Tracy Dog Bite Lawyer

There were about 89.7 million dogs in the United States in 2017, compared to a human population of 325.1 million. This means that in Tracy, CA, a city with a population of 90,579 in 2017, there were probably about 25,000 dogs in Tracy in 2017.

Dog bites are bound to happen in a city with 25,000 dogs, and if you’ve been bitten by a dog you probably need help with medical bills associated with the dog bite injury. You may even be unable to work after the dog bite attack and need help supporting your family.

Luckily, an experienced dog bite attorney with Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers can help you with these things since people who are bitten by dogs can file lawsuits in California.

Call us now if you or a loved one was injured by a dog bite in Tracy. We might be able to obtain financial compensation for your injuries, disfigurement, disability, medical bills including plastic surgery, lost wages and more through a dog bite claim or lawsuit. We are contingency fee lawyers, meaning our representation is free until and unless we obtain a financial recovery for you.

Do I Need A Dog Bite Lawyer?

You need experienced dog bite lawyers like Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers on your side if you want to recover the maximum financial compensation for your injuries. Those who are injured receive far more compensation for their injuries, on average, when they are represented by a lawyer than when they are not, even after taking contingency fees into account.

Most dog bite victims are compensated by the dog owner’s insurance company. This is typically a home insurance company since most dog bites occur inside a home.

Insurance companies know that you are entitled under the law to full compensation for any damages associated with your dog bite. However, they also know that they don’t actually have to pay you what you’re entitled to if you don’t have a lawyer, because they know the only way you can make them pay you what you’re entitled to is to file a lawsuit against them. They know you can’t win such a lawsuit without a lawyer, so if you don’t have a lawyer, they’re just going to offer you a fraction of what you’re entitled to.

In addition, insurance adjusters are trained to trick you into saying things that imply a dog bite was your fault, or that imply your dog bite injuries aren’t as severe as you claim, while recording you saying these things. For this reason, it’s vital that you are represented by lawyers who can handle all communications and negotiations with insurance companies for you so you don’t have to worry about incriminating yourself.

Finally, the process of filing a dog bite claim and, if necessary, a dog bite lawsuit is a long, complex and difficult process. You don’t need the stress of having to endure this process if you’re already experiencing the stress of having to recover from your injuries and possibly missing work while you recover, not to mention you probably don’t know how to handle the entire process properly. Let the experienced dog bite lawyers at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers handle every aspect of your case for you while you sit back and focus on recovering from your injuries.

Dog Bite Compensation

If you have suffered injuries in a dog bite incident, you may be eligible for financial compensation for your injuries, typically from an insurance company. California dog bite victims may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical expenses: The most obvious costs related to most dog bites are medical bills. Dog bites almost always require medical treatment, and can cause serious injuries. Even a minor dog bite can lead to medical bills. Under California dog bite law, you are entitled to financial compensation for any medical bills related to your dog bite, such as emergency room fees, hospital fees, ambulance fees, the costs of medication or doctor fees. You are not only entitled to compensation for any medical bills you have already incurred, but you are also entitled to compensation for future medical bills, such as the cost of medical devices, modifications to your home or vehicle to accommodate a disability, or physical therapy costs.
• Lost wages and loss of earning capacity: Some people who are bitten by a dangerous dog end up missing time from work because of it. They may be unable to work. They may need to miss work to attend medical appointments. Some victims of dog bite attacks also end up being unable to work ever again, or end up being unable to ever do the work they used to again. A Tracy dog bite attorney at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers can help you obtain financial compensation for any wages lost or any loss of your earning capacity related to your dog bite injuries.
• Pain and suffering: Dog bite injuries can be very painful and can debilitate victims. It can be difficult to go through physical therapy and surgeries which are needed to heal from dog bites. The Tracy dog bite attorneys at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers can help you obtain financial compensation for any physical pain and mental suffering related to your dog attack. If you have been permanently disfigured by your dog bite attack, you may receive a large amount of compensation for pain and suffering.
• Emotional injuries: Dog bites don’t just inflict physical injuries. Dog bites can also cause emotional trauma. While a dog bite itself can cause emotional trauma, so, too, can the medical treatment and physical pain associated with the dog bite. Dog bite victims often develop psychological issues such as depression, trouble sleeping, anxiety or a fear of dogs. Some dog bite victims experience post-traumatic stress disorder. A California dog bite lawyer with Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers can help you obtain financial compensation for your emotional injuries.
• Damage to property: You may be eligible for compensation for property damage, such as damage to your shoes, tears to your clothing, broken glasses, damage to a motorcycle or bicycle you were riding at the time of the dog attack, or damage to anything else valuable that was on you when you were attacked by the dog. You may have also had your own dog attacked at the same time you were attacked by a dog, and you may be eligible to recover financial compensation for any costs to treat your dog if this occurred.
• Loss of consortium: Dog bite attacks sometimes affect the victims’ relationships with their spouses. Dog bite victims can end up unable to provide their spouses with the support, intimacy or companionship they were able to before the dog attack. The Tracy dog bite law firm of Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers can help you obtain financial compensation for loss of consortium damages after a dog bite.
• Wrongful death: Unfortunately, some dog attacks are fatal, especially dog attacks involving dangerous dog breeds such as pit bulls. Financial compensation for a wrongful death can’t replace your loved one, but it can prevent you from enduring financial hardship as a result of a dog attack which wasn’t your fault. We may be able to help you obtain compensation for funeral costs, burial costs, the loss of your loved one’s income, your loved one’s pain and suffering, your loved one’s medical bills, the loss of your loved one’s love and companionship, and more.

