* Updated March 2022
Dog bites are a common occurrence, impacting adults and children throughout California every day. California led the nation in dog bite injuries last year, with 2,396 incidents recorded. California also had the most dog bite-related fatalities that year, with nine. Statistics regarding the prevalence of dog bite-related injuries may seem surprising at first glance. In actuality, dog bites occur all-too-frequently across the country, with more than 4.5 million people injured each year (and of those, 885,000 required medical attention).
What should you do if you’ve been injured by a dog bite? How severe does a dog bite injury need to be in order to file a lawsuit? Can you file a lawsuit for a minor dog bite injury? Let’s explore those questions while taking a look at what steps need to be taken after you’re bitten by a dog, and how to protect your rights under the law.
Some states, including New Mexico, Nevada, and Texas, adhere to what’s known as the “one-bite rule.” The one-bite rule essentially (though not precisely) allows a dog a free pass on its first bite or attack. This may not apply to specific breeds that are known to be more dangerous or prone to attack, but the one-bite rule is adjudicated on a case-by-case basis. States with the one-bite rule do not typically impose liability for dog bites unless the owner has officially been notified that their pet has previously bitten another human, or is otherwise dangerous.
In other words, under the one-bite rule, the dog owner can only be held liable for injuries caused by an attack if it can be proven that he or she knew (or should have known) of the animal’s past dangerous or viscous propensities.
California, however, does not adhere to the one-bite rule, and dog owners can be held liable for any type of attack.
Our experienced attorneys can help you pursue a financial award for your personal injury case. Contact us online or by phone for a free consultation today.
If you were injured by a dog in California – whether through a knockdown, bite, or more severe type of attack – the owner is liable for the accident. California applies what’s known as “strict liability” on all dog owners. Under strict liability, the dog owner is liable for the victim’s injuries, regardless of whether or not the animal has shown previous signs of aggression or bitten a human in the past. No matter how minor your dog bite injury may be, the pet owner is still liable, and you may have grounds to pursue a lawsuit for any resulting damages.
For example, even minor dog bites can be psychologically traumatic experiences that often lead to delayed negative consequences. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is commonly diagnosed among dog bite victims, especially children. When considering whether to pursue a lawsuit for a dog bite – whether minor or severe – it’s important to take an evaluation of the total amount of damage resulting from the incident.
If a minor dog bite results in a trip to the emergency room, the victim should not be responsible for the ensuing expenses. Pursuing a dog bite lawsuit is a way to recover any losses you may have sustained as a result of your dog bite attack.
Choosing to sue for a minor dog bite is your right, especially if the experience left you with medical expenses, pain and suffering, or psychological trauma that required professional care. If you’ve suffered a dog bite and would like to discuss the details of your case with California’s #1 dog bite lawyers, contact us today for a free, no obligation consultation. Our team of dog bite injury lawyers has successfully handled all types of claims ranging from severe to minor. We’re here to assist you 24/7, and will fight to protect your rights from negligent pet owners and insurance companies.
Dog bite cases can be worth a significant amount of financial compensation. Nationwide, the average money payout for a dog bite claim was over $44,000 in 2019 (an increase from $39,017 in 2018). In cases where a victim sustains an injury to the face, significant scarring, dismemberment, or disfigurement occurs, or an animal attacks a child, a dog bite settlement may exceed $100,000, depending on the facts of the case and the experience of the dog bite law firm.
For severe dog bite attacks that lead to lifelong injuries, multi-million dollar settlements have been reported in recent years:
Whether your injuries are minor or severe, having a dedicated and experienced Dordulian Law Group dog bite attorney on your side means you have an advocate who will fight to recover the maximum damages award for your specific case.
Schedule an appointment online for a free consultation today, or call us directly to speak to our top-rated, expert dog bite attorneys.
Proving liability in a dog bite claim means establishing that the accident occurred due to negligence on the part of the pet owner. Proving said negligence requires your legal team to demonstrate certain factors, including:
Section 3342 of the California Civil Code places liability on pet owners and applies solely to injuries sustained from a dog bite. If you have been attacked by a dog but did not actually sustain a bite, negligence must be proven just as with any other type of personal injury case in California. Proving negligence in a personal injury civil lawsuit requires four criteria to be met:
Proving liability in your dog bite case and securing a maximum damages award depends on the skill and experience of your California dog bite attorney. With DLG, you can be confident that your case is in the hands of dedicated professionals from start to finish. From the moment you present your claim to the moment we begin our exhaustive investigative process to the moment we secure a maximum damages award, your ultimate well-being is our first priority. We take extensive steps to ensure the facts of your dog bite injury claim are proven and your case is successful.
At Dordulian Law Group, we apply a methodical approach to gathering evidence and proving negligence in all dog bite cases. This includes dispatching our Chief Investigator, Detective Moses Castillo, on every case. Detective Moses is a former LAPD supervisor with nearly 30-years of experience investigating complex cases for the city’s elite Sex Crimes and Central Traffic divisions. Detective Moses applies his decades of investigative experience to each DLG dog bite case, ensuring all the facts are gathered and negligence is proven.
Detective Moses and our entire team of Los Angeles dog bite professionals will work with you to gather all possible documentation to help demonstrate that your injury was the result of negligence. Such documentation might include medical records, medical bills or related expenses, photos or videos of your injuries, etc.
Overview of the Dog Bite Problem in California
Dog bites occur more often in California than in any other state, and we lead the nation in reported injuries. In 2019, 2,396 dog bite claims were reported in California, the largest number in the U.S. (an increase from 2,166 in 2018). Additionally, California has the highest rate of dog bite-related fatalities, 82% of which are the result of pit bull attacks.
In cases where a dog bite leads to a fatality, a wrongful death lawsuit can be filed by the family of the decedent. Dordulian Law Group has extensive experience successfully handling dog bite claims as well as wrongful death suits.
Author
"*" indicates required fields
