Quirk Accident & Injury Attorneys represents dog bite victims in Oxnard. A dog bite can happen anywhere in the city, but are particularly common at one of the city’s many dog parks. If you’ve been bitten by a dog in a dog park, we’re here to help you. Contact us today for a free consultation to talk about your options.
Do You Need a Lawyer?
Being in any situation where you get bitten by a dog is unfortunate, and can be quite traumatic. This is true even if it happens in a dog park. The reality is that the environment of a dog park can be overwhelming for some dogs, even though it’s designed specifically for them. This overstimulation can frequently lead to you getting bitten, and at that point, it could leave you injured.
Whether you need a lawyer depends on what happened. If the bite was small and doesn’t need legal action, that’s great. But if you’re really hurt, you’ll likely need more help. That’s where we can step in. Our team will guide you through the legal process of dealing with your dog bite. We know a lot about California’s laws on dog bites, so we can explain your rights and what you can do to get financial support for your injuries. We’ll also carefully look at your case to see how strong it is and what you need to do for it to be successful.
More than anything else, we want to make this process easier for you and your family. We take care of the legal side of things while you focus on getting better.
Who’s Responsible for a Dog Bite in Oxnard?
Figuring out who’s responsible for your injuries after you’ve been bitten by a dog at an Oxnard dog park is usually the starting point of your legal options. Luckily, California law makes this fairly straightforward.
According to Section 3342 of the California Civil Code, liability for a dog bite falls squarely on the:
- Dog’s owner, under the state’s “strict liability” rule.
This means that, all things being equal, the dog’s owner is the one that has the legal responsibility of covering your injuries and other losses from the bite.
Responsibility of the Dog Park
Basically, when the bite happens at one of Oxnard’s dog parks, the management or ownership of the park could share some of the responsibility under “premises liability” law. This says that property owners have a duty to take steps to keep visitors safe.
When there’s aggressive dogs, or the park isn’t closely supervised or kept free of hazards, they share some of the liability for the bite–and by extension, your injuries. This is true regardless of whether the park is publicly or privately owned. So, it helps to know some of the more popular dog parks in the city, since they could potentially become involved in your claim:
- Campus Park
- Jax’s Windrow Dog Park
- Rudy’s Dog Park
- Port Hueneme Naval Base Dog Park
Obviously, you never want to be bitten by a dog, even at a dog park. Still, when it does happen, you have legal options–and the ability to recover damages.
What Are Your Damages in a Dog Bite Claim?
One of the good things about your claim options after a dog bite is that they don’t change based on where the bite happens. So, if the bite happens at a dog park, you have the same rights as you would if the bite happened at someone’s home, a store, or somewhere else where you run across a dog.
Legally speaking, a dog bite claim is a personal injury claim. This means that once you have the dog owner and the dog park, you can file a claim against them–more specifically their insurance companies. You do this either by:
- Filing an insurance claim outside of court
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit
Once your claim is filed, you can potentially recover financial support for your losses from the bite, like:
- Medical expenses and treatment costs
- Lost income or earning potential from missed work
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Repair/replacement costs for damaged clothing or property
- Loss of companionship or enjoyment of life
In the event your dog is the one that’s been bitten, you can’t file a claim on their behalf. However, given the circumstances, you may be able to recover damages for their vet bills and any other costs.
Showing the Extent of Your Damages After a Dog Bite
Like any other claim, it’s up to you to show the extent of your damages. In order to do this, you need to respond in the right way. Even with clear liability, you have to take certain steps to protect and strengthen your claim. Here’s how:
- Get medical help right away – Even small bites can cause big problems, so it’s important to treat them quickly to avoid complications. Call 911 for an ambulance or go straight to an emergency room or urgent care to get treatment.
- Find the dog’s owner – If you can, get the owner’s name and contact details, and note down any witnesses. This information helps establish who’s responsible and can help you get damages.
- Report the incident – Let the local animal control or police know about the bite. They can help find the dog and check if it has a history of being aggressive. Also, report the incident to the dog park’s management or owner so they can take corrective action.
- Document everything – Take pictures of your injuries and where the attack happened. Write down what happened, including the date, time, and location, as well as details about the dog and its owner.
Whether your dog bite is minor or serious, these steps are essential for making sure you’re safe and that your injuries are well taken care of. Additionally, following these steps can strengthen your potential claim.
Reducing the Chances of a Bite at a Dog Park
It might seem like a dog bite at an Oxnard dog park is unavoidable, given the number of dogs that are usually there. Still, the reality is that many of these incidents are avoidable. So long as owners take their responsibility seriously and watch their dog, it usually goes a long way toward preventing a bite from happening.
However, for you, there’s certain things you can do to at least reduce the chances of a bite happening:
- Learn warning signs and posture
- Try to avoid unleashed or aggressive dogs
- Stay in separate areas if you have a smaller or larger dog
- Be careful when first approaching a more rambunctious dog
- Don’t approach a dog that is lying down or drinking water
- Stay calm and remain pleasant with dogs
You can’t completely avoid dog bites, especially at a dog park. Still, by following these steps, you can at least reduce the chances. However, if you are bitten, our team will be there to support you.
Contact Our Oxnard Dog Bite Lawyers After a Bite at a Dog Park
Going to a dog park in Oxnard shouldn’t end in a dog bite causing you or your dog an injury. Even though who’s responsible is often clear, Quirk Accident & Injury Attorneys are here to protect your rights. We’ll guide you through the legal process and make sure you can make a recovery. Contact us today for a free consultation if you or a loved one have been bitten by a dog at an Oxnard dog park.