Dog Bite Lawyers in San Jose, CA
Call Our Team After a Dog Attack
When you or a family member are injured by someone else’s dog, you have the right to retain a lawyer and pursue a claim against the owner of the dog. Dog bites can cause lasting injuries, including disfigurement, infection, loss of work, and painful rehabilitation. They can also result in lasting emotional distress that affects your relationships with friends and family, ability to work, and ability to take part in activities you once enjoyed.
At Scher, Bassett & Hames, we have decades of experience as dog bite attorneys in San Jose, CA and we can help you file a claim, navigate the legal system, and have a better chance at achieving a favorable outcome. To learn more about how our dog bite law firm can help you, call us today.
Your Rights After a Dog Bite Attack
After a dog bite attack, it’s very important to take immediate steps to protect your legal rights. California is one of the states with strict liability dog bite laws that ensure that dog owners are responsible for most dog bite injuries. It doesn’t matter if the dog’s owners had prior knowledge that their dog had bitten someone before – they are still liable whether or not it was their dog’s first attack. Your rights as a victim are protected if:
- You were bitten
- You were in a public place
- You were lawfully in a private place; for instance, if you were on the dog owner’s property by invitation when the bite happened
As a victim, you have the right to pursue civil and/or criminal charges against the dog’s owner so you can receive compensation for medical and non-medical injuries sustained. You may not have the right to pursue a claim, or may not be successful in your claim, if you were trespassing at the time of injury, were partly at fault for the incident, or voluntarily took a risk of injury.
The Consequences of a Dog Attack
A dog attack can result in physical injuries of various severity, but it also often has a long-term effect on the victim’s mental health. The most common physical injuries seen after a dog attack include:
- Soft tissue injuries
- Loss of sight or hearing
- Broken bones, fractures, and sprains
- Scarring
- Internal injuries
- Infection
- Sepsis or gangrene
- Loss of limbs
- Head injuries/concussions
- Spinal injuries
Common emotional injuries that may show up days, months, or even years after a dog attack can include:
- Depression
- Withdrawal
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Loss of appetite
- Stress headaches or migraines
- PTSD
- Changes in personality
Compensation for a San Jose Dog Bite Case
The potential compensation you’ll receive after winning a dog bite lawsuit in San Jose, CA depends upon a number of factors:
Depending on the size of the dog, severity of the attack, and age or size of the victim, a dog attack can have serious consequences. It is possible to suffer from permanent injuries, such as loss of fingers or limbs, head injuries, facial injuries, permanent scarring or disfigurement, and brain or spinal cord damage. There is also the risk of infection or loss of eyesight or hearing due to injuries. The more severe the injuries, the higher the compensation.
A permanent disability or disfigurement will result in higher compensation.
A lengthy recovery time will result in higher compensation.
Injuries to the face, neck, and hands will result in higher compensation, as will internal injuries with permanent results, such as the loss of a limb, organ, or brain or spinal cord damage.
If you are suffering severe psychological after-effects of an attack, you may get higher compensation.
The permanent or temporary inability to work or participate in your normal activities may result in higher compensation.
The higher your medical bills, the more compensation you should receive to cover the costs.
If your outcome for making a full overall recovery is slim, you may get higher compensation.
How a Dog Bite Injury Attorney Can Help
A dog bite injury lawyer can review your documentation to determine if you have a case worth pursuing, and can also collect evidence on your behalf to establish the liability of the dog’s owner. At Scher, Bassett & Hames, your dog bite lawyer will handle court filings, ensure deadlines are met, prepare you for depositions, medical exams, interviews, and court appearances, negotiate settlements on your behalf, and also handle any insurance claims. Hiring our dog bite law firm in San Jose, CA, will give you a better chance of a favorable outcome in court, and may result in higher compensation for your injuries.
Why Choose Us?
When you choose our experienced legal team at Scher, Basset & Hames, you’re getting a team of compassionate, knowledgeable people who will fight tirelessly for your rights in court. We have decades of experience and have handled many dog bite lawsuits in San Jose, CA. We can set up a free consultation to quickly determine if you have a case, and then take care of all of the legal legwork for you, so you don’t have added stress on top of your recovery. We will make sure you fully understand what to expect and what the outcome might be.
Contact Scher, Bassett & Hames
If you or a family member has been the victim of a dog bite or dog attack, our legal team at Scher, Bassett & Hames can help. Our dog attack lawyers can help you navigate the legal system and file a personal injury claim against the dog’s owner. To set up a free consultation or learn more about our lawyers for dog bites in San Jose, CA, call us or contact us online.