Travis G Black & Associates January 2020

Dogs are colloquially known as “man’s best friend,” but they can still pose danger to people of all ages. Dogs may attack familiar people or strangers, which can result in devastating injuries or, far worse, fatalities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 4.7 million dog bites occur annually, 800,000 of which require medical attention. Half of these occur with children. Of the injuries received, the scarring, disfigurement, pain, and medical treatment can be fatally serious. Anyone who is the victim of a serious dog bite or animal attack must seek medical attention right away. STRICT LIABILITY California has “strict liability” laws that make pet owners responsible for most dog bite injuries, regardless of the usual temperament of the dog or its history. When victims sue for compensation for their damages, it doesn’t matter whether or not the owner knew their dog had ever been vicious before. They can’t argue they were unaware of their dog’s risk or that their good care of the animal removes them from liability. COMPREHENSIVE COMPENSATION The compensation you receive in a dog attack claim consists of any losses or damages you suffered, present and future, in the incident. This includes current and future medical bills, pain and suffering, WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DOG BITE CLAIMS THE TIME AND RESOURCES YOU NEED TO RECOVER With every new year comes an opportunity to reinvent ourselves or start down a new path toward self-improvement. Making resolutions is a big part of many families’ New Year’s traditions, and parents often have a desire for their kids to take part in that tradition when they’re old enough. Following through on resolutions is tough, especially for young children, but with your help, they can achieve their goals. PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH. You are your children’s role model for almost everything, including following through on New Year’s resolutions. So, ask yourself if you follow through on your own resolutions. When you proclaim that you will read more books or finally get a gym membership, do you actually try to do it? Your kids will assign as much importance to New Year’s resolutions as you do, so by sticking to your own commitments, you can help them stay on track too. KEEP THINGS SIMPLE AND ACHIEVABLE. When your kids are forming their resolutions, their first attempts will probably be very broad. Statements like “I want to be more kind” or “I HELP YOUR KIDS ACHIEVE MORE THIS YEAR WITH SIMPLE AND ACTIONABLE GOALS

will try to help more around the house” incorporate good values but don’t include any actionable steps. Help your kids think of tangible ways to act on those goals. For example, if they want to be tidier, a good resolution might be for them to clean their room once a week or take responsibility for one household chore every day. DON’T DO ALL THE WORK FOR THEM. While it’s important for you to help your kids formulate their goals, be sure that you aren’t taking over. If they’re ultimately responsible for their resolutions, they’ll feel more compelled to keep them. Instead, suggest different goal areas they could improve, such as home, school, or sports, and let them elaborate. When it comes to creating habits, nobody is perfect, so even if your kids falter on their goals in the middle of February, don’t worry. The important thing is that you continue to encourage them every step of the way.

scarring and disfigurement, permanent injury, lost wages, emotional trauma, and any psychological treatment needed to recover.

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS Claims for dog bite injuries are considered personal injury lawsuits, which means victims have a time limit to make a claim. In the state of California, the statute of limitations requires a person to file a case no more than two years after the bite occurs. The various types of California dog bite laws can be very confusing. If you or a loved one have been injured by a dog, it is important for you to speak with a California attorney who specializes in California dog bites and dog attacks. The attorneys at Travis Black Law who specialize in dog attacks have extensive experience representing victims of dog bites. We can help you on your road to recovery.

Contact us today by visiting our website at TravisBlackLaw.com or calling our office at 916.962.2896.

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