Santa Rosa Dog Bite Lawyer
Santa Rosa Dog Attack Lawyer for Individuals with Severe Injuries
Serving all of Sonoma County Including Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Windsor, Healdsburg, and Sonoma
Our law firm brings over 30 years of legal experience to representing victims of vicious dog attacks and other harmful animal encounters in the Santa Rosa area. Bites and other injuries can have lasting physical and emotional effects for individuals of all ages, and the financial consequences of animal attacks can be devastating for victims and their families.
As the victim of an animal attack in Santa Rosa, you deserve just compensation. But, to secure a financial recovery, you need a committed advocate who is willing to fight for your legal rights. Attorney Michael Henderson has secured millions of dollars for clients in animal attacks and other injury cases. If you are entitled to compensation, Michael will work tirelessly to make sure you secure a maximum financial recovery. At Henderson Law, our Santa Rosa dog bite lawyer understands what it means to suffer a traumatic injury. We know just how drastically an animal attack can change a family’s life, and this is why we fight for the largest possible settlement or verdict in every case that we handle.
Santa Rosa Dog and Animal Attack Claims: Key Points
A Santa Rosa dog and animal attacks lawyer can help you understand your rights after a bite or other animal injury. Here is what victims and parents should know.
Key Takeaways
- There is no “one free bite” rule. California dog owners can be held liable the first time their dog bites an innocent victim.
- Proof of negligence is not required. Under strict liability, it is enough to show the owner’s dog bit you, you were lawfully on the premises, and the bite caused you physical or emotional injury.
- Claims cover more than dog bites. Non-bite dog attacks, horse kicks, snakes, and wild animals kept as pets can also lead to compensation claims.
- Insurance usually pays. Most animal attack cases are resolved through insurance, and standard homeowner’s policies cover dog bite claims.
“Michael and his personal injury staff were wonderfully supportive, knowledgeable and effective. . . . Everyone made the process less intimidating, and got a result that I was very happy with.”
Recovering From a Dog Attack? Let Us Carry the Legal Load.
A dog or animal attack can leave you with painful injuries, medical bills, and lasting emotional stress. Henderson Law will listen to what happened, explain your options, and fight for the compensation you and your family need.
Let’s Discuss Your CaseStanding Up for Your Rights After an Animal Attack
Despite being domesticated, dogs and other pets remain unpredictable. An animal that has never exhibited aggressive tendencies can suddenly attack without warning. When dogs and other animals feel threatened or frightened, their survival instincts take control, and this often leads to unprovoked attacks and other incidents in which animals unknowingly and unintentionally cause harm to human beings.
While most animal attacks in Santa Rosa and other urban and suburban areas involve dog bites, in Northern California we regularly see cases involving other dangerous animal encounters as well. Our Santa Rosa dog bite lawyer represents individuals and parents whose children have been injured in cases involving:
- Vicious dog bites
- Dog attacks involving non-bite injuries
- Horse kicks and other horseback riding injuries
- Snakes and other domesticated animals
- Wild animals being kept as pets
Get Help After a Dog Bite or Animal Attack
Meet Our Santa Rosa Dog Bite Lawyer
Michael Henderson has been honored as a member of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Injury Trial Lawyers for 2016 and 2017.
He also served as President of the Consumer Attorneys of Sonoma County, the local chapter of the statewide trial lawyers association.
Michael was inducted into the Order of the Coif, a prestigious national honor society recognizing excellence in legal education. He graduated in the top 2% of his class, earning his Juris Doctor degree from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California, in 1994.
Michael dedicates his practice to representing individuals affected by personal injuries, hostile work environments, and family disputes. Known for his compassionate approach, commitment to justice, and skilled representation in settlements and trials, he strives to protect his clients’ rights and interests. He lives in Santa Rosa, California, with his wife and three. children.
Contact Santa Rosa Dog Bite Lawyer to Put Experience on Your Side
To learn more about your rights after an animal attack and the options you have available, contact the Santa Rosa dog bite lawyer of Henderson Law. Your initial consultation is free, and we do not charge any legal fees unless we help you win just compensation.
