Dog Bite Accident Lawyer

If you’ve recently been bitten by a dog that isn’t your own domesticated animal, you’re likely in a very strong position to seek damages from the dog’s owner and/or the owner of the property upon which you were standing when you received your bite.

Unlike states that are known as “one bite” states, California allows injury victims to hold dog owners strictly liable for the harm caused by a dog, regardless of whether the dog was previously known to be vicious. One bite states have enacted laws that make it very difficult for dog bite injury victims to pursue damages unless a dog has previously bitten someone and is known to be dangerous. By contrast, even if no one knew that the dog had the potential for viciousness and even if the bite wasn’t especially severe, a dog bite injury victim can hold a dog owner strictly liable for harm in California.  

When Dog Bites Are Work-Related

As an experienced dog bite accident lawyer – including those who practice at the Cohen Injury Law Group – can confirm, seeking personal injury damages from a dog owner in a strict liability context is not necessarily the only opportunity for compensation that dog bite victims may pursue in the wake of an injurious dog bite. Whether you’re a postal worker or a construction worker, a delivery worker or a law enforcement officer, if you were bitten while you were engaging in work-related activities, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.

Generally speaking, workers who are classified as full-time or part-time employees (as well as independent contractors who should rightfully be classified as part-time or full-time employees) are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits in the event of work-related injury. This eligibility applies to documented and undocumented workers in California. The only notable exception to this broad eligibility for benefits awarded in the wake of work-related injuries is that an otherwise eligible worker is generally barred from seeking benefits if they were drunk, high, starting a fight, or trying to defraud the system when they sustained harm.

Being Proactive and Careful

Even though California law is especially mindful of the rights of dog bite injury victims, it remains important to be very careful while interacting on social media until your case has been completely resolved. Securing dog bite injury damages can be a time-intensive, complex process. You don’t want to give the other side even the slightest appearance that you’re not as injured as you claim to be.

Any language, pictures, and even likes that you post on social media can be used against your case and can be used as an excuse to minimize the amount of compensation that you’re ultimately awarded. Even if your settings are as private as they can be, you’ll want to behave as if every single click on social media can be discovered by insurance representatives, opposing counsel, and the state’s workers’ compensation system.