How Does “Duty of Care” Work in Dog Bite Claims?
Dog bite injuries can be severe and financially taxing, which can be highly frustrating to victims who are not responsible for their wounds. However, we believe victims should not face out-of-pocket expenses because of another party’s irresponsible behavior. The Newport Beach dog bite lawyers from Younglove Law Group want to help victims hold the liable individuals accountable for their negligence and broken duty of care. Legal matters and serious injuries can be stressful and confusing enough, and you should not need to face these circumstances alone.
Our clients trust us to bring them excellent results, including reduced stress, high compensation, and a sense of justice against those who have wronged them. We have access to many helpful resources, tools, strategies, and more to help you through this challenging legal process when you contact us. Our experienced, compassionate, and dedicated team of dog bite injury attorneys are ready to hear from you and assist you with your claims.
What Is “Duty of Care” in California Law?
In short, “duty of care” refers to certain obligations one party owes to another. For example, when driving on the road, drivers owe others a degree of caution: to follow traffic signals and signs, stay within the speed limit, and pay attention to the street in front of and around them.
A breach of duty of care may be illegal in some cases, like driving without earning and holding onto your driver’s license. Breaching the duty of care can be severely dangerous, potentially increasing the risk of harm and serious injury to others. Breached duty of care may also be called “negligence” in some circumstances.
What Duty of Care Do California Dog Owners Owe to Others?
Regarding liability, a dog’s owner is almost always responsible for injuries the animal inflicts on others. This can change if the dog is under another person’s care and the owner acts as cautiously as their level of control allows to prevent injury. Mitigating risk and danger to others is essential, which is why the dog owner is often held liable. If you need help understanding who is responsible for a dog bite and the resulting consequences, we recommend going through any relevant details with a lawyer.
Dog owners owe a significant duty of care to others, especially if the animal shows a history of aggression and dangerous behavior. They must communicate with passersby that they should not get too close to the dog, keep their pet on a leash whenever necessary, enroll the animal in particular training, and take other precautions. In other words, the dog owner is responsible for limiting the potential risks of injury as much as possible.
Signs You Need to Visit a Doctor for Your Dog Bite in California
If you are worried about the dog bite and are considering receiving medical attention, the following are a few signs you should visit your doctor or emergency services:
- You do not know the dog personally
- Deep bite wounds
- Unable to wash and dress the injury properly
- Feel sick
- Loss of feeling in the affected areas
- The dog is not up to date on shots
- Bleeding cannot be stopped
- Signs of infection
- You may need stitches
If you want to take legal action against the liable party, we strongly recommend you seek medical attention. Your doctor can help assess your injuries and generally speed up your recovery, and the documentation from medical bills can help you estimate the value of your claims more accurately. Additionally, if you choose to take legal action against the responsible individual, we suggest you speak with a dog bite attorney in California. Your lawyer can help you significantly increase the value of your claim and otherwise aid you during your recovery.
Dog Bite Injury in California? Get the Compensation You Need With Help From a Younglove Law Group Dog Bite Lawyer
If you have been in an incident resulting in a severe dog bite injury, Younglove Law Group knows how stressful the circumstances can be. We recommend you get in touch with our dog bite injury lawyers for assistance, as we will likely be a great benefit to your legal matters.
We invite you to contact us at your earliest convenience, as this can significantly increase your likelihood of legal success. You can reach us at (949) 691-3660, use our toll-free number at (844) 810-1800, or complete the contact form on our website. Our team looks forward to discussing your case further, calming any concerns, and providing you with additional helpful information.
