Suing for Dog Bites and Animal Attacks at a Wine Tour

California has a long and proud tradition of winemaking, and there are plenty of vineyards in the state that you can visit. In fact, going to a winery for wine tastings is one of the most popular activities in the Golden State, whether you are a resident or someone visiting the area. A wine tour generally includes a tour of vineyard and education on how the wine is made. Then, there is a tasting of the different varieties so you can see which flavor profile you like the best.

But the wine isn’t the only thing that may appeal to you when you are at a winery. Most of these places have animals on-site, like cats and dogs that roam the property and play a vital role in keeping out intruders and reducing the number of pests. Some of them also have livestock, so it’s not unusual to see donkey and mules in wineries, along with cows, goats, ducks, and chickens. This is a nice diversion for guests, especially if they live in cities and have little exposure to such animals.

One downside to having animals on the property is the possibility of dog bites and other animal attacks during a wine tour. Even if the animal is not aggressive, many things can make them scared or nervous, and this can cause an animal to inadvertently injure someone. Alternatively, the animal is very excited and curious about you, and this can lead to injuries as well.

Winery owners and tour operators may be liable for injuries to others from an animal that’s on the premises. Thus, if you were bitten by a dog or harmed in some other way by an animal during a wine tour, you may have grounds to file a claim for monetary compensation. For more information on your rights and legal options, contact us today.

Suing for Injuries from an Animal at a Winery

If you were suffered injuries from an animal that’s being kept at a winery, you may be entitled to monetary damages from the owner, whether it’s the owner of the animalor the property. In most cases, the pet / animal owner is the party you would sue according to California law. Even if the animal was not deliberately trying to harm you, or they have no previous history of being aggressive, you can still seek medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and other forms of payment.

The only exception is if you were engaging in a criminal or abusive act, like hitting or taunting the dog, threatening the animal’s owner, or breaking into someone’s property. In these situations, it’s reasonable that the dog would try to defend itself, its owner, or its territory by lashing out physically.

Wine tour accidents involving animals can be quite complicated, especially if the animal does not belong to the property owner. Some wineries have stables that are rented out to the public, or they allow have an animal rescue facility or boarding kennel to operate on site. Because they board or permit animals on the property, the owners have a certain degree of responsibility when there is an accident, even if they are not the owner of the dog, horse, donkey, etc.

These are examples of issues that play a role in who you can sue for injuries by animals during a wine tour or wine tasting event in California.

What are These Cases Worth on Average?

A dog bite lawsuit or injury claim involving animals in general may have values ranging from $5,000 to over $1,000,000. The majority of client we represent end up with over $50,000 based on the degree of injury, resulting health complications, and other relevant issues. Another factor is emotional trauma resulting in mental health disorders, which is very common among people who are attacked by animals. Ultimately, case values are unique to each victim, so there’s no way to say what the average person will receive from a personal injury lawsuit. A lawyer that’s experienced in animal-related injuries can help you determine what your lawsuit is worth.

How Long will It Take to Settle my Case?

Your case may be settled within a few months if you have fairly minor injuries. For accidents resulting in serious injuries, the settlement process will probably exceed 6 months. If you are disabled or end up with other severe health complications, negotiating an adequate amount of compensation may take over 2 years. There are many issues that can affect how long it will take to reach a settlement, which you can learn about from one of our legal experts. All you have to do is schedule a consultation, completely free of charge, at a time that’s convenient for you.

Deadline to File a Lawsuit

In general, those who were injured by another party due to negligence or misconduct have 2 years to file a claim for compensation. Normally, the statute of limitations starts on the date of the accident or the date of when you are diagnosed with an injury resulting from the accident. However, you may have a qualifying circumstance that’s acceptable to the court if you need an extension. But please keep in mind that it’s very difficult to obtain additional time for a lawsuit. So, if you miss the deadline of 2 years to file an animal attack injury case, the court will most likely invalidate your right to sue the winery owner or anyone else that’s responsible for the incident.

Contact Kenmore Law Group

Dealing with a painful injury from an animal attack has devastating consequences on your health and finances. It doesn’t help that the legal system is complicated, so recovering your monetary losses can seem like an uphill battle.

The wine tour accident injury lawyers of Kenmore are here for you 24/7, so call us if you need guidance on what to do as an animal attack accident victim. We are more than prepared to build a strong case and fight for the settlement you deserve. In addition, our attorneys work on contingency, so you will never pay out of pocket for legal services. All of that is covered by us until your settlement is recovered. We also have a Zero Fee Guarantee policy, so you pay us absolutely nothing if we fail to bring you payment from a successful lawsuit.

Our legal team is waiting to assist you, so contact us right away and schedule a free case review.