Oxnard Dog Bite Lawyer

As loyal, affectionate companions and trained service, therapy, military, and law enforcement dogs, it’s no wonder many people refer to dogs as “man’s best friend.” Unfortunately, if a dog makes the decision to be less than friendly and bites or attacks someone, that victim may end up with catastrophic injuries or an even worse fate due to the power our furry friends possess. The experienced Oxnard dog bite lawyers at Walch Law know how traumatic and injurious animal attacks can be, so we are here to fight to get you the money you need and the closure you deserve for what you’ve endured. Robert and Gary have over 45 years of experience representing victims like you and have a 98%+ success rate, and they will use their resources and skill to get you maximum possible compensation so you can focus on your recovery. Contact us today to get started!

The suburban city of Oxnard, northwest of Los Angeles, is home to a multitude of dogs. Most residents of Oxnard stay in homes which have reasonably large backyards. The area also has pleasant weather year-round, which makes dog-walking, visits to dog parks such as College and Windrow, and hikes at Point Mugu State Park, The Grotto, and Solstice Canyon with your furry friend appealing activities. It also makes encounters with someone else’s dog a commonplace occurrence.

Unfortunately, even normally friendly dogs can unexpectedly bite or attack if startled or if they feel threatened. A 2-year old boy was mauled by a pit bull while at the Oxnard home of his babysitter; the animal later escaped the home at was at large for several days. This incident coincides with the local Public Health Department report that animal attacks are a significant health issue in the area.

If you’re bitten by a dog, you may be understandably traumatized and unsure what to do next. Here are a few simple steps you can take to protect your health, protect the public from potentially dangerous dog, and protect your case for compensation.

• Seek immediate medical care. Bite wounds contain a lot of bacteria and infect easily without medical treatment. You will also likely need a rabies test and shot.
• Get information about the dog, the owner, and, if the bite took place on the owner’s property, the homeowner’s insurance policy.
• Photograph your injury, the location the bite occurred, and the dog. If the dog is a stray, write down a physical description.
• Notify animal control.
• Never admit fault, apologize, agree to giving recorded statements, post about the incident or your injuries social media, or talk about whether you were injured or say you’re “fine” or “okay.”
• Speak to an experienced dog bite lawyer.

Generally, in Oxnard dog owners are strictly liable for harm caused by their dog. Under the standard of strict liability, victims have less to prove than most other personal injury victims in order to establish the owner’s liability for the harm caused. Strict liability for dog bites requires proving:

• The person in question owned the dog
• The bite took place on public property or during a time you were legally on private property
• The bite injured you

There are, however, exceptions to strict liability where you are required instead to prove they owner was negligent. For example, strict liability will not apply if you were trespassing when the bite occurred, provoked the dog, or were bitten by a law enforcement or military dog doing its’ job.

Dog bite victims commonly suffer extreme physical and emotional injuries in an attack. These injuries can result in expensive medical bills, emotional trauma, and even an inability to work due to the harm you suffered. An owner who is liable for your injuries may owe you compensation for:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages and lost future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Funeral or burial expenses
• Scarring, disability, or disfigurement from the attack

If you’ve been the victim of a vicious attack by a dog or another animal, it’s completely understandable you may be overwhelmed and unsure of what you should do next. However, you already took the right first step by finding the experienced Oxnard dog bite lawyers at The Walch Law Group. As soon as you hire us, we’ll use our knowledge, resources, and experience to fight to get you the check and the closure you deserve to get back on your feet. We’ll work hard to avoid unnecessary delays to get you results quickly so you can avoid understandable financial stresses that your traumatic experience has caused. Contact us today to see why Robert and Gary are the attorneys you want in your corner when you want justice.