Numerous groups published lists of advice to assist dog owners and the general public in avoiding or preventing dog bites in observance of National Dog Bite Prevention Week earlier this month. While minimizing dog bites and attacks is undoubtedly a worthwhile endeavor, injuries are nonetheless always going to occur despite everyone’s best efforts.
As a result, it is crucial that everyone is aware of their legal rights following a dog bite and knows how to exercise them. Keep reading to learn more and contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 if you have suffered a dog bite and require a free legal consultation with a personal injury attorney.
Getting to know dog bite liability laws
There are three primary categories of laws that provide dog bite victims with legal options for pursuing damages for their injuries:
Dog Bite Statutes: According to several state laws, dog owners are automatically responsible for any personal injuries or property damage that their animal may inflict without their knowledge. Provocation can take the form of tease or unintentionally stepping on a dog’s tail.
One-Bite Laws: In some places, a dog’s owner is only responsible for injuries caused by a dog bite if the dog has a history of biting or is otherwise known to be dangerous. The burden of proving that the owner knew their dog was hazardous falls on the dog bite victim.
Negligence laws: If the injury was brought on by the dog owner’s—or handler’s—negligence in reining the dog in, the general rule of negligence may also apply to dog bite instances.
What does California law actually say?
There is no requirement to demonstrate that the dog was known to be harmful in order to obtain compensation for dog bite injuries and other types of injuries caused by dogs in California because of our strict liability dog bite statute (such as trip and fall injuries). When applicable, dog bite damage claims in California may also be brought under the general negligence basis.
What must I do if a dog attacks me?
You must take the following actions if a dog bites you or a loved one or causes other harm.
- Name the dog and its owner
- Get medical help
- Inform the authorities of the event
- Consult a knowledgeable dog bite injury lawyer
An outstanding choice for a dog bite injury lawyer is Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas. With his extensive experience, he is aware of the steps that must be taken to establish the validity of your claim in court and increase the amount of money that can be awarded to cover your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses. Call us at 909-982-0707 for a free introductory consultation.
