Fighting to protect your rights and safety from dog bites and animal attack injuries

Dog bites and animal attacks can be extremely frightening and cause severe injuries as well as ongoing pain, suffering and emotional distress. At McCarthy & Kroes, we understand how injuries sustained in an animal attack in Santa Maria can affect all areas of your life. Each highly skilled and compassionate attorney works hard to help you recover the compensation you need for your medical bills and other harm caused by animal attacks, along with the peace of mind you deserve.

Dog bites and strict liability for injuries

Under California law, dog owners are strictly liable for injuries suffered by anyone who is bitten by their dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place. This includes in the house or yard of the owner. A Ventura dog bite lawyer can assist victims who are invited onto a property either with express or implied permission, such as guests, mail carriers, delivery people or repair people, in recovering compensation for harm. A dog owner is liable for injuries even if a dog has no history of viciousness. However, if the dog has attacked someone before, it may be declared a dangerous dog.

Owners are liable for the full extent of harm you suffer, including medical costs for bite injuries, broken bones and disfigurement, as well as any illnesses caused by a dog that has not had its rabies shots or other vaccinations. However, owners are not liable for injuries caused by their dogs when the victim was in the wrong:

Zoo accidents in California

Because of the size of zoos, the number of guests and workers, the variety of attractions and the presence of wild animals, zoos present many dangers. While most premises liability claims at zoos involve slip or trip and fall accidents caused by spills, uneven pavement or other property conditions, more serious zoo accidents involve severe injuries or death resulting from wild animal attacks.

If you were injured or lost a loved one in an animal attack at the Santa Barbara Zoo, Charles Paddock Zoo or another zoo or wild animal park, it is important to contact a seasoned personal injury lawyer immediately to protect your rights. While owners of wild animals are generally strictly liable for attacks, zoos, which are often run by governmental entities, may attempt to assert sovereign immunity to avoid compensating you for your harm. In addition, zoo employees must generally prove negligence.

Providing the support you need after an animal attack or dog bite

At McCarthy & Kroes, we know how painful and frightening an animal attack or dog bite can be. For help recovering the compensation you need after an attack in Santa Barbara or surrounding areas, contact our compassionate, experienced California lawyers online or call 805.564.2085 for a free initial consultation today.