Dog Bite at Dog Friendly Hotel Lawsuit Attorney

For a dog owner, their pet is a member of the family, and as such, they’re reluctant to leave them behind when they go on vacation. Luckily, there are plenty of dog friendly hotels, motels, and resorts that they can choose from. Many of these places allow dogs in every part of their premises, though there are rules concerning the dog’s behavior and the owner’s supervision of their pet. However, a dog bite incident can still happen, which can cause significant injury to the soft tissues and skin. Further damage may occur depending on where and how many times the person is bitten.

If you have been bitten by a dog at a dog friendly hotel, medical attention must be your first concern. After you’ve been treated, make sure to consult an attorney regarding your legal right to compensation. A dog bite injury may require multiple treatments, including surgery. Additionally, the emotional trauma of a dog bite attack can be intense. You may need on-going therapy to deal with mental health issues, which will become expensive very quickly. A lawsuit can help cover these costs, but there is a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit for a dog bite injury.

To learn more about your legal options if you’ve been bitten by a dog in a dog friendly hotel, schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys.

Liability in a Dog Bite Accident at a Dog Friendly Hotel

In order to pursue legal action for your injuries, you will first need to determine who is responsible for your accident. When it comes to dog bites, California operates under the system of strict liability. This means owners are responsible for their dog’s behavior, regardless of what or who triggered the incident. Simply put, if your dog bites someone, you are liable for that person’s injuries, even if your dog had no prior history of aggression.

The only exception to this rule is if the dog bit someone that was breaking into the premises or the dog was being provoked / attacked. However, if the victim had a valid reason to be on the premises and did not do anything to provoke the dog, the owner is responsible for the bite injury.

But dog bite liability rules go beyond the owner, since dogs are not always in their owner’s care. Dogs may be left at a veterinarians or grooming facility. They may also be at a kennel, doggy day care, resort, or some other property where dogs are allowed. These entities are known as “harborers,” meaning they are in charge of the space where the dog is residing. This is a complicated concept when it comes to hotels, as they are generally not the legal residence of a guest and their dog. However, it can be argued that the hotel is a temporary residence for the dog, as the owner is renting the room, suite, etc. for their personal use.

As you can see, determining a harborer’s liability in a dog bite accident is quite challenging. That’s why these cases have low success rates when victims fight for compensation on their own. Our experienced dog bite attorneys are here to assist you every step of the way. They will fight to uphold your rights as an injury victim and ensure that you are properly compensated for your suffering.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements

What are my Rights? Can I Sue the Hotel?

A dog-friendly resort or hotel may be considered a harborer of dogs on their property if the owner is:

• aware that the dog is on their premises
• does not object to the dog’s presence on their property

Thus, you may be able to sue the hotel if you were bitten by a dog on their premises. However, there are important elements that you will need to prove in order to support a claim for compensation. For example, were you bitten in a common area like the parking lot, elevator, or dining hall? In these areas, dog friendly hotels must have rules to ensure the safety of their guests, like requiring that owners leash their dogs in common areas. The list of these areas can be extensive at large, dog friendly resorts, but they should be clearly spelled out for all the guests.

This is a simplistic example of how a dog friendly hotel can breach their duty of care to a legitimate visitor or guest. Your own case may be more complicated, so you should seek advice from a dog bite accident attorney as soon as possible.

Injuries from a Dog Bite Incident

A dog bite can produce serious injuries, even from a relatively small dog. The severity of your injuries has a lot to with where you are bitten, with the face and neck being the most vulnerable areas. If you are bitten by a dog, you may sustain one or more of the following injuries:

• Soft tissue injuries
• Nerve damage
• Loss of function in the limbs
• Tetanus
• Rabies
• Sepsis
• Infection of the bones and joints
• Punctured organs
• Internal bleeding
• Eye damage
• Permanent scarring

Victims can also suffer from PTSD and other trauma-related disorders after a dog bite attack. Such mental health disorders require long-term treatment from a licensed therapist. That’s why it’s essential to explore your legal options with a personal injury lawyer. Contact our office and learn about your rights during a free consultation.

Compensation from a Dog Bite Injury Lawsuit

The losses you may sustain from a dog bite accident go far beyond the cost of medical treatment. There are various damages you can receive from a lawsuit, including:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage
• Legal fees
• Punitive damages

You may be unfamiliar with some of these damages, which is why you must speak with a lawyer right away. Our lawyers can give you a full explanation of the compensation you’re entitled to and make sure that the responsible party offers you a fair settlement.

How long do I have to File a Lawsuit for a Dog bite Incident?

In California, you have two years from the date of your dog bite accident to file a lawsuit against the responsible party. If you had an injury that did not manifest until a later date, you have two years from the discovery of the injury to file a lawsuit.

This is a not a lot of time, especially if you have extensive injuries that will take a long time to recover from. For one thing, a lawsuit cannot be filed until you’ve reached MMI (maximum medical recovery), which means no further improvement is expected for your injury. Reaching MMI can take months, sometimes even up to a year. After that, you will need to send a demand letter to the hotel’s insurance company to try and negotiate a settlement. If that fails, you can file a lawsuit to recover your financial and emotional damages.

Since there is a lot of work to be done before you can file a lawsuit, it’s important to start the claims process right away. Call Normandie Law Firm and speak to a California dog bite lawsuit attorney.

The Personal Injury Lawyers of Normandie

Dog ownership comes with heavy responsibilities, which include keeping the public safe from bites and attacks. California’s strict liability laws on dog bites allow victims to sue the owner and any other responsible party for their injuries. But many people are unaware of the laws or lack the legal knowledge to demand monetary compensation. Our lawyers will fight aggressively for your rights from day one and make sure that you are justly compensated for the harm you’ve suffered.

Along with our passion and experience, we offer a Zero fee guarantee so there is nothing for you to pay upfront. In fact, you pay us absolutely nothing unless we win your case, and at that point, it’s the defendant that will be paying our fees. In short, there is no risk to you by coming to our office and learning about the legal actions you can take. If you’re ready to seek guidance from a knowledgeable attorney, contact our law firm and schedule a free case evaluation.

Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Average Settlement Value of Dog Bite Lawsuit
How Long does it take to Settle a Dog Bite Injury Lawsuit
Bitten By A Dog During a Delivery