Oakland Dog Bite Lawyers
Dog bites have severe physical, emotional, and financial consequences. If your family is facing the upsetting aftermath of a dog attack, you may be eligible for damages. An experienced Oakland dog bite lawyer from Cutter Law will listen to your story and help you determine who might be liable. Let us protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve so you can focus on moving forward.
Why Choose Cutter Law for Your Oakland Dog Bite Accident?
When you need a dog bite lawyer in Oakland, CA, experience matters. Our firm has represented injured individuals in the Bay Area since 2015, and our accomplished attorneys draw on 130 years of combined experience. That experience has helped us to secure millions for our clients, including many six- and seven-figure verdicts and settlements.
We are a family-owned firm with deep roots in the local community. Founding attorney Brooks Cutter and his daughter, firm partner Celine Cutter, are third- and fourth-generation alumni of the University of California at Berkeley and remain committed to serving the community.
Each attorney at our firm is committed to making our clients feel like part of the family. Our client-first approach means you receive regular communication from your attorney. We’re here to make you feel comfortable and earn your trust, an approach that is evident in our client testimonials:
The Cutter Law group was extremely helpful in my personal injury case. They streamlined the whole process of my lawsuit and made it very easy for me during my troubles. The lawyers in Oakland were extremely helpful, and it was a saving grace finding them!
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What Should You Do After a Dog Bite Accident?
Quick thinking can protect your rights after a dog attack. If you or a loved one has been bitten, here’s what to do:
- Seek medical help: It’s essential to treat even minor bite injuries to prevent infection and to be sure there are no underlying problems that go unnoticed. Retain all medical records to support any legal or insurance claim you might file.
- Report the incident to authorities: Call the Oakland Animal Services shelter at 510-535-4884 to report a dog bite. If an aggressive dog is loose and poses a public safety risk, contact the Oakland Police at 510-777-3333.
- Document your injuries: Take photos of the bite and any associated injuries, such as scrapes or bruises from a subsequent fall. Make notes of the location and severity of the pain.
- Contact an Oakland dog attack lawyer: Before you discuss the incident with anyone involved, including the dog owner, reach out to an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help protect your rights.
It’s wise to contact an attorney as soon as possible after the bite, as California limits the time available to file a lawsuit. The statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is two years, starting on the date of the incident. The sooner you connect with a lawyer, the more time they’ll have to prepare your case.
What Are the Different Levels of Dog Bite Injury?
Animal behavior specialists, doctors, and dog bite lawyers use a six-step scale to identify the severity of a dog bite. This rubric, known as the Dunbar Dog Bite Scale, uses physical evidence to classify the bite. The six severity levels are:
- Level 1: The dog shows signs of aggression, such as snapping or growling, but there is no physical contact. Behaviorists may refer to this as a “pre-bite,” as these behaviors indicate the dog’s need for space.
- Level 2: The dog’s teeth may nick or scrape the skin, but there is no puncture.
- Level 3: There is a single bite with one to four punctures, none of which are deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine tooth.
- Level 4: This is a single but deeper bite with at least one puncture being more than half the depth of the canine tooth.
- Level 5: The dog inflicted multiple level 4 bites in one or more attacks. Level 5 bites usually result in serious injuries.
- Level 6: The victim dies as a result of the bite or bites.
Animal experts consider bites at level 4 and above to be extremely serious, as they signal the dog’s lack of bite inhibition.
Levels 5 and 6 involve the most severe injuries and typically result in the highest compensation, though settlement amounts differ significantly by case.
What Compensation Can You Recover From a Dog Bite Accident in Oakland?
Dog bite compensation depends on the circumstances of the bite and the severity of the resulting injuries. Most cases involve both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages cover incident-related out-of-pocket expenses, such as:
- Medical expenses: Rabies shots or treatment, reconstructive surgery, infection control
- Lost income: Missed work hours, reduced earning capacity
- Disability-related costs: Occupational or physical therapy, home health support, residential care
Non-economic damages recognize the emotional and social impacts of the bite, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Emotional distress
If the victim is a child, it’s crucial to remember that this type of trauma can have lifelong emotional implications. Compensation should reflect this ongoing and perhaps permanent impact.
California Dog Bite Laws Explained
California follows a strict liability law for dog bites. Under Civil Code Section 3342, a dog owner is automatically responsible for any injuries their dog causes by biting someone—so long as the bite occurs in a public place or while the victim is lawfully on private property, such as the owner’s home.
According to Civil Code section 3342.5, owners are also legally responsible for taking the appropriate precautions to prevent future bites. If the dog has bitten a person on at least two occasions, a district or city attorney or any other individual may bring an action before a court. The court may make any appropriate protective order, including euthanasia.
Who Is Liable for a Dog Bite in Oakland?
Due to California’s “strict liability” dog bite law, a dog owner is liable regardless of whether they knew of any bite risk. The only scenario that excludes the owner from liability is if the victim was unlawfully on the owner’s property, as in a trespassing case.
Other parties may share liability with the dog owner, depending on the circumstances of the bite. Possible liable third parties include property owners, pet sitters, and equipment manufacturers. For example, a muzzle that breaks or a lead that snaps could place partial liability on the company.
If the victim shares fault for the incident, as in cases of intentional provocation, they may still be eligible to recover damages. However, under California’s comparative negligence law, the court will reduce the award by the percentage of fault.
- Address
1901 Harrison Street Suite 910
Oakland CA 94612
The Experienced Dog Bite Lawyers at Cutter Law Are Here To Help
If you or a loved one has experienced a dog bite in Oakland, you need an experienced lawyer on your side. We are family-owned, California-based, and client-focused. Call us today at 888-285-3333 or contact us online for a free consultation.
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Start with a free consultation. We listen to what happened, how it’s affected your life, and what you need to move forward.
You’ll have a direct line to our attorneys. We keep communication open and ensure you always know what’s happening with your case.
From day one, we go all in—gathering evidence, negotiating with insurers, and preparing for trial if needed. You pay nothing unless we win compensation for you.
As a family run California law firm we pride ourselves in providing every client personal attention and representation. The outstanding results we have gotten for our fire clients are a direct result of our commitment to understanding and presenting all aspects of their case.
Hear from our previous clients about the relationships we build together.
Exceptional team of attorneys. I got all the information I needed from just one phone call and a simple follow up email.
My experience with Cutter Law has been extremely positive. The staff are professional, responsive, and passionate about their clients. Highly recommend this law firm.
Brooks has a long-established, respected reputation as a skilled trial attorney and a record of proven success.