjusters pressuring you into a lowball settlement. We’ll calculate your full losses — from medical bills to lost wages and pain and suffering — and fight vigorously in the pursuit of full and fair compensation.
From start to finish, you can count on our firm to provide the award-winning customer service that protects your rights under California law. Call now or complete our contact form for a free consultation.
