Hayward Personal Injury Lawyer

Dog Bite Attorney in Hayward, CA

What This Page Covers

• Long-Term Effects: Dog bite injuries can cause chronic pain, scarring, psychological trauma, and permanent disabilities, requiring ongoing medical treatment and impacting victims’ quality of life.
• Types of Damages: Victims may seek economic damages for medical expenses and lost wages, non-economic damages for pain and suffering, and punitive damages for egregious owner misconduct.
• Liability: In California, dog owners are strictly liable for bite injuries, regardless of the dog’s past behavior, with potential shared liability for those controlling the dog during the incident.
• Setareh Law: Setareh Law provides expert legal representation for dog bite victims, ensuring justice and fair compensation for physical, emotional, and financial damages.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog bite in California, you may be facing physical, emotional, and financial challenges. In this difficult time, it’s important to seek the guidance and support of a skilled Hayward dog bite lawyer who can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.

At Setareh Law, we understand the physical and emotional toll that a dog bite can take on your life. That’s why we are committed to providing compassionate and personalized legal representation to each and every client. We believe that every dog bite victim deserves justice and fair compensation for their injuries.

Long-Term Impacts of Dog Bite Injuries

The long-term impacts of dog bite injuries can be extensive, affecting both physical and mental health. Victims may experience chronic pain, scarring, and disfigurement, which can lead to lasting psychological trauma and self-esteem issues. Ongoing medical treatment and therapy may be necessary to address these long-term effects and improve the victim’s quality of life.

Some dog bite injuries can result in permanent disabilities that require adaptations in daily living and potential changes in career or lifestyle. Long-term impacts can also manifest in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other psychological disorders, impacting the victim’s ability to function normally in various aspects of life.

Potential Damages After a Dog Bite Injury

There are various types of compensation you may be eligible for following a dog bite accident, such as:

Economic Damages

Economic damages include the tangible costs incurred as a result of the dog bite, such as medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages due to time off work. Medical expenses are a significant component of economic damages in dog bite cases, as these injuries can result in costly treatments, surgeries, and ongoing care.

Rehabilitation costs, such as physical therapy or counseling to address any emotional trauma resulting from the dog bite, are also considered economic damages that you can seek compensation for in your claim. 

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages in dog bite cases include the intangible losses that a victim experiences as a result of the injury. These damages focus on the emotional and psychological impact of the incident, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of quality of life. While these damages are not easily quantifiable, they are equally significant in recognizing the full extent of the harm caused by the dog bite.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are a type of compensation that may be awarded in dog bite cases where the dog owner’s actions were particularly egregious or reckless. Unlike economic and non-economic damages, punitive damages are intended to punish the defendant for their misconduct and deter similar behavior in the future. These damages go beyond compensating the victim for their losses and serve as a form of punishment for the wrongful actions of the dog owner.

To receive punitive damages in a dog bite case, the victim must demonstrate that the dog owner acted with malice, oppression, or fraud, showing a willful disregard for the safety of others. This higher standard of proof is necessary to justify the imposition of punitive damages and hold the defendant accountable for their intentional wrongdoing.

Wrongful Death Damages

In tragic cases where a dog bite results in the loss of a loved one’s life, wrongful death damages may be pursued by the surviving family members. These damages aim to compensate for the financial and emotional losses suffered due to the wrongful death caused by the dog attack. 

Although no amount of compensation can bring back a lost loved one, seeking justice through a wrongful death claim can help hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions.

Wrongful death damages typically cover funeral and burial expenses, medical bills incurred before the individual’s passing, loss of income and financial support, and the emotional pain and suffering endured by the surviving family members.

Who is Liable for Dog Bites?

Establishing liability for dog bites is crucial in determining who is responsible for the victim’s damages and losses. In California, a strict liability rule holds dog owners accountable for injuries caused by their pets, regardless of the animal’s past behavior or the owner’s knowledge of aggressive tendencies. This means that dog owners can be held liable for damages resulting from their pet’s actions.

Additionally, individuals who are in control of the dog at the time of the incident, such as dog walkers or caretakers, may also share liability for dog bite injuries. They have a duty to ensure the dog is properly supervised and under control to prevent any potential attacks. If they fail to do so and the dog bites someone, they may be held responsible for the resulting injuries.

Contact Setareh Law For a Skilled Dog Bite Lawyer Today

Are you a victim of a dog bite attack in California? Don’t suffer in silence. You deserve justice and compensation for your pain and suffering. The experienced team of personal injury lawyers at Setareh Law is here to help you navigate the legal process and fight for your rights.

Schedule a consultation with a Hayward dog bite lawyer from Setareh Law by calling (310) 659-1826 or filling out our contact form. We are ready to advocate for you and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Schedule a Consult at Our Fresno Location

Setareh Law, APLC

4005 N Blackstone Ave
Suite 101
Fresno, CA 93726
(559) 212-3708