Other Injury Cases We Handle in Santa Rosa, CA
Our experienced lawyer also handles other types of cases, including:
- Trucking Accidents
- Insurance Claim Denial
- Medical Negligence and Malpractice
- Pedestrian Crosswalk Injuries
- Injury Claim
- Trip and Fall Injuries
- Wrongful Death Claim
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Bike Accident
- Car Accidents
- Construction Accident
- Product Liability
- Brain Injury
What is your case worth? Find out. Call us or tell us what happened online today.
Worried About Filing a Claim Against a Neighbor or Friend?
Many attacks involve a pet owned by someone you know. Most animal attack cases are resolved through insurance, and standard homeowner’s policies cover dog bite claims. Talk with a Santa Rosa dog bite lawyer for free, with no legal fees unless we help you win just compensation.
California Dog & Animal Attack FAQs
Q: Does California have a 'one free bite' rule?
No. While California used to follow a rule that allowed dog owners “one free bite” before they could be held liable for a bite victim’s injuries, this rule no longer applies. Under current law, dog owners can be held liable the first time their dog bites an innocent victim.
Q: What is the rule of 'strict liability' and how does it apply to animal attacks?
Strict liability is an exception to the negligence standard that applies in most personal injury and wrongful death cases. In a typical, non-animal attack case, to recover compensation you must prove that someone else made a mistake leading to your injury (in legal terms, they were “negligent”).
Under the rule of strict liability, proof of negligence is not required. For example, in order to pursue a successful claim for a dog bite under California law, it is enough to show that:
- The person against whom you filed your claim is the dog’s owner;
- You were bitten by the dog;
- You were lawfully on the premises where you were bitten (in other words, you were not trespassing); and,
- The bite caused you physical or emotional injury.
California has similar strict liability rules that apply to animal attacks other than dog bites, as well.
Q: How long do I have to file a dog bite claim in California?
California has a two-year statute of limitations for most claims involving non-fatal dog bites. However, to make sure the evidence you need to pursue your claim gets preserved, it is important that you speak with a Santa Rosa dog bite attorney as soon as possible.
Q: What if I don't want to sue my neighbor?
This is a common question among dog attack victims. Many attacks involve animals owned by the victim’s friend or neighbor, and these victims are often concerned that filing a lawsuit will mean ruining their friend’s or neighbor’s life. However, most animal attack cases are resolved through insurance. Standard homeowner’s policies cover dog bite claims, and many dog owners have insurance specifically to cover unprovoked attacks.
Local Resources for Dog Bite and Animal Attack Victims in Santa Rosa, CA
After a dog bite or animal attack, victims may need medical treatment, an official bite report, and information on rabies. The following local and official resources can help Santa Rosa residents after an animal attack.
1. Emergency Medical Care
Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital
- 1165 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95405
- Phone: (707) 525-5300
- Provides emergency medical services and trauma care for people injured in motor vehicle accidents.
- Official website
Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital
- 30 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
- Phone: (707) 576-4000
- Provides emergency evaluation and treatment for accident-related injuries.
- Official website
Seek medical care for any bite that breaks the skin. Bites can become infected, and rabies exposure must be assessed. For severe bleeding or deep wounds, call 911.
2. Reporting a Dog Bite
Sonoma County Animal Services
- 1247 Century Court, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
- Phone: (707) 565-7100
- Email: theanimalshelter@sonomacounty.gov
- Provides animal services for Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Windsor, and unincorporated Sonoma County. Bites to people can be reported with the county’s online bite report form. After a report is filed, an animal services officer and a public health nurse will follow up. If you went to a hospital, ask whether staff filled out a bite form.
- Report an issue to Animal Services
3. Rabies Information
Sonoma County Public Health, Disease Control Unit
- Phone: (707) 565-4567
- If you were bitten or may have been exposed to rabies, submit a bite report and call the Disease Control Unit. If your pet was bitten, call Animal Services at (707) 565-7100.
- Rabies prevention information
4. Emergency Care for Injured Pets
VCA PetCare East Veterinary Hospital
- 2425 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
- Phone: (707) 579-3900
- Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for pets injured in an animal attack.
- Official website
Tip: If you can do so safely, get the dog owner’s name, contact information, and the dog’s vaccination status. Photograph your injuries, and keep all medical and veterinary records.
Our Santa Rosa, CA Office Location