Quirk Accident & Injury Attorneys represents dog bite victims in Oxnard. Any dog bite situation is difficult, but it takes on increased trauma when it’s your child that gets bitten. What’s worse, the injuries that your child suffers could last for the rest of their life. Don’t face this situation alone. Contact our Oxnard dog bite lawyers today for a free consultation.
When Should You Hire a Lawyer?
When your child is the one who gets hurt in a dog bite incident, they have the same legal rights and options as you would. The main difference is that you will have to file the claim on their behalf. But whether or not you even need to hire a lawyer depends on the circumstances.
It’s up to you whether you want to take legal action after your child is bitten by a dog in Oxnard. You don’t have to hire a lawyer, but it’s often a good idea because these situations can be tricky. If you decide to work with us, we’ll do a few things to help:
- We’ll look into what happened.
- We’ll explain what options your child has under the law and what steps to take next.
- We’ll help you collect evidence to support your case.
- We’ll negotiate with insurance companies
Our main aim is to get financial support for your child’s injuries and losses. Let us handle the legal process so you can focus on helping your child get better.
What’s the Legal Process When Your Child is Bitten by a Dog?
Legally speaking, your child’s rights are the same as any other dog bite victim in Oxnard. More to the point, the law in California relating to dog bites is also the same. This means that the owner of the dog is “strictly liable” for any injuries to your child.
Procedurally, you’ll have to:
- File an insurance claim out of court
- File a personal injury lawsuit
This opens the legal process, the point of which is to recover “damages” from the responsible party. Dog bites can cause long-term problems for children, affecting their health and happiness. Here’s what can be covered in your child’s dog bite claim:
- Medical bills, covering both current and future treatments.
- Lost earnings, if you have to miss work to care for your child. It also covers the loss of future earning potential if your child is permanently injured.
- Pain and suffering, for costs relating to the physical pain your child goes through. There’s also coverage for any emotional distress.
- Costs relating to scarring, disfigurement, or permanent injuries that cause your child lasting harm.
- Loss of quality of life, which covers when your child can’t enjoy their life as they did prior to the bite incident.
It’s difficult to consider, but if your child dies from their injuries, you can also recover things like funeral or burial expenses and loss of companionship.
Normally, you have two years after the accident to file your claim. But for children, this time limit starts when they turn 18, giving you more time to act. Still, it’s crucial to act quickly to take care of any injuries.
What Injuries Can Happen To Your Child in a Dog Bite?
What makes a dog bite incident on your child so difficult is that, unfortunately, they’re especially vulnerable to injuries. What’s worse, the same types of injuries are just as likely to happen to your child, but with added severity. This is due to the fact that, because of their smaller frame and stature, a child’s head, face, and neck are often the first place the dog goes to with a bite.
Still, depending on other factors like where the bite occurs and the dog’s breed, potential injuries your child could be facing include:
- Bites on the face, neck, arms, hands, ankles, and feet.
- Infections if wounds aren’t treated.
- Broken bones, cuts, bruises, and nerve damage.
- Diseases like rabies.
- Eye and facial injuries, and in severe cases, death.
Obviously, any one of these injuries can have a huge impact on your child’s development and growth. And unfortunately, they’ll often have multiple of these injuries to deal with, which only complicates things. This makes strengthening your child’s claim extremely important.
How Can You Strengthen Your Child’s Dog Bite Claim?
Your child having the legal right to file an injury claim is not enough to recover damages. It’s ultimately up to you to show the extent of their damages and injuries, which means that certain steps are needed to strengthen their claim:
- Get medical help – Getting medical care for your child should be your first priority. Make sure your child receives immediate attention and is moved to safety away from the dog. This addresses any immediate injuries and reduces the risk of complications like infections.
- Find the owner – Next, try to identify the dog and its owner. Get their contact and insurance information, as this is crucial for your claim. If you can’t find them or they refuse, the next step is even more important.
- Report the bite to authorities – Once medical care is taken care of, report the bite to the authorities, such as the Oxnard Police Department (OPD) or Oxnard Animal Safety Unit. They can investigate the incident and gather further information about the dog and owner.
- Gather evidence – Start gathering supporting evidence, such as photos of the injuries, the incident location, and witness statements. This evidence strengthens your child’s claim.
- Track your child’s losses – Keep detailed records of your child’s medical care and expenses resulting from the dog bite, including hospital visits, surgeries, medications, and ongoing treatment.
Although they’re serious, dog bites can be avoided. Teach your child to respect dogs’ space and body language. Always watch them around dogs and teach them not to bother dogs while they eat or sleep. These steps can help prevent bites, but if one happens, seek legal help from our team.
Child Dog Bite Lawyers in Oxnard
No parent wants their child to suffer from a dog bite or any accident. These situations can be challenging for your entire family. At Quirk Accident & Injury Attorneys, our Oxnard child dog bite lawyers are here to help in this unfortunate situation. We’ll fight for your child’s rights and provide the necessary support for their recovery. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about your family’s options.