Exotic animals are, well, exotic and the appeal of a unique animal species can often blind owners to their dangers. Every state has laws in place that govern ownership of exotic animals and California is no exception. For instance, while you can’t own a wolverine, you can own a zebra or camel. Whether the ownership is legal or illegal, a pet owner is responsible for the injuries or death that they cause to another.
Much like a dog bite lawsuit, an exotic animal personal injury lawsuit is about proving ownership of the pet, the injuries you sustained and the financial damage those injuries have caused you. For those reasons and your own health always be sure to seek medical attention and take pictures following an animal attack. Here’s a look at the two most likely sources your financial recovery will be funded by if victorious:
- Homeowners Insurance: Bites and other injuries caused by pets are typically paid by the owner’s insurance. The amount and extent of financial coverage depends on a range of factors which we can quickly ascertain in the early stages of your case. Many homeowners insurance policies cover between $100-300k but might limit this coverage to the first attack or specifically rule out certain animals. For instance, it is becoming increasingly common for insurance companies to refuse to cover certain dangerous breeds of dogs.
- Personal Funds: Say the individual is not a homeowner or their coverage falls short of your judgement– in these very common situations, we will be seeking a judgement that the individual will likely have to pay for out of pocket. If he or she has the funds then this is less of a problem but in many situations, the judgement is the easy part but collecting is the hard part.
If ownership of the exotic or wild pet was against California law, that will not impact your ability to file a personal injury lawsuit but that individual will very likely have to deal with separate criminal charges as well.
Dealing with an exotic animal injury can often be a very long journey. In addition to medical bills and lost wages, you may have scars that will never fully heal. When you hire us as your attorneys, we will work hard to get you a settlement amount that reflects the true extent of your physical and emotional injuries. Do not miss your chance to file a lawsuit by waiting too long– give Walch Law a call today.
Nine Reasons To Choose Us
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ResultsWhen looking for a California wrongful death lawyer, you want a law firm that can get you the money you deserve. At Walch Law, we don't just meet our clients' expectations, we exceed them. We win over 95% of our cases and will work hard to get you the same great results we have gotten for so many of our happy clients. When it comes to handing a California wrongful death case, resolving your case as quickly as possible for as much money as possible is how we approach every case.
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ExperienceFounding partner Gary Walch started this law firm to help people in your very situation. With over forty years of experience, you can feel confident that when you hire Walch Law Firm, you are benefiting from his years of experience. Robert Walch has been with the firm since 2000 and has a track record of success, as does the rest of the highly qualified staff at Walch Law. A family firm with the resources of a big law firm means you get the best of both worlds.
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TrustThere are lots of law firms that will happily take your business but very few will deliver results and handle your case the way that we do. We understand and respect how difficult this time is for you and our family. When you hire Walch Law Firm you are hiring a family firm that you can trust. We have a stellar reputation within the legal community and among our clients.
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Contingency FeeFor many individuals and families following a death it is not just an emotional time but a stressful financial time as well—hiring an attorney should help relieve this financial stress which is why you hire us on a contingency fee arrangement. Translation: you don't pay for any fees or costs associated with your case until you get paid. We have the financial resources of a large law firm but the accessible environment of a small firm meaning your case won't get lost in the shuffle.
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CommunicationWhenever you are ready, we are available to talk and this open and available communication model is something that our clients enjoy until their case is closed. We keep you informed and updated on your case every step of the way, always explain what's happening in plain English and ultimately deliver on our promise to get you paid.
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Recent VictoriesWinning over 95% of our cases means that you can feel very confident when you hire us to help with your case. Some of our recent victories include a $5,000,000+ settlement for a car accident, $1,250,000 settlement for a wrongful death pedestrian case and $2,500,000 for injuries related to a subway accident.
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SupportFirst and foremost, you are suffering a major traumatic loss and we understand that. We can help with counseling, medical professionals and other important resources during this time. Your focus should be on dealing with this loss, let us take care of all the legal details.
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Family FirmThere are small firms that might not be able to front the costs of your case and there are big law firms that will easily take your case but lack any type of personal touch (and you might have trouble hearing back from them when you want to) and then there's Walch Law Firm. We can handle any case and pride ourselves on our accessibility to clients. Father-son duo Gary & Robert Walch treat everyone like family and this personal touch is something that our clients as well as our employees constantly e!
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Se Habla Espanol!¿Busca un abogado de habla hispana ayudar con su caso de la muerte ilícito de California? No busque más. Somos una firma de abogados de servicio completo de habla hispana que puede ayudarle durante este tiempo difícil tiempo. Llama nos o correo electrónico hoy para su consulta gratuita para aprender más.
