Dog Bite Lawyer in Sierra County, CA
A dog bite can lead to lasting injuries that may impact your ability to go to work, stay in school or engage in other activities. A dog bite lawyer such as those from Silverthorne Attorneys can help you obtain compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other sources that may be available under state law. Let’s take a look at the potential consequences of a dog bite injury as well as what dog owners can do to reduce the risk that their animals are involved in an attack.
If you are bit by a dog, it’s important to seek medical treatment immediately. This is because the bite can become infected as bacteria in the dog’s mouth gets into your bloodstream. Going to the doctor also shows that you suffered a financial loss, which is one of the key elements in obtaining a favorable outcome in a dog bite lawsuit. A dog bite attorney may be able to further explain the importance of seeking treatment or what you can do if additional symptoms present in the days or weeks after you are bitten by a dog.
There are several consequences that may occur if you are hurt in a dog bite attack. There may also be consequences for the dog as well as for the owner or person responsible for caring for the dog when the attack took place. You may be left with injuries that take months or years to heal from while the dog may be put down or put in quarantine. This may be true even if it didn’t have a history of vicious or otherwise aggressive behavior. The owner or caregiver at the time may face criminal charges as well as civil penalties above what you might obtain from a jury award or settlement.
There are a number of steps that a dog owner can take to minimize the risk of a dog attack. When out with the dog, make sure it is on a leash to ensure that you can control it at all times. It may also be a good idea to keep your dog away from other animals as a pack mentality can set in. It’s possible for even the nicest dog to get overly excited or aggressive when in a group as instinct overrides the animal’s training. Continuous training can also help establish boundaries and socialize your animal to be respectful of other dogs as well as people it may encounter.
If you are hurt by a dog in an unprovoked attack, seek medical attention immediately. Afterward, make sure to contact a dog attack attorney such as those at Silverthorne Attorneys. Doing so may preserve your ability to file a lawsuit or otherwise maximize your ability to obtain a favorable outcome in a settlement or at trial. We can take a number of steps to help such as obtaining evidence or hiring expert witnesses to bolster your version of events.