The Law Offices of Matthew J. Quinlan represents any dog bite victim in San Francisco, including children. Children are especially susceptible to injuries in dog bite incidents, often facing long-term consequences. If your child has suffered some injury from a dog bite, contact us today for a free consultation to talk about their potential legal options.

When Do You Need a Lawyer?

Facing any situation where your child gets hurt can be traumatic, and a dog bite is no different. That said, whether or not you and your child need legal help depends on the circumstances. Every dog bite incident varies in nature, even though a lot of them end up leaving your child hurt. Hopefully, their injuries aren’t that serious and won’t require legal action. However, if their injuries are more serious–as is typical in these incidents–we can help.

We’ll begin by discussing your child’s legal options and rights. Following that, we’ll conduct a comprehensive investigation into the accident to ascertain fault. Our team will assist in gathering crucial evidence, such as photographs and medical records, to support your case. Additionally, we’ll interview witnesses and consult with experts to gain valuable insights into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Our main goal is to make the process easier for you and your child. We can streamline the process and handle all the negotiations with any insurance companies or lawyers, while you focus on your child’s health and recovery.

Who’s Responsible When My Child is Bitten by a Dog?

It’s true that your child has the exact same rights as any other dog bite victim in San Francisco. More specifically, this means that you can file an injury claim on their behalf, and the first step in that process is usually figuring out who’s responsible.

Under California law, dog owners in San Francisco are:

• Strictly liable for any injuries or damage their dog causes, including to children.

So, it’s the dog’s owner that will bear the primary responsibility of covering your child’s injuries and losses. However, this is also dependent on the circumstances and where the accident happens, which opens up others to a share of the liability:

• The city or state government if the bite happens on public property, like a dog park or on a sidewalk
• The child’s school if the bite happens on school grounds
• Store owners or managers if the bite happens at a pet store or restaurant
• Homeowners or landlords if the bite happens at a house or apartment

Dog bites can occur anywhere your child interacts with a dog, but they are largely preventable. Teaching your child to respect a dog’s space and always supervise them around dogs. While it may not always prevent bites, these measures can provide some control over the situation. If your child is bitten, though, it’s important to know what to expect in terms of damages.

Damages in a Child Dog Bite

There’s two ways to look at the damages when your child is bitten by a dog: physical injuries and legal damages. These two things are very closely related, with one ultimately determining the other. Still, it’s helpful to look at them both in detail. First things first, a dog bite to your child is probably going to leave them injured, which means they could be facing:

• Bite wounds, especially on their hands and ankles
• Infections
• Viruses like rabies
• Broken bones or crush injuries
• Eye and facial injuries
• Nerve damage
• Psychological trauma

Legal damages

In legal terms, if your child is bitten by a dog, you have two main options: file an insurance claim or take legal action with a personal injury lawsuit. But with kids, there’s more to consider. A dog bite can cause long-lasting harm to a child’s health and well-being. In such cases, you can recover damages for things like:

• Medical bills
• Lost parental income
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent injuries or disability
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Wrongful death expenses

Normally, you have two years to make a claim after an accident, but for children, this time limit starts when they turn 18. This gives you more time to act. However, as with any injury claim, it’s important to act quickly. This means taking steps even right after the bite happens.

Steps to Take After Your Child is Bitten By a Dog

In a lot of ways, it’s more troubling to watch your child get bitten by a dog than it is for you to suffer the bite yourself. While the vast majority of dogs you come in contact with on your street or at places like Channel Street Dog Park are well-behaved and trained, your child can still fall victim to a bite. Here are a few important steps to take:

• Get medical care – The first priority is ensuring your child’s safety. Seek immediate medical attention for your child and move them to a safe location away from the dog. Whether by calling an ambulance or going to an emergency room or urgent care center, prompt medical care is crucial.
• Find the dog’s owner – Take steps to find both the dog and its owner, and obtain their contact and insurance information. This information is essential for any legal actions you may pursue. The police or animal control can also help you with this.
• Report to police and animal control – Once your child’s medical needs are addressed, report the bite to the authorities, such as the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) or Animal Care Control. They can investigate the incident and gather additional information about the dog.
• Gather supporting evidence – Collect evidence to support your child’s claim, including photographs of the injuries, the location of the incident, and statements from witnesses. This evidence strengthens your child’s case.
• Keep track of your child’s damages – Maintain detailed records of your child’s medical treatment and expenses related to the dog bite, including hospital visits, surgeries, medications, and ongoing care. These records are essential for accurately assessing damages.

Remember, although it’s a difficult situation, you have to try to remain calm and help your child as much as you can. The most important thing is their health and safety, so once you take care of that, you can start focusing on what you and your child need to do to recover. Part of that is leaning on our experienced team for guidance and support.

Dedicated Dog Bite Lawyers in San Francisco

At MJQ Law, our team of dedicated San Francisco dog bite lawyers will be there to support you and your child when they’re bitten by a dog. We understand how damaging and devastating these injuries can be, both in the short-term and long-term. No matter what the level of injuries there are, we’ll be there to help you. Contact us today for a free consultation to get the recovery process started.