California Dog Bite Laws

California has “strict liability” laws which means a dog owner is responsible for most injuries caused when their dog bites someone. A dog’s owner doesn’t need to know their dog has been vicious before in order to be held liable for a dog attack. If they argue that they didn’t know their dog could be dangerous, or that they tried their best to prevent their dog from hurting someone, these arguments are invalid.

Dog owners in California are strictly liable for dog bites if the dog bite victim was bitten in a public place or “lawfully in a private place.”

Those carrying out legal duties, like mail delivery, are lawfully on private property. Those bitten by police or military dogs defending themselves or doing law enforcement work cannot sue in California for a dog bite. People bitten while trespassing on private property cannot sue for a dog bite. People who were bitten by a dog after provoking it cannot sue for a dog bite. People bitten by dogs who were protecting its owner or someone else in accordance with California self-defense laws cannot sue for a dog bite.

If a dog bite doesn’t break skin but causes an injury anyways, this can count as a lawsuit-worthy bite. For example, if a dog grabs someone’s pants in its mouth and pulls the person off a ladder, injuring the person, the animal’s owner can be held liable for injuries caused by this action.

California’s personal injury statute of limitations is two years. This means that victims of dog bites have two years from the date of the dog bite to file a lawsuit. Cases filed after this time limit will be thrown out of court.

Dogs who bite someone in California must be quarantined, typically for 10 days after dog bites occur. Counties will ensure the dog doesn’t have rabies during this time. The dog will often be allowed to remain living with its owner during this time but will sometimes be held at a county animal care center.

Dogs who have bitten someone on at least two separate occasions or have been trained to attack, kill or fight someone may be taken from their owners and euthanized after a dog bite under California law.

Dog Bite Injuries

Dog bite injuries are the most common injuries related to dogs. Dog bites can create skin lacerations, infections or bleeding. Rabies can result from dog bites. Dog attacks can sometimes even cause limb loss or death.

Can’t Afford A Doctor For Your Dog Bite?

The experienced dog bite lawyers at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers have a trusted network of highly skilled, experienced doctors they work with. These doctors work on medical liens. A medical in lien in California allows for the payment of medical bills directly to healthcare providers from personal injury settlements or judgments. This means that dog bite victims with no insurance and no money to pay for their injuries can have their injuries treated by doctors. Their doctors will then be paid with settlement or judgment money once the lawsuit is over.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages can apply to dog bite lawsuits in California when appropriate. The purpose of these damages is to punish defendants who behave badly.

Defendants whose actions amount to “oppression, fraud or malice” can be punished with punitive damages in a dog bite lawsuit. Malice, in this case, means a defendant acted “with a willful and conscious disregard of the rights or safety of others.”

Must I File A Police Report Before I Sue?

You don’t need to file a police report to sue for a dog bite. However, if you do file a police report and it leads to an animal control investigation, that investigation may determine the dog is dangerous. This could make it easier for you to obtain punitive damages in a lawsuit.

California law does require both dog bite victims and dog owners to report dog bites to local county health officers, and doctors in California are obligated to report dog bites that they treat.

Can I Sue If My Pet Is Bitten By A Dog?

Yes, but this would be a property damage lawsuit and not subject to the laws discussed above. A property damage lawsuit like this would typically seek to recover vet bills incurred as a result of the bite.

The Tracy Dog Bite Experts

The Tracy dog bite lawyers at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers have been handling dog bite claims since 1990. We have extensive knowledge regarding dog bite cases as we’ve seen every kind of dog bite case under the sun over the years. We recently recovered $300,000 for the victim of a pitbull bite.

Call us today at for a free consultation if you or a loved one was injured by a dog bite. We are contingency fee lawyers so you will never owe us anything out of pocket. You can also complete the case evaluation form or text us from this page. You may be entitled to financial compensation through a dog bite injury claim or a dog bite lawsuit.