California Personal Injury Attorney

Serving All of California

The Law Firm of Rivers Morrell manages cases throughout the State of California.  We are often able to manage cases in other states across the United States.  Draw on more than four decades of proven experience and trial success as well as the strong recommendations of former clients and the legal industry alike.

Scarring, Nerve Damage and Emotional Trauma from Dog Attack in Orange County CA, Los Angeles, Inland Empire, San Francisco and Throughout California

Dogs can be wonderful pets, but they can also cause some very serious injuries. Dog bites and/or dog attacks have resulted in a broad range of injuries from minor trips to the emergency room for treatment to extensive injuries which affect ligaments and tendons and result in serious scarring.

Dog bite personal injury cases have resulted in substantial pain and treatment issues for our clients, emotional trauma, loss of wages, multiple surgeries and procedures to address damage to limbs and tissue as well as plastic surgery associated with scar minimization or reduction. 

We have achieved large settlements in these cases as well as some significant jury verdicts. What can you learn from a dog bite lawyer with more than 40 years of experience?

 

Questions associated with dog bites

Dog Bite Injury Attorney Orange County Los Angeles San Francisco CaliforniaThere can be a number of issues associated with a dog bite case. Who was the owner of the dog? What if anything prompted the attack? Was another dog involved, and can you recover damages for injuries to that dog? Is there insurance?

Was the dog owner a renter, such that he did not have liability insurance that will cover the incident? If the owner was a renter, without insurance, is the landlord liable? These and other questions may arise in the dog bite case.

It is important to understand that most dog bite cases extend far past the initial visit to the emergency room.  Insurance adjusters work to establish smooth rapport while minimizing the value of your case based upon initial medical costs alone.  Dog bite cases can require substantial time to determine short and long-term impact on ligaments, tendons and issues beneath the skin.  Scarring may occur, and often in quite visible locations.  Emotional challenges may develop to the surprise of not only the victim of the attack but those who love and support them.

I invite you to review the strong recommendations of our clients and the legal industry as well as the successful verdicts and settlements I have achieved at trial on behalf of my clients, and

Contact Rivers

or Call for a Free, Private and Confidential Consultation Today

(949)305-1400

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What Should You Do if you are Injured by a Dog Bite?

In California, there is a “dog bite” statute that creates “strict liability” for dog owners. Some people have the belief that a dog “gets one free bite”. This is a misconception. California, at Code of Civil Procedure section 3342 makes the dog owner strictly liable for his/her dog’s bites. What does this mean? This means that the injured party does not need to show nor prove that the dog owner was negligent in allowing the dog to bite the party.

All one has to show is that the owner’s dog bit the person, and the statute makes the owner liable for the injuries, which will include all medical bills, scarring, future medical bills, loss of wages, emotional challenges as well as pain and suffering.

Scienter – Knowledge of an animal’s potential to cause harm

In addition, California has another rule of “scienter”, or knowledge of the animal’s dangerousness. Here a keeper of an animal who knows that the animal has some past dangerous behavior is also liable, without having to show or prove that the owner or keeper was negligent. In a case against an owner this “scienter” theory is not necessary. However, in a case against someone other then the owner, such as a landlord, when the dog owner is a renter and has no insurance, this theory of recovery could be very helpful.

It’s a matter of Negligence

Of course all persons are legally responsible for their own negligence. Negligence is the failure to act reasonably, and in the context of a dog bite, or other animal bite, or other animal caused injury, each case would have it’s own facts from which our experienced and seasoned dog bite lawyer would need to review to determine who are the negligent parties.

 

Free Consultation | Orange, Irvine Dog Bite Lawyer

New Site Rivers Head ShotThe Law Firm of Rivers J. Morrell, III, has more than 40 years of experience at work for you. To schedule a free initial consultation, call one of our office locations: Orange County at (949)305-1400, or contact us online.

There are no fees unless there is a recovery. We work on a contingency fee basis. Phones are answered after business hours and on weekends. Evening and weekend appointments are available on an as-needed basis. If appropriate, we will come to you.

I invite you to review the strong recommendations of our clients and the legal industry as well as the successful verdicts and settlements I have achieved at trial on behalf of my clients, and

Contact Rivers

or Call for a Free, Private and Confidential Consultation Today

(949)305-1400

Reviews for Rivers J Morrell

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