San Jose Dog Bite Attorneys
Seeking Justice for Victims of an Animal Attack
If you or your child has been attacked and bitten by a dog in Northern California, our San Jose dog bite attorneys at Caputo & Van Der Walde LLP can help. Every year, we represent more and more individuals who have been viciously savaged by a neglected dog. Whether the result of severe abuse, careless training, or incompetent ownership, dog owners who allow their pets to harm others are indeed responsible.
Don't let the physical and emotional scars from your attack prevent you from obtaining the care and compensation you deserve.
On This Page
- Common Dog Bite Injuries
- What to Do After a Dog Bite
- Children and Dog Bites
- When Dog Bites are Fatal
Call us at (800) 900-0863 and we can help put this chapter behind you.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
Recently in California, over 1,900 dog bite claims were filed with insurance agencies and as estimated $64 million in damages were awarded, leading the LA Times to dub the state "Dog Bite Capital of The United States." The numbers are staggering when layered against the debilitating injuries often suffered in such an attack, including:
- Permanent nerve damage
- Bone fractures
- Disfigurement
- Loss of limb function
- Cranial trauma
- Crippling phobias
- Wrongful death
What to Do After a Dog Bite
First and foremost, you'll want to speak with a medical professional, no matter how seemingly insignificant the wound may be. Even the smallest of dogs can harbor dangerous bacteria that can lead to serious infection or worse. This will also provide professional verification and assessment of the damage, should you decide to pursue legal action.
Under California Penal Code 398.A, the owner of the offending dog is required by law to report the bite to the proper authorities.
More often than not, owners are reluctant to provide such an open admission of guilt even if they are close to the victim. In which case, it will be up to you, the injured party, to speak with Animal Control or law enforcement. Depending on your relationship with the dog, this could be quite difficult, but it is in your best interests to do so, immediately after an attack.
Try to take as many photos and document as much of the scene as possible afterwards. If you are unable, have a family member or friend gather the information for you. Collecting as much evidence of the incident can prove to be the difference in a dog bite lawsuit.
Children and Dog Bites
According to a recent report from Center for Disease Control (CDC), it is estimated approximately over 4 million people each year are attacked by dogs. Of these, nearly half are children under the age of 9.
Due to their smaller stature and the fact that they have not yet finished growing, children run the risk of sustaining significant injury if involved in a dog bite incident. Surgeries to correct injuries may not always be successful in fully repairing the damage, which may result in a child having to endure a lifetime of adapting to his or her injuries.
The CDC recommends that children facing a potential dog bite incident remain as calm as possible, choose not to run away, but remain perfectly still instead, even if the incident has escalated and the child has been knocked to the ground. Always avoid direct eye contact with a dog and avoid approaching unfamiliar dogs. Parents should keep a watchful eye over their children as they interact with any dog.
When Dog Bites are Fatal
Regardless of past behavior or circumstance, a fatal dog attack can occur at any time. It only takes an instant for an individual to be significantly harmed by a dog's bite, which can quickly turn deadly.
Furthermore, delayed medical assistance can also exasperate a dog bite injury, particularly if the victim has lost a great deal of blood or has been bitten by a rabid animal. Dog attacks can be fatal, especially if the involved dog has a history of biting someone in the past and has been labeled as dangerous.
California Civil Code 3342.5 stipulates that "the owner of any dog that has bitten a human being shall have the duty to take such reasonable steps as are necessary to remove any danger presented to other persons from bites by the animal."
Call Caputo & Van Der Walde at (800) 900-0863.
Finally, be sure to contact our professional dog bite attorneys at Caputo & Van Der Walde LLP at (800) 900-0863. We provide a full consultation, at no cost to you, which will help weigh your legal options, ascertain the best course of action in regards to any insurance claims, and determine if you should move forward with a personal injury lawsuit.
Our knowledgeable team has assisted hundreds of dog bite victims and has built a reputation of compassionate and comprehensive representation. Retaining the services of Caputo & Van Der Walde LLP can help grant you the peace of mind you need along with the financial compensation you deserve.
A TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS
Millions Recovered for Our Clients-
Wrongful Death Skydiving Accident $40,030,000
Attorney Paul Van Der Walde recovered a total of $40,030,000 in compensation for a couple bereft of their 18-year-old son in a tandem skydiving accident.
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School Bus vs. Pedestrian Accident $8,825,000
School bus vs. pedestrian accident resulting in traumatic brain injury.
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Train Maintenance Vehicle vs. Auto $7,411,492
Caputo & Van Der Walde received a jury verdict in the amount of $7,411,492 for a surviving widow, who lost her husband when his pickup truck was involved in a collision with an on-track maintenance of way vehicle.
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3rd-Degree Burns During a Pedicure $7,291,986
Paul Caputo received a $7,291,985.58 decision for Plaintiff in a case where a client received severe 3rd-degree burns during a pedicure, resulting in the need for numerous skin grafting procedures.
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Paraplegia from Defective Seat $5,650,000
Product liability case involving a defective seat design that resulted in paraplegia.
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Pick-up Truck vs. Pedestrian Accident $4,250,000
Pedestrian crossing a four-lane street in the crosswalk, hit by a full-size pick-up truck. Injuries included a left knee dislocation with complete tears of all ligaments and requiring surgery, right scaphoid fracture requiring surgery, right shoulder AC joint separation with clavicle fracture and PTSD.
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Auto vs. Bicycle Accident $4,000,000
Bicycle rider attempted to maneuver to his left, around a recessed manhole in the bike lane, and was struck by a vehicle that was driving too closely to the bike lane. Significant injuries included traumatic brain injury, skull fracture, and permanent brain damage.
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Big Rig vs. Auto Accident $3,000,000
Big rig vs. auto accident resulting in wrongful death.
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Injury Onboard a SCTVA Bus $3,000,000
Injury onboard a SCTVA bus resulting in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).
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Police Brutality $3,000,000
Civil rights case involving excessive force by law enforcement.
Client Testimonials
Highly Rated & Reviewed-
“Our lawyer and his entire staff were extremely approachable and effective in getting a very good settlement from my own insurance company's under-insured motorist coverage. Our lawyer guided my husband and me through the process.”
- Chris G. -
“Paul has a great understanding of people's rights and drives to obtain all that is due to you. He listens and answers questions that anyone could understand without legalize. I contacted him through the recommendation of a friend.”
- Gary G. -
“We are so grateful we found Paul Van Der Walde! From the very beginning, it was clear Paul and his team would do whatever it took to help us. We're thrilled with the case result, but more importantly, we're thankful they believed in us.”
- Catherine W.