Los Angeles Dog Bite Injury Lawyers: We Help Dog Attack Victims
Our attorneys exclusively represent injury victims.
For years we have fought on behalf of clients who were hurt in accidents due to the negligence of another party.
Dog bites are incredibly frequent occurrences in California.
Though there are several breeds in particular that are linked to attacks, such as Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, and German Shepherds, the owner can also be responsible if they mistreat or abuse the dog.
Dog bite incidents can be terrifying and often lead to lasting mental trauma and anguish in addition to the physical injuries. This is especially true in cases involving infants and minors.
I couldn’t be happier with the end result of my dog bite settlement, Jordan exceeded all my expectations.
Why Hire a Los Angeles County Dog Bite Attorney?
Because dog bite cases can be complex, it is imperative that you are represented by an experienced and knowledgeable dog bite attorney right from the beginning. There is much more that goes into dog bite claims beyond negotiating a settlement with the dog’s owner or their homeowner’s insurance carrier. Some of the things that need to be done as soon as possible after a dog bite include:
- Seek medical attention (Call 911 or go directly to the emergency room)
- Take photographs of the injuries
- Contact witnesses and obtain statements
- Report the attack to animal control services
- Investigate the dog’s owner
- Contact insurance companies and establish claims
Having a skilled and knowledgeable Los Angeles 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 claims and obtain your medical records and bills so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
What Does Los Angeles Do to Prevent Dog Bites and Related Injuries?
Los Angeles County has compiled a comprehensive list of pet laws governing the ownership and transport of dogs.
- License law. Dog owners must license their dogs, which requires current rabies vaccinations. Altered pets are less expensive to license.
- Leash law. The only place where a dog may be off-leash is the property of its owner. When out in public, dogs must be on leashes no longer than six feet.
- Transportation laws. Dogs must not be loose in the backs of open trucks or other vehicles.
What You Need to Know About Dog Bites
Dog attacks and dog bites can occur without any provocation. In California, dog-bite-related emergency room visits increased 70% from 2005 to 2022, marking the year with the highest number of dog attacks in the past 18 years.
Seemingly gentle dogs can turn aggressive in an instant. Oftentimes dogs will become violent if they feel cornered, threatened, or see sudden movements. Other times there is no plausible reason for the attack, and the dog has no history of aggression.
Dog bites can occur near your home or in your own backyard. It might be a dog that escaped their yard or that is allowed to roam free or that was unleashed by the pet owner. Other dog bites occur in public spaces like in parks or on sidewalks.
California Dog Bite Laws
The law understands that money cannot make emotional distress suffered because of a dog attack go away. However, exercising your legal rights and seeking compensation makes it possible to deal with the problems by seeking professional help and healing. Moreover, fair compensation gives you the means needed to undergo reconstructive surgery or nerve damage repair after an animal attack.
Each state has its own specific laws in place for handling personal injury cases. In California, it’s important to know there is a two-year statute of limitations for filing a dog bite personal injury claim from the date of the incident. Our injury lawyers have dealt with numerous dog bite claims and have the knowledge to decipher the complexities posed by insurance companies and California laws in order to maximize our clients’ recoveries.
Important! You should not accept any settlement offer made by the liable party without first consulting with a trusted lawyer.
Dog Bite Laws: Who is liable for dog bite personal injuries in Los Angeles?
In California, liability for a dog bite falls at the feet of the dog's owner. Many states, including California, have enacted laws meant to hold the dog owner liable for the dog bite on what is known as a “strict liability” basis.
This means that the owner of the dog is responsible for a bite from the dog, even if the owner was not negligent and even if the dog had never attacked anyone else in the past. Strict liability places blame on the dog’s owner even if they had no reason to know the dog was dangerous and regardless of whether the owner failed to protect others from the attack. It is the owner’s responsibility to take care of their pet and ensure it does not attack other people.
Under California Dog Bite Law, Civil Code § 3342, the owner of any dog is liable for damages if:
- the injury is caused by a dog bite; and
- the bite occurs while the injured party is in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the private property of the dog owner
Other entities that may be liable for a dog bite, besides the owner, include anyone responsible for the care or custody of the dog including kennels or animal shelters. Additionally, landlords can also be held liable for dog bites if they allowed the dog onto the property or permitted a tenant to house a dangerous pet. Most of the time, these cases are covered by the homeowner’s insurance policy.
