Knowledgeable Dog Bite Lawyer Helping Victims in Orange County

If you are the victim of a dog bite attack in Orange County, contact an experienced Orange County dog bite attorney – Chris Purcell at Purcell Law in Irvine and Santa Ana – immediately. Dog owners in Orange County are liable for injuries caused by their dogs in unprovoked attacks, whether on public property or against anyone lawfully on a dog owner’s property. You have the legal right in California to be reimbursed for your medical treatment and other injury-related expenses. In cases involving exotic animals, pet owners may be responsible for injuries even if a victim provoked the animal or was illegally on the premises at the time of the incident.

HOW CAN AN ATTORNEY HELP DOG BITE VICTIMS?

Many of the victims of dog bites are young children. Chris Purcell works with psychologists and counselors to assess his clients’ emotional and psychological pain and suffering. For more than three decades, Chris has represented victims who have suffered animal-related injuries including but not limited to: facial lacerations, deep muscle wounds, tendon damage, disfigurement, amputations, poisonous stings, and in the most tragic cases, wrongful deaths. With the exception of cases involving provocation of the animal or trespassing on private property, Orange County dog owners are strictly liable for injuries caused by their dogs. Victims do not have to prove that a dog’s owner had prior knowledge of a dog’s viciousness, making it easier for those who have suffered injuries to recover compensation from the dog’s owner.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN INJURED BY A DOG, YOU WILL NEED EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS ON YOUR SIDE

Dog bite injuries can be very serious and in fact, they often require reconstructive surgery, skin grafting, and physical therapy to heal properly. Healing can take months and can drastically impact the quality of your life. Chris Purcell works with medical and financial experts to determine the full, long-term financial impact of a dog bite. Chris has the resources, knowledge, and experience to challenge insurance companies that underestimate the cost of dog bite injuries.

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON DOG BITE INJURIES?

Dog bite injuries can vary in severity depending on the size and force of the dog involved in the attack. Dogs often attack the victim’s face, and as a result, the victim could break facial bones or need reconstructive surgery to repair the scarring and damage. This is just one example of the injuries that can occur after a dog bite. Some of the most common injuries include:

But, these are just the physical injuries associated with a dog bite. Many victims also suffer from severe emotional and mental anguish, especially if the victim was a child or someone who was already fearful of dogs prior to the attack. Post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is common in dog bite victims. This mental condition is characterized by bouts of depression, anxiety or flashbacks of the attack. This condition can appear immediately following an incident or days or months afterwards.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog, speak to attorney Chris Purcell immediately following the incident. You may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering and medical expenses, so it’s imperative that you meet with Chris Purcell for a free legal consultation right away.

WHY ARE SO MANY CHILDREN ATTACKED BY DOGS? ORANGE COUNTY LAWYERS EXPLAIN

Unfortunately, many dog bite victims are innocent children, and some are bitten because they do not know how to properly behave in front of a dog they are unfamiliar with. Parents should always teach their children to ask permission from a dog owner before reaching out to pet the dog or making any other contact with the dog.

Children also need to be taught never to approach an animal they are unfamiliar with, whether they are with an adult at the time or not. If a dog is restrained by a fence or cage, children should never stick their hands or any object into the holes to get to the dog. This may agitate the dog and cause a dangerous, vicious attack.

Some children don’t realize that dogs are not a toy, and therefore they pinch the dog’s cheeks or tug on his ears, not realizing he can feel pain, too. Although the child probably did not have bad intentions, these behaviors can cause a dog to bite, so you should teach children how to pet a dog appropriately.

Finally, be sure to teach your kids the signs of an aggressive dog that may attack soon. If your children see a dog that is growling, barking, snarling, or pacing anxiously back and forth, they should know to leave the area immediately and find an adult. If a dog is not restrained, children should learn to never make any sudden movements, which may provoke an already agitated dog.

CONTACT ONE OF THE TOP LAW FIRMS IN ORANGE COUNTY IF YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN ATTACKED BY A DOG

Kids who love dogs wrongly assume that all dogs are friendly, but they need to be taught that is not always the case. Some dog breeds are more aggressive than others, and some animals are taught by their owners to act aggressively towards strangers who approach them. Kids should know how to spot these dangerous animals so they can avoid them at all costs and protect themselves from serious injuries.

These safety tips may help you protect your child from being injured by a dog. But, if a dog bite injury has already occurred, it is obviously too late to implement these safety tips. Contact attorney Chris Purcell immediately following a dog bite to discuss your legal options and determine the next steps you need to take to recover damages.

OUR LAW FIRM HAS OVER THREE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE HELPING VICTIMS IN ORANGE COUNTY

Attorney Chris Purcell represents families throughout Orange County including Irvine, Santa Ana, Yorba Linda, Tustin, and Costa Mesa. He has experience representing clients in cases involving dog attacks, pedestrian accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and fall accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents, premises liability, and bicycle accidents. Personal injury claims are handled on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless and until Purcell Law recovers compensation for you. To schedule a free consultation with an Orange County dog bite lawyer, call 714-884-3006 or contact Chris by email today.