Imperial County Dog Bite Injury Lawyer
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At the far southeastern side of California, you find Imperial County. Cities you may know are Calexico, El Centro, Imperial, and the Torres-Martinez as well as Fort Yuma Indian reservations. This county is one that is famous in the Golden State for its agriculture. Besides that, residents are known for their love of dogs. A case in point is the Woof Town dog park at Boley Field Drive West in Imperial.
However, in spite of man’s love affair with all things canine, there are some dog owners who are not as responsible. Some are abusive to their dogs, while others are irresponsible backyard breeders. The results are dogs with behavioral problems, violent tendencies, and an inability to be controlled. These end up causing injuries to people, and you may need to talk to an Imperial County dog bite injury lawyer.
If you or a loved one were attacked by a dog or suffered a bite, please know that it is not up to you to deal with the financial consequences of the injury. Rather, it is up to the dog’s negligent owner and their insurance to foot your medical and counseling bills. The MKP Law Group, LLP, has an Imperial County dog bite injury lawyer who will help you navigate the legal maze.
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Do You Need an Imperial County Dog Bite Injury Lawyer?
California dog bite law holds dog owners responsible for the damage their pets cause to other people. This type of strict liability means that for those suffering from a dog bite injury another party is directly liable for the dog’s behavior. Whether you were bitten in a public place or on the dog owner’s property, the owner of the aggressive dog has a legal responsibility to compensate you for any harm the bite caused.
Insurance estimates suggest that even though five million Americans are likely bitten by dogs each year, only a fraction of dog attack victims seek compensation or file dog bite cases. In some cases, a bite is from a small dog and may not seem sufficiently serious to merit a visit to the emergency room, but may still leave you suffering for days or weeks or more.
Regardless of the severity, having a skilled and knowledgeable Imperial County dog bite lawyer will ensure that your claim is handled properly from the outset.
The attorneys at MKP Law Group, LLP have handled dozens of dog bite cases and are here to help dog bite victims win the maximum compensation they deserve.
MKP Law Group, LLP’s experienced dog bite attorneys understand how traumatic a dog bite injury can be, and want you to know that you are not alone. Our team also uses skilled investigators to determine the dog’s owner, the dog’s history, and the facts of the attack. We will deal with the insurance company’s claims and obtain your medical records and bills so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries. Our team is experienced, attentive, dependable, and tenacious so call us today at 310-285-5353 to schedule your 100% free consultation.
Do Dog Bite Injuries Happen Frequently?
According to a report from The Journal of Pediatrics, there are an average of 900+ daily emergency room visits daily each year in the US.
Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that for nonfatal dog bites:
- The highest risk of being bitten is for kids between the ages of five and nine.
- Most dog bites occur in July. Roughly 11.1% of bite injuries take place during this month.
- In some cases, employment puts you at risk. Workers delivering mail, food, packages, or even doing home repairs account for 4.5% of dog bite cases.
What Types of Injuries Do Victims Suffer Most Frequently?
CDC figures also note that the most common injuries following a nonfatal dog bite involve:
- the arm or hand, 45.3% of cases, and
- leg or foot injuries are next, with 25.8%.
The remaining 22.8% are injuries of the neck or head. Additionally, puncture wounds and lacerations are the most common. Occasionally, a patient presents with a bone fracture (0.4%) or actual amputation (0.8%) of a digit.
What Does Imperial County Law Say?
The Imperial County code of ordinances discusses what qualifies as a dangerous dog in Chapter 6.16. The County defines a dog as being potentially dangerous if it has:
- Pursued, attacked, and bitten a person at any time.
- Attacked other animals.
- Pursued livestock or other animals.
This differs from a vicious animal, which the law defines as one that has attacked someone and caused property damage, substantial injury, or even death. Animal control maintains a list of potentially dangerous dogs. If one of the animals re-offends within 36 months, officers have the authorization to euthanize it. Vicious dogs may be euthanized at the first offense.
Why Should You Contact an Imperial County Dog Bite Injury Lawyer After Seeing Medical Treatment?
The dog’s owner is responsible for paying medical bills. If you require counseling, have to take time off work, or have other expenses related to the dog’s attack, the owner is supposed to pay for that, too. However, would you know how to get justice if the dog attacked you in one of Imperial County’s unincorporated areas? Moreover, what happens if a dog bit you while you were on Reservation property?
The MKP Law Group, LLP wants to help. While you focus on healing from the attack, the firm goes to work finding the responsible party’s insurer and entering into negotiations with them.
Why do dogs attack?
Two dogs amstaff terrier fighting over food. Young and old dog agressive behaviour. Canine theme
Animal rights organizations believe that 78% of dogs are kept for fighting, breeding, guarding, or just to enhance the owner’s image. This large percentage of dogs is much more likely to demonstrate aggressive behavior. The reality is that while many dog owners treat their dogs with love and kindness, many more dog owners’ poor behaviors result in a dog acting more aggressive and defensive.
Another factor to consider is the dog’s neuter status. An intact dog is 77.9% more likely to attack someone.
The National Canine Research Council uncovered 7 controllable factors related to dog bite fatalities. Their analysis suggested that when 4 or more of these factors present, the chances of a dog bite fatality compounds.
- No other person around to intervene → 86.9%
- The victim had no relationship with the dog → 83.7%
- The dog was not neutered or spayed → 77.9%
- The compromised physical ability of victim → 68.7%
- The dog is kept as a resident dog rather than a family pet → 70.4%
- Mismanagement of the dog → 39.3%
- Owner’s abuse or neglect of dog → 20.6%
Learn more about dog bites at our stats page here: 25+ Important Dog Bite Statistics & Bites by Breed for 2020-2021
Contact MKP Law Group, LLP Today
In California, there is a two-year statute of limitations for filing a dog bite personal injury claim. That means dog bite claims must be filed within 2 years following the exact date of the incident. So, to ensure you have adequate time to collect evidence and examine your case, it’s better to speak with an experienced dog bite attorney as soon as possible.
Call MKP Law Group, LLP today for your 100% free consultation. It is never in your best interest to negotiate with an insurance company or accept their offer without first seeking legal advice from an experienced dog bite attorney. The dog bite & attack lawyers at MKP Law Group, LLP will handle the insurance claims on your behalf and negotiate with the insurance company to get you top dollar. If the insurance company refuses to negotiate fairly and only makes low-ball offers, our attorneys are experienced litigators and will file suit in court.
At MKP Law Group, LLP, we have personal injury attorneys that are highly experienced in handling dog bite injury & attack cases across Imperial County and have obtained large settlements on behalf of our clients for their personal injury cases.
Call our law office at 310-285-5353 or fill out the contact form below to discuss your dog bite case and legal options with our dog bite lawyers.
We proudly service clients in the city of Los Angeles and other cities in Los Angeles County including Santa Monica, Westwood, West Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Long Beach, Pasadena, Glendale, and more. We also represent clients in Orange County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County. Our practice areas include everything from car and truck accident cases in Imperial County and Riverside to slip and fall injuries in San Bernardino and Orange County or wherever you may be in the LA and surrounding regions.
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