I Was Bitten By A Dog While Delivering A Package, Can I Sue The Homeowner?
As a delivery person, you deal with many challenges each day, from traffic backups to road closures. But the most problematic issue you might ever face is being bitten by a dog when you deliver a package to the recipient’s door. In most cases, you never see the dog coming. But, of course, you would never approach the house if you saw an angry dog waiting to intercept you as you reached the door to place the package. So the entire incident is a surprise and not a good one.
Hopefully, you were able to make it back to your vehicle without too much damage being done by the angry animal. But then you are filled with questions about who is responsible for your injuries. Can you sue the dog owner or the property owner? Is a dog bite injury something that is covered under worker’s compensation? And the biggest question of all is how you will find a reliable resource to answer all of these vital questions that could impact your health and financial future.
The simple solution is a call to Kenmore Law Group for fast answers. There are associates available 24/7 to answer your time-sensitive questions and schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer or a worker’s comp lawyer to help you explain your rights as a dog bite victim and how to best secure the compensation owed to you. The meeting is free, the advice is free, and it is even free to have Kenmore Law Group represent you in this matter until we secure the verdict or settlement you deserve for the injuries you suffered due to someone else’s negligence. So contact the office today to begin to plan your path forward after suffering a dog bite while delivering a package.
Understanding California Dog Bite Laws
California is considered a strict liability state when considering dog bites. That means, in most cases, the dog owner is responsible for the actions of their dog and any damage it causes. This strict liability covers private and public property. So if a dog bites you while you are walking down the street, at the beach, or sitting in a friend’s front yard, the owner of the dog is going to be responsible for your injuries and the cost of your medical care.
Getting Bitten While At Work
However, when you are working, such as delivering a package, the process of getting the compensation that is owed to you for your injuries is a little more complex. But it offers a couple of good options. First, if you are an employee of a business and part of your job is making deliveries, then you are covered under worker’s compensation. That is excellent news for you because California has a great worker’s comp program. In most cases, you can notify your employer of the dog bite injury, and they will report it to workers comp to start processing your claim.
With worker’s comp, most health care providers will bill the insurance program directly so that you never need to worry about the cost of the medical care you need to treat your dog bite wounds. In addition, you could be eligible for partial compensation for your lost wages if you cannot work while recovering from your dog bite injuries.
In addition to using the benefits of the worker’s comp system for medical care and part of your lost wages, you might also be able to sue the dog owner for additional damages or losses. For example, you might sue the dog owner for part of your lost wages not provided by worker’s comp. Or you might sue for damage or instruction of personal property that occurred when the dog bit you. And in some cases, you might also be able to sue for the pain and suffering you endured due to the dog bite injuries. The experts at Kenmore Law Group will help you understand how these various approaches could best meet your needs for immediate compensation and your future medical and financial needs.
Your Health Is The First Priority
At Kenmore Law Group, we want every dog bite victim to understand the serious nature of even what appears to be a minor dog bite. Any time a dog’s teeth break the skin while biting a human, there is a high probability of the victim developing an infection. A dog’s mouth and saliva are filled with bacteria and germs that are very harmful to humans. So even that slight nip can lead to severe infection and even life-threatening complications.
The most well-known malady to come from a dog bite is rabies. However, when dogs have their shots and are in good health, that is nearly never a possibility. However, even a healthy dog can pass along the bacteria that will cause several other infections, including:
- Staph
- Strep
- Cellulitis
- Bone Infections
- Blood Infections
The only way to protect yourself from these complications is to seek a medical evaluation as soon as possible after suffering a dog bite. Understand that in most cases, the dog’s owner or worker’s compensation will cover the medical expenses. So there is no reason not to see a doctor and have the injuries adequately treated to ensure your safety and health.
How Long Do I Have To File A Dog Bite Claim?
The type of claim dictates the time that you have to file a claim that you decide to file. For example, a worker’s comp claim is the first service you are likely to opt to use, as you were at work when the dog bite occurred. You have 30 days from the date of the bite to open your worker’s comp claim. However, there is really no reason to wait. The sooner you open the claim, the faster it will be processed to pay the medical care providers and to begin paying your lost wages if you have been seriously injured and cannot work while healing.
If you file a lawsuit against the dog owner, you have more time to gather information and make a claim with the court system. The Statute of Limitations on all personal injury cases in California, which included dog bites, is two years from the date of the incident. If you wait longer than the two years allotted, you are likely to lose your right to make any claim against the dog owner for this particular incident.
The experts at Kenmore Law Group will work with you to determine which processes best meet your needs and ensure that you get the total compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses. We also recommend contacting our office as quickly as possible to begin discussing your case and seeking guidance. Unfortunately, there is no way to know how long a dog bite lawsuit will take to reach its conclusion. So the sooner we file the claim with the court, the faster you will receive the money that you need to pay bills and other expenses due to suffering a dog bite while delivering a package.
What Is The Value Of A Dog Bite Claim?
When considering the verdict or settlement amount of any lawsuit, it is vital to understand that the amount is based primarily on the actual expenses and losses of the victim. For example, in the case of your dog bite while delivering a package, you can file a claim with worker’s comp for all your medical expenses related to the care and treatment of the bite injuries. You can also claim partial compensation for your lost wages if you cannot work.
After filing a worker’s comp claim, you can also pursue added compensation from the dog owner. So any other property loss or your unpaid lost wages would be included in the lawsuit. You could also seek compensation for your legal fees for the lawsuit and pain and suffering due to the injuries you endured. The pros at Kenmore Law Group will help you determine what expenses can be included in a lawsuit after also claiming with worker’s comp.
Why Choose Kenmore Law Group To Handle Your Dog Bite Case?
At Kenmore Law Group, we strive to deliver the justice that every personal injury victim deserves. So you will never feel that you are just a case number to your legal team. Our staff is invested in getting you the compensation you deserve and helping you to recover and return to your normal life and financial stability after your dog bite injuries.
To make the process as stress-free as possible, we are happy to work for free until we secure the settlement or verdict you deserve. Only after we get you the money needed to pay your bills and living expenses do we get paid for our work. And if we fail to win your case, you owe us nothing. So please get in touch with the Kenmore Law Group today to learn more about your rights as a dog bite injury victim and how we will fight for the compensation you deserve for your suffering and losses.
