Quirk Accident & Injury Attorneys, APC, protects victims who suffer dog bites at Thousand Oaks dog parks. In most cases, bite victims can ask dog owners for full compensation for their medical bills and the time they miss at work while trying to heal. Our Thousand Oaks lawyers offer a free case consultation to all victims in Ventura County. It’s an easy, no-obligation way for victims to get their questions answered and to find out if they have a strong case. Contact our office to schedule a case review as soon as possible.
When Do I Need a Dog Bite Lawyer?
An encounter with a dog that ends with some minor scratches or some bruising may not be a case that will require the help of a lawyer. Our lawyers will be upfront with you and tell you if we can’t get you more for your case than you could by filing a claim yourself.
But if your case involves a serious injury, like a deep puncture wound or a broken bone in the hand, you could need the protection of a legal professional. Dog bite victims should get the best medical care available, but that care can end up costing tens of thousands of dollars. When the bills reach these levels, the dog owner’s insurance provider will usually turn to tried and true tactics to try to limit the support they must pay victims.
They may try to blame you for inciting a dog attack. They may find doctors who will say your injuries aren’t all that bad. Your Thousand Oaks dog bite lawyer pushes back on these unfair assessments and presents evidence that keeps insurance adjusters from changing the story. Your attorney then goes on the offensive and seeks to earn you the most possible in a dog bite settlement check.
Thousand Oaks Dog Park Dangers and Strict Liability
Local dog parks are supposed to be places where dogs and their pet parents can have fun and socialize. But dogs can get confused or frightened or play too aggressively and end up biting another dog or a person.
Fortunately, for victims, dog owners can be responsible for providing financial help for bite victims as they seek medical care. That’s true even if the wound occurs within an enclosed park.
California follows the legal concept of “strict liability” with dog bites. It means that dog owners are held liable for recovery costs in most instances. The victim can’t have provoked the dog or been trespassing at the time of the bite, but otherwise, dog owners are usually fully accountable. Dog owners are responsible even if it’s the first time a dog has ever shown aggression.
A dog park visitor could be bitten while petting a dog or may suffer a bite after getting in between dogs who are fighting.
These are all possible scenarios at Thousand Oaks’ busiest dog parks:
- Conejo Creek Dog Park
- Westlake Village Dog Park
- Oak Canyon Dog Park
- Kimber Park Dog Park
Dog bites can take a long time to heal and bite victims should never run out of support before they’ve made a full recovery. A dog bite attorney investigates each case and secures medical documents showing just how much care a patient requires and the costs. Estimates for care expected to be needed in the future must also be considered. An attorney then demands enough in compensation so victims have what they need if a dog bite injury flares up or requires additional surgeries in the years ahead.
Can I Sue Thousand Oaks or an Apartment Complex after a Dog Bite?
Generally, the owners and operators of dog parks, such as a public parks department couldn’t be targeted in a lawsuit after a dog bite. Dog parks are considered “use at your own risk” facilities. That’s usually true of private dog parks often provided at apartment complexes too. In general, victims would only be able to file claims against the dog owner’s homeowners insurance or renter’s insurance.
However, dog park operators are only protected from liability over injuries caused by the reasonable risks of being in an enclosure with unpredictable pets. If your injury was caused by an act of negligence that went beyond the usual hazards, your lawyer may be able to file a claim against a city department and win.
A problem with the fencing at a dog park that allowed a dog to escape and bite someone could leave the city of Thousand Oaks liable. A tenant who had been reported for bringing a dangerous dog to an apartment dog park might leave a property management company liable if the dog was allowed to return and hurt someone.
Benefits Available for Thousand Oak Dog Bite Victims
Dog bite victims must seek the maximum compensation possible because the effects of a dog bite can continue on well after initial treatment in an emergency room. Bite wounds often develop dangerous infections. Bones that are broken along jagged lines can heal in the wrong position, meaning additional care and even surgery could be necessary.
Child dog bite victims will usually require additional support in the future. An injury can flare up in the teen years as a child’s body matures. That development can be affected by an old injury, and sometimes additional surgery and physical therapy are required to help a child grow into adulthood normally.
These and other hardships for all dog bite victims would have to be considered when determining the amount on an injury settlement check:
- Past medical bills in connection with the attack along with any future medical bills reasonably expected to be received in the future.
- Long-term support for any permanent disfigurement or disability.
- Support for the physical pain suffered.
- Support for the emotional trauma, including PTSD symptoms after a dog attack, that victims must cope with.
- Lost paychecks while victims must miss work.
- Reimbursement for property damage.
Contact a Thousand Oaks Dog Bite Lawyer
After a scary bite incident, victims should get the best medical care available without having to worry about how much hospital bills will be. Allow us to handle your case and fight for your rights, while you are given the time to focus on healing.
Schedule a free case review with Quirk Accident & Injury Attorneys, APC. It’s a risk-free way to determine the level of support you should demand and how to hold a dog owner fully accountable. There’s no obligation, but if you feel we can help earn more in support for your family, you won’t need to bring any money with you. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for your family. Then our fee comes out of the settlement award you receive.