San Diego Dog Attack Injury Lawyers

San Diego Dog Bite Attorneys

Dogs are one of the most popular, wonderful companion’s humankind can hope for. Their unconditional love, sweetness and loyalty are second to none. The vast majority of the time, these gentle souls provide love and companionship to everyone they meet.

Unfortunately, irresponsible owners, poor training and even genetics can sometimes converge to produce a dog that bites or attacks. The result of such an attack can be a devastating injury and in extreme cases, even death.

Repairing the physical and emotional damage from dog bites or other animal attack injuries is often costly and can leave you with long lasting physical ailments and anxiety. The San Diego dog bite attorneys at Phillips & Pelly can step in and  investigate all insurance coverage that may be available to cover the victim of a dog bite attack. Once w determine available coverage, next, we go to work to obtain maximum benefits on your behalf. In some instances, medical care such as scar revision and other necessary care can me made available very quickly.

What to Do After a Dog Bite or Animal Attack

If you are injured due to the actions of an aggressive dog or other animal, bites and attack wounds should be treated at the closest San Diego-area hospital. Do not hesitate to seek medical treatment, as dog bites can become infected very quickly.

The ragged wounds caused by animal mauling often require skilled surgery to minimize scarring and promote healing.

If at all possible, collect as much information as possible about the dog and its owner before reporting the animal attack to San Diego health officials. Authorities will quarantine the dog so they can find out if it is carrying any dangerous diseases such as rabies.

Before and during the healing process, keep as much documentation as possible, including multiple photographs of your injuries.

Our San Diego dog bite lawyers will do everything they can to collect additional information from doctors and witnesses, but sometimes the best evidence of an animal attack is the injury itself.

Liability of the Dog Owner

Animal attack liability laws in California state that a dog owner is responsible for any injury caused by his or her dog, as long as the victim was lawfully located on either public or private property.

Although some states adopt the “one-free bite rule” which means that a dog must have bitten someone in the past to show they are prone to regular aggression, California does not provide leniency for a first offense or the owner’s lack of knowledge of the dog’s vicious tendencies. You can be compensated if bitten by a dog, even if the animal has no past history of such behavior. This is called California’s Strict Liability Doctrine. However, there are defenses in these cases. Don’t play into one. Call us before you talk to an insurance representative for the dog owner.

The strongest animal attack cases are the ones that clearly show the victim to have been in a public area or legally on private property at the time of the dog attack. Witness, client statement, animal control  and police reports are usually the best source of documentation for this purpose.

Hiring a San Diego Dog Bite Attorney

We understand that not every owner of a dog that bites is irresponsible, and not every person attacked by an animal needs extensive medical attention.

If you have been bitten by a dog or another animal and aren’t sure whether to hire a lawyer, consider a couple of things:

+ In cases of severe mauling, a victim may need several years of medical treatment. After the initial wounds have been treated, plastic surgery may be required to repair disfigured areas of the body.

+ Depending on medical insurance to cover the cost of such treatments is risky due to the long-term nature of care. Further, expecting the dog’s owner to continue paying your bills, riskier still.

+ We can make the distressing days and weeks after sustaining injuries from dog bites or an animal attack much easier.

At our San Diego firm, our animal attack injury attorneys will assist victims by compiling necessary documentation, talking to witnesses, and filing legal paperwork within the timeframe set forth by the statute of limitations.

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  You can go with the catchy jingles that you see on TV as I did, and become just another client. Or you can go with a firm that treats you like family, and sets the bar high by fighting for the maximum payment from your injuries. Very impressed and glad I made the switch! Thanks for everything I truly appreciate you.

  Jerry Davis

  San Diego, CA

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  I worked with Ashley LaFontaine and she was absolutely wonderful in getting me the care I needed. When things with the doctors got hung up she helped get things moving. She was super communicative and kept me in the loop through every step of the process. Set expectations from beginning to end very well and exceed my expectations!

  Viet Ho

  San Diego, CA

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  I met Oliver Pelly by happenstance and after I grilled him a couple of times, I decided to hire his firm. After being my initial POC, I began working with Blake Woodhall. Both were standup guys, and Blake kept me in-the-loop the entire time. He was patient when explaining the process and going over details and understanding of my situation and concerns. Everything concluded better than I could have expected, and Blake acted as an excellent buffer to keep everything at bay. I would highly recommend Blake, Oliver and their firm for any auto accident cases.

  Brandon Chi

  San Diego, CA

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  Ashley LaFontaine did an outstanding job getting me the total settlement I was allowed. Her experiance and professionalism went far beyond my expectations. I highly recommend her services.

  Robert Kenney

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  Going through my accident was a very difficult and emotional experience. The process of choosing the right law firm can be overwhelming. Choosing Phillips and Pelly was the best decision I could have made. They are extremely knowledgeable and I trusted Oliver’s expertise throughout the entire process. He was very responsive. Anytime I would have a question, including nights and weekends, Oliver would get back to me right away. I would recommend Phillips and Pelly for anyone going through a similar situation. They really are the best.

  Lindsey Buck

  San Diego, CA

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  I have enjoyed my experience with this law firm. Alecia Gordon represented me with my case and throughout this entire ordeal has been extremely supportive and understanding of my own lack of experience and knowledge of legal matters. She is not only kind and considerate but very intelligent and professional. The paralegal team also deserve kudos as they were always there to assist and assure me of progress and necessary document completions. All in all, I would highly recommend this firm for personal injury claims.

  Cindi Wood

  San Diego, CA

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  Matt was very helpful in settling a case for my son that was a passenger in an automobile that crashed into a home. My son suffered cracked ribs, a concussion amongst other injuries. Matt was helpful explaining everything to us as this was a 1st dealing with anything like this for our family. It took time and patience as the other party was reluctant to settle. In the end my son had his ambulance, medical bills and a small amount of recovered monies all paid out. Great man, lawyer and law firm .Highly reccomended

  Sherri Costell-Segre

  San Diego, CA

Do you have to pay for representation?

No.  We handle all cases on a contingency basis, with a no fee until we win guarantee. You only pay if we recover money on your behalf. Guaranteed.

Types of compensation available to you

If you are injured in a dog attack, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Schedule Your Free Case Evaluation now

One of the first things to do after a dog bite, is to determine whether or not you have a claim. We are skilled Plaintiff’s attorneys with decades of litigation experience.

During your Free Case Evaluation , we will listen to the details of your case, and give you a professional assessment of whether or not you have a claim.

Call or Email us now and let’s get started.