Exceptions to the rule:
- A government agency, such as the police and military, cannot be held liable for dog bites that occur when the agency uses a dog while carrying out official duties. This exception only applies if the dog bite victim was a suspect or participant in acts that prompted the use of the dog in the police or military work.
- California law provides an exception to the strict liability of dog owners for dog bites that occur when the injured person is trespassing or otherwise unlawfully on the property. This is an exception to the rule that dog owners are 100% at-fault for a dog bite attack. Generally, property owners are not obligated to maintain a safe property for trespassers. A trespasser is someone who enters someone else’s property without the property owner’s consent.
- Even here, there are exceptions. If you have been bitten by a dog while voluntarily working with it, the owner may still be liable if they knew or suspected that the dog was aggressive but failed to warn you.
- California also makes exceptions for personal injury victims who assumed the risk of being bitten, i.e. that they understood the risk of being bitten but proceeded anyway. This rule usually applies to veterinarians who are bitten while treating a dog. (See Nelson v. Hall, 211 Cal. Rptr. 668 (Cal.App.1985)).
Stats on Dog Bites in the United States and California
Despite our love for dogs, the number of attacks by these beloved animals continues to increase.
However, it is difficult to collect dog bite data because there is no centralized system for reporting these types of injuries. The most recent compilation is from a relay of data collected from police, veterinarians, animal control, and emergency rooms from 1994.
That doesn't account for unreported or less serious injuries.
According to this dated report, 4.7 million incidents were reported in the United States that year and nearly 800,000 people required medical treatment. In addition to that, the report estimates 333,700 patients received emergency care, approximately 6,000 of those were hospitalized. Cdc.gov.
In 2017 California was found as the top state for dog-related injury claims according to State Farm. The insurance company paid out $18.7 million for 468 dog-related injury claims for incidents that occurred in California. Overall, including all dog-related injury claims across the country, State Farm paid a total of $132 million for the 3,600 cases. Statefarm.com.
A more recent effort to collect data by the site DogsBite.org found that pit bulls contributed to 66% of reported canine deaths from 2005 through 2018 (311 of 471). Pit bulls and rottweilers together account for 76% of the total recorded deaths reported. DogsBite.org.
Surprisingly, some of the most loveable breeds such as the beloved labrador also made the list of most dangerous breeds despite being commonly designated as a less aggressive breed.
Source: Statista
We've rounded up all the most important data in our Important Dog Bite Statistics & Bites by Breed for 2024 page.
Looking Beyond the Dog Bite: Dog Injuries
So far, we have looked at dog bites. It is fair to say that dog bite injuries are among the most feared negative interactions with the animals. However, it is critical to note that dog-caused injuries can be just as serious. Just because the dog did not bite you does not mean that you were not injured.
For example, a large dog may have knocked you down. In the process, you sustained sprains, broken bones, and/or soft tissue injuries. Maybe you hit your head, and you have had spells of dizziness. This dog-caused injury is still a negligent owner’s responsibility, even if the dog’s teeth never touched your skin.
People may say that since you were not bitten, there is no case. However, this is not correct. If there is provable liability, the injuries you sustained even without the bite are just as suitable for a claim as those that resulted in an actual bite wound.
Still Confused? Talk to a Los Angeles Dog Bite Attorney for Free
Navigating the law is challenging, even if you are not already dealing with medical issues, bills, and missed time from work. Most importantly, a dog bite and related injury easily snowballs into a host of secondary legal worries. Mounting medical bills may lead to collection agency calls. Taking time off work easily results in missed promotion opportunities.
The pain and suffering in the aftermath of this type of animal-related injury is difficult for others to understand. You may encounter relationship problems. Maybe you need counseling. The insurance company is pressuring you to accept their offers, which is very likely a lot less than what you actually need to just break even.
With so much going on, confusion is normal. Meeting with a compassionate legal representative from a local law firm who understands what you are going through is valuable. It may actually help you chart a course out of many of the issues you currently struggle with.
If you or your loved one has suffered injury from a dog bite, please don't hesitate to contact a Los Angeles County dog bite lawyer. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Remember, our dog bite lawyers in Los Angeles work on a contingency fee basis. You won’t pay us unless we win your case.
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323-524-9619
info@mkplawgroup.com
3701 Wilshire Blvd, Ste. 870
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Free Consultation
We Make the Process Easy to Get the Results You Deserve
323-524-9619
info@mkplawgroup.com
3701 Wilshire Blvd, Ste. 870
Los Angeles, CA 90010
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