In the best of cases, a dog bite results in only very minor injuries. In the worst cases, victims suffer severe lacerations that often come with complications, permanent scarring, and more. When accident victims suffer from these injuries, they can file a claim against the dog owner to secure compensation that can help with their recovery. California is a strict liability state. This means that victims do not have to prove that the dog owner was negligent or knew of a dog’s violent history. However, there are still certain elements of proof that are required in dog bite cases. These are outlined below.
You Were Legally Located
To have a valid dog bite claim, you must have legally been on the property where you were bitten. If you were in a public space, such as a park, you likely have a valid claim. If you were legally on private property, such as at a friend’s house, you also likely have a valid claim. However, if you were illegally on property, you are considered a trespasser and you may not have a valid dog bite claim.