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Dogs provide humans with comfort, companionship, exercise, entertainment, and unconditional love.  Although dogs can be one of the best friends a person or family has, it is essential to remember that any dog can bite, even trusted family pets.

Dog attacks can cause serious physical wounds and significant emotional trauma.  According to the American Veterinarian Medical Association, more than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs yearly in the United States, and more than 800,000 receive medical attention for dog bites.  Moreover, nearly 1 in 5 people who are bitten by a dog require medical attention.  Children and older people are the most common victims of dog bites and are far more likely to be severely injured.

If a dog has bitten or attacked you or a loved one, you may be entitled to recover damages for the injuries you sustained.  Determining your legal rights can be complicated, and it may be unclear against whom to bring a claim and which damages you are entitled to receive.  Thus, consulting with an experienced Dana Point dog bite injury attorney is essential to obtain the best possible outcome for your case.

Our experienced attorneys can help you with many issues and, once we are retained, we will immediately investigate your case and prepare it for trial.  We will work diligently to ensure that you are compensated for your injury by:

  • Interviewing witnesses and examining evidence to preserve your claim
  • Collecting medical records and police reports
  • Communicating with insurance companies so you don’t have to
  • Providing strategic legal guidance to maximize recovery for medical expenses, pain, suffering, lost wages, wrongful death, and other damages.

The experienced dog bite injury attorneys at Neale & Fhima have a track record of obtaining large settlements and verdicts on behalf of their clients.  Our attorneys have over 40 years of combined litigation experience, and together they have recovered more than $50 million for their client’s injuries and losses in personal injury cases.  Need further assurance?  Here are just some of the comments and feedback that our clients have publicly shared about their Neale & Fhima experiences:

  • “Thank you so much for your tireless effort to our case, and the great result you got for us.  We are truly lucky to have found you.” – Heriberto E., San Juan Capistrano, CA
  • “Very thorough and aggressive representation.  Aaron litigated my case until he got me everything I was entitled to.” – Lauren S., Newport Beach, CA
  • “Aaron has done an amazing job representing me, he is very knowledgeable, thorough and results oriented.  I have referred several friends to him who have all shared the same positive experience.” – Diron L.

FAQs About Dog Bite Injury Accidents

Common Questions for Dog Bite Injury Lawyers in Dana Point, California

Why do dogs bite?

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, no matter how big or small, old or young, male or female, any dog can bite if provoked.  The following are the most common reasons a dog might bite:

  • In reaction to something –  If the dog finds itself in a stressful situation, it may bite to defend itself or its territory.
  • Because they are scared or have been startled – Dogs can bite because they feel threatened.  They can bite to protect something that is valuable to them, like their puppies, their food, or a toy.
  • Because they aren’t feeling well – They could be sick or sore due to injury or illness and might want to be left alone.
  • During play – Even though nipping during play might be fun for the dog, it can be dangerous for people.

What are the typical injuries sustained due to dog bites?

  • Broken bones
  • Injured muscles and ligaments
  • Cuts, scrapes, and deeper lacerations
  • Puncture wounds
  • Facial injuries
  • Eye injuries
  • Nerve damage
  • Permanent scarring and disfigurement
  • Infections or diseases
  • Wrongful death
  • Emotional injuries, such as distress, anguish, a phobia of dogs, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Who is responsible for a vicious dog bite attack?

In California, the owner of a dog is liable for damages suffered by a dog bite victim while in a public place or lawfully in a private area, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.  Hence, if you were lawfully on the property where the attack occurred, the owner or controller of the dog is legally responsible for your injuries.  Note, however, that liability doesn’t typically apply to injuries sustained when a dog performs police or military work.

What should I do if a dog has bitten or attacked you or a loved one?

Our Dana Point dog bite lawyers at Neale & Fhima must submit proof of all injury and monetary damages to recover compensation from the responsible party.  Therefore, it is essential for you to do the following:

  • Seek medical attention immediately.  Keep detailed notes about your medical appointments and any tests or treatments prescribed.
  • Document the details of the attack.  Write down the dog owner’s name, contact information, insurance details, and location where the bite happened.  Use this documentation when filing a dog bite report with your local authorities.  This report can be helpful when filing a legal claim.
  • Track all mileage or transportation expenses.
  •  Save all receipts for out-of-pocket expenses for doctor appointments, medications, etc.
  • Call a Dana Point dog bite attorney at Neale & Fhima at 888-407-2955 for expert assistance.

What is the deadline for filing your dog bite claim in California?

California limits the length of time in which to file a legal claim.  Although California doesn’t have a specific civil statute of limitations that applies to dog bite lawsuits, these cases fall under the statute of limitations for assault, battery, or personal injury, which mandates that a dog-bite civil suit must ordinarily be filed within two years of the date of the injury.  Since it is essential to act quickly if you have been bitten by a dog in California, contact an experienced dog bite injury lawyer at Neale & Fhima as soon as possible to discuss the details of your case.

What is my case worth?

Every case is different.  To determine the value of an individual’s case, our Dana Point dog bite injury lawyers will consider numerous variables, including the following:

  • the total medical expenses incurred to date
  • the entire anticipated future medical expenses
  • the total lost wages or earnings
  • the anticipated future lost wages or salaries
  • the severity of the physical or emotional injuries sustained
  • the injured person’s prognosis for recovery
  • non-monetary losses, including loss of quality of life, pain, and permanent disability.

Will my case have to go to trial?

Many dog bite injury accident cases are settled before trial.  Nevertheless, an attorney must prepare a case as if it will eventually go to trial.  If an insurance company is short-sighted and unwilling to offer sufficient compensation, you can have confidence that our experienced Dana Point dog bite injury attorneys at Neale & Fhima will have prepared a thorough and compelling case to bring before a jury.

Our law firm is highly regarded throughout California for the quality of the counsel and legal representation our experienced attorneys provide.  With more than 40 years of combined diverse experience inside and outside the courtroom, the skilled attorneys at Neale & Fhima have focused their legal talents on assisting people seriously injured by the carelessness of others.  We are justifiably proud of our record of success in representing victims of personal injury accidents.

Let Us Help You!

If you or a loved one has been attacked or bitten by a dog, let our team of compassionate attorneys help you get the compensation you need to move on with your life.  The experienced dog bite injury lawyers at Neale & Fhime can assist you in understanding everything necessary to advance your legal claim quickly and successfully.  Call our office at 888-407-2955 to schedule your free initial consultation to discuss your case.  We are committed to investigating every detail of your unique case and providing decisive counsel customized just for you and your legal needs so that you can obtain the compensation you deserve for the damages you sustained.

Attorney Aaron Fhima

Aaron Fhima, California attorneyAaron Fhima is a trial attorney who has secured numerous settlements and verdicts against large corporations and some of the largest auto manufacturers in the world. Representing consumers and injury victims throughout the state of California, Aaron’s practice areas include personal injury, and lemon law litigation. Aaron has a long record of success taking on large defense firms; and he doesn’t hesitate to take cases to trial when necessary to enforce his clients’ rights. [ Attorney Bio ]

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