Many households in San Diego County own dogs. People are out walking their canine friends on public property across the city. The high numbers of dogs naturally lead to more dog bite injuries.
The Advocates are San Diego dog bite lawyers ready to help anyone in California with a dog bite claim. If you are the victim of aggressive behavior from a dog, then reach out to our law firm for a free consultation.
Personal injuries from dog bites might not seem worthy of legal representation. However, serious injuries are often sustained in dog bite incidents such as disfigurement or nerve damage and, therefore, deserve justice for damages incurred.
With The Advocates, you have an expert legal team ready to take on your dog bite claim, get you compensation for medical bills, and guide you through the legal process.
Immediately after being bitten, assess your injuries
Contact The Advocates as soon as possible to begin the road to recovery
Seek medical attention as soon as you can
Keep track of all treatment you receive during recovery
Once you’ve completed treatment, your case can move forward
Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party
Your initial consultation with us is always 100% free. There are never any upfront costs or hidden fees.
Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that our attorney fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement. We don’t get paid unless we win your case and you receive a settlement.
For more information on how settlements and payments work, please see our contingency fee information page.
If the dog attack resulted in injuries or significant property damage, it is a good idea to contact a lawyer. An experienced Advocate attorney can help you navigate the claims process, which can be lengthy and complex.
Your attorney will gather evidence, monitor your medical treatment progress, ensure you keep an accurate record of all relevant documents and facts to support your claim, negotiate and correspond with insurance companies on your behalf, and represent you in court if necessary.
The best way to know if you have a case is to speak with an attorney. The Advocates offer free consultations—you can speak with a qualified legal team to understand what your case is worth without paying a dime. Once you have decided to hire an Advocate, we will zealously pursue your claim through resolution.
Every personal injury case is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to accident claims. The length of the claims process depends on many factors, including but not limited to the severity of your injuries, the willingness of the other party to settle, the court’s caseload, and much more.
In general, personal injury cases can take anywhere from several months to several years. It’s important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to get your case started. Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, after which, if you do not resolve or file a lawsuit within the prescribed time, you will lose your right of action.
When you hire The Advocates, we will begin investigating your accident immediately while you focus on healing. Generally, once all evidence has been gathered and your medical treatment has been completed or you are back to feeling yourself again, your attorney will negotiate with the insurance company to secure a settlement on your behalf.
In many cases, a settlement can be reached during negotiations. If the other party refuses to make a fair offer, you may choose to file a lawsuit in the litigation phase. Your attorney will represent you in court in front of a judge, jury, and/or arbitrator.
For nearly 30 years, The Advocates have helped thousands of personal injury victims receive the compensation and care they deserve after their injuries, and we are prepared to do the same for you.
We can help you:
I was in an accident 3 years ago and had a very bad experience with the attorney back then I was in another accident last year and called the advocates mark and his team were amazing changed my view on accident attorneys they kept I'm touch with me every step of the way gave me authority on choices for myself I didn't have to go with what they said I could go against it and they still would have worked with me the same I had choices this time around I would always go with Mark I have even sent friends his way just cause I appreciate all the help and support the whole way threw.
My experience with the advocates was a good one. After being hit by a car on my motorcycle they helped me with a settlement with the insurance company to get the hospital bills paid. They were extremely helpful. They always answered any questions I had with in a day. Every email I sent was always responded to. If you unfortunately has to go through a injury by another person I would recommend them in helping you resolve any debt you have because if that injury. The Advocates were great to work with and help me get this unfortunate event behind me.
Steve and his crew at The Advocates were nothing short for amazing. They took my case after I was rear-ended resulting in neck surgery. Steve and company made sure all of the was taken care of and that I got the maximum compensation possible. I definitely recommend The Advocates
Mr. Brad Johnson, our lawyer; was Awesome! He was very informative, kept us up to date on my case with regular calls. He returned calls back to us within 24 hours or less. Brad Johnson is very courteous, honest, kind, and a pleasure to talk to and work with. There are very few Lawyers out there that could even come close to the high morals that Brad Johnson has and has shown towards us. We need more lawyers like Brad Johnson . If we ever needed a disability lawyer again in the future; it would be Brad Johnson and The Advocates Firm that he works at. We will definitely turn ALL of our family and friends towards this lawyer and firm; in a heartbeat!!!
I want to First say that I am truly thankful for the advocates Law Firm they have been a great service to me through this ordeal and Katie she is a tremendous lawyer someone that I would recommend she fights tooth and nail for her clients and the rest of the team they supported me to the fullest with that being said I would like to say for anyone who is trying to find an attorney to fight their case The Advocates is the way to go.
California does not have statewide dog bite laws requiring dog owners to restrain their pets. That is left to local governments. San Diego has various local ordinances requiring pet owners to keep their dogs restrained with a leash. Whoever is holding the leash must be able to control the dog.
Most states have the one-bite rule, which holds dog owners responsible for injuries their dogs inflict if they know about the animal’s aggressive behavior. California does not follow this rule.
California has strict liability for dog bites. Dog owners are responsible for animal attacks by their pets in public places, even if it’s the first time a dog has bitten someone, subject to some exceptions. Contact an Advocate attorney to determine if you have a case.
Under liability laws, victims can sue for:
Dog attacks often occur quick as a bolt of lightning, coming unexpectedly and leaving you unprepared. Being prepared as best as you can is helpful.
Even if you do not think you have severe injuries from a dog bite, you should still seek medical care. According to the California Department of Public Health, five million people are bitten by dogs every year. Dog bite injuries can be more severe than initially thought due to rare but still prevalent diseases such as rabies.
There are the common injuries dog bite victims face:
Injuries from aggressive dogs are usually covered by renters’ or homeowners’ insurance. These insurance policies typically cover dog bite liability up to certain limits. If an injury claim from a dog bite exceeds the limit, the dog owner is usually responsible for any additional damages.
Dog bite claims generally fall under negligence personal injury law. Therefore, a dog bite victim generally has two years from the incident to file a claim.
Our legal advice is to call an injury lawyer soon after a dog bites you. Your medical bills will stack up quickly, and seeking maximum compensation through the proper legal channels takes time. Two years to file a dog bite claim may seem like plenty of time, but it flies by when paired with everything else you must do during the recovery process.
We will start with a free case evaluation when you call The Advocates at our San Diego office. Our lawyers will learn all the details of your case and then explain your legal rights.
We specialize in personal injury claims resulting from dog attacks. These types of incidents usually result in serious injuries requiring extensive medical care. Add to that the emotional trauma that can occur after the incident, and you have a recipe for a slow and potentially difficult road to recovery.
Our law office’s priority is to ensure the legal process for your injury claim is as painless as possible. You deserve a fair settlement for your dog bite case and a San Diego dog bite lawyer who can make that happen. You deserve an Advocate.
