Folsom Dog Bite Lawyer

Trusted dog bite lawyers with over 23 years of personal injury experience.

If you or your child was attacked by a dog in Folsom, you may be taking care of severe injuries that required serious medical attention. Our Folsom, CA dog bite lawyer has been representing injury victims since 2002. At The Gordon Law Firm, we have seen what these injuries actually cost people. Not only do they tend to suffer momentarily due to medical expenses, but the mental trauma associated with these types of incidents. Reach out today for a free consultation.

Dog Bite Lawyer Folsom, CA

California holds dog owners strictly liable for bites. It doesn’t matter if the dog never showed aggression before, and the owner claiming that the dog is friendly is irrelevant. If the attack happened somewhere you had a legal right to be, such as a sidewalk, a park, or a neighbor’s yard you were invited into, the owner is liable for your injuries.

But unfortunately, collecting fair compensation is not automatic. When insurance adjusters get involved, they often look for reasons to reduce what they pay through provocation claims, gaps in your medical care, questions about the severity of your injuries, and more. A Folsom dog bite attorney who knows how these claims work can make all the difference between a real recovery and a lowball settlement you regret accepting later on. Let us make sure your payment amount is fair and just.

Types of Dog Bite Cases We Handle in Folsom

The circumstances around a dog attack shape everything, including who’s liable, what evidence matters, and how much you can recover. We represent clients across the full range of these situations:

• Dog bites and maulings. Some attacks are severe and cause deep tissue damage, nerve injuries, scarring that doesn’t fully heal. We pursue compensation for every documented consequence, including injuries that affect you long after the wound closes.
• Attacks on children. Kids are bitten more often than any other group, and because of their size, the injuries are often worse. These cases also carry a psychological component that can’t be ignored, such as the development of fear, nightmares, and behavioral changes.
• Attacks on workers. Delivery drivers, postal carriers, utility workers, and home health aides are all people whose job puts them on private property on a regular basis. If you were bitten while doing your job, you may have options beyond workers’ compensation.
• Leash law violations. Folsom and Sacramento County have leash ordinances. When a dog is off-leash and injures someone, that violation is direct evidence of the owner’s negligence.
• Pedestrian and jogger attacks. Jogger dog attacks can happen on public trails, parks, and sidewalks. California’s strict liability statute protects people in public spaces without requiring proof of the dog’s prior history.
• Landlord and property owner liability. If a landlord knew a tenant’s dog was dangerous and did nothing about it, they may share responsibility for what happened. These cases require a closer look at what the property owner knew.
• Infections and secondary complications. A bite wound that gets infected can mean a longer hospital stay, IV antibiotics, and sometimes surgery. Pasteurella, staph, and MRSA are real risks. When secondary complications extend your recovery or cause lasting harm, that can be part of your claim.

Why Choose The Gordon Law Firm for Dog Bite Cases in Folsom, CA?

A Career Built Around Injured Californians

Chris Gordon opened The Gordon Law Firm in 2014. Before that, he was a founding member of another California personal injury firm going back to 2008. He’s been practicing since 2002, with more than 5,000 clients over that time. His total recoveries in all cases exceed $150 million dollars. He knows that dog bite cases can cause real harm and victims deserve fair compensation. Injured people going up against insurance companies may find that their best interests are not being considered. Attorney Chris understands how those companies approach such claims, what they look for in the details, and what aspects they may push back on.

He graduated from the University of Utah and went on to earn his law degree from Penn State Dickinson School of Law. He is fluent in Spanish and has represented Spanish-speaking clients throughout his career. If you’re searching for a personal injury lawyer in Folsom, CA who can handle the investigation, negotiation, and litigation aspects, our team at The Gordon Law Firm is worth contacting.

No Fees Unless We Win

We handle every dog bite case on contingency, which means there is no payment upfront and nothing owed if we don’t recover for you. Attorney Gordon has a standing personal policy of never taking more in attorney’s fees than his clients receive. That’s a commitment he’s held to across his entire career. Our free consultation guarantee means you can get an honest answer about your case before committing to proceeding further.

Understanding Dog Bite Cases

Damages, Liability, and Compensation

Strict liability under California law means the owner is responsible, but what you’re actually owed is a separate question. Compensation in dog bite cases typically covers the following:

• Medical expenses: Everything from the ER visit through surgery, follow-up care, physical therapy, and projected future treatment if your injuries require.
• Lost income: Wages you missed during recovery, and reduced earning capacity if the injuries affect your ability to work going forward.
• Pain and suffering: The physical experience of the injury and its aftermath, as well as the emotional toll.
• Scarring and disfigurement: Dog bites leave marks, sometimes permanent ones, and that reality is factored into the amount of compensation.
• Psychological harm: PTSD, anxiety, and fear responses are documented outcomes of serious attacks, particularly for children.

Important Aspects in Your Dog Bite Case

California’s comparative fault rules mean the opposite will look for any angle to assign you a share of the blame. Provocation is the most common argument. That’s why how the incident is documented from the very beginning matters greatly. Here are a few things that tend to decide how these cases go:

• Prompt medical treatment. Not just for your health, but the outcome of your case. Delays in receiving care or gaps in treatment are the first thing insurers point to when they argue your injuries weren’t serious.
• Photographs. Take pictures of your injuries the same day of the attack. Retake them as your wounds change, so the progression tells a visual story.
• Animal control records. If Sacramento County Animal Care was called after the incident, their report may document the dog’s history of aggression.
• Witness information. Anyone who saw what happened or knows the dog’s behavior history is potentially useful.
• Insurance policy details. The large majority of dog bite claims go through the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. Identifying the right policy and insurer is one of the first things we do.

Dog Bite Case Timeline

Every case is different, but the general progression of handling the aftermath of your dog bite attack is listed below:

• Right after the attack: Get medical care and report the bite to local animal control. Then document the scene where you were injured if you’re able to.
• Investigation: We pull together medical records, photos, animal control reports, witness statements, and insurance information.
• Demand: Once your treatment has stabilized and we have a full picture of your damages, we submit a demand to the responsible insurance company.
• Negotiation: Most dog bite cases settle, but we push for the number that actually reflects your losses and not the first offer the adjuster provides.
• Litigation: If the insurer won’t come to a fair number, we file suit.
• Resolution: Settlement funds are distributed or a judgment is entered. From start to finish, these cases typically run several months to well over a year depending on complexity.

What to Bring to Your Consultation

For your consultation, bring any information and evidence you have related to the incident, your injuries, and what happened afterwards. Here are examples of details that are most useful to us:

• Photos of your injuries, from the day of the attack and any taken since.
• Medical records, bills, or any paperwork from your treatment.
• The animal control report, if one was filed.
• Contact information for anyone who witnessed the attack.
• Any insurance information you have for the dog’s owner.

California Legal Resources for Dog Bites

California law on dog bites is more developed than in most states, and understanding the framework can help you make sense of your options. A few places to start:

• California Civil Code § 3342: Strict liability for dog bites occurring in public places or where the victim had legal right to be, no prior bite history required.
• California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1: Two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury claim.
• Cal. Civil Code § 3342.5: Requires owners of dogs that have bitten someone to take reasonable steps to prevent future bites, failure to do so can support a negligence claim.

Reach Out to The Gordon Law Firm to Schedule a Consultation

If you were recently bitten by a dog and sustained serious injury, we recommend reaching out as soon as possible. The sooner we get involved, the stronger the case we can build. At The Gordon Law Firm, we offer free consultations and work on a contingency basis, so there is no obligation or risk in retaining our services. Contact us to reserve your appointment with us.