Aliso Canyon Park in Granada Hills is a great place to go for a walk or a picnic. However, an enjoyable visit to the park can quickly be destroyed if you encounter an aggressive dog and get bitten.
If you or someone you love is hurt and in pain because of a bite or attack by a dog in Aliso Canyon Park, you have the right to hold the dog owner responsible for your losses. You do not need to be alone in this endeavor. A Los Angeles Aliso Canyon Park dog bite lawyer can help you gather evidence and build a case to pursue fair compensation for your injuries.
At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means our clients never pay out of pocket for our services. We also offer a free consultation, where we can review the details of your case and help you understand what options you have for recovering compensation. To speak with a member of our team right away, call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 816-0755.
Types of Dog Bite Injuries
Here are some of the injuries that victims sometimes suffer from attacks by aggressive dogs.
Tears, Lacerations, and Puncture Wounds
According to Healthline, there are four types of open wounds:
- Lacerations: Deep cuts or tearing of the skin.
- Abrasions: When the skin scrapes against a rough surface.
- Puncture wounds: A small hole made in the skin.
- Avulsions: A partial or complete tearing of the skin and tissue.
Both lacerations and puncture wounds are common in dog attacks, where the dog’s teeth tear or penetrate the skin. These wounds often cause severe bleeding and can lead to permanent scarring, which can be life-altering if it occurs in a highly visible area like the face.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Not every injury is visible like a bite mark. The emotional trauma from a dog attack can impact a victim’s quality of life for years. It can make them afraid of dogs or cause them to vividly relive the attack, even when awake. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reported a study conducted on 22 children who were attacked by dogs. In nearly half of those cases, the children developed PTSD symptoms within two to nine months after their attack. Some symptoms included vividly remembering the attack, avoidance behavior, and numbing.
Infections
If a dog’s teeth penetrate the skin, bacteria in the dog’s mouth can cause serious, even fatal, infections. It is important to wash a wound right away after a bite. If you have a deeper wound, you should seek medical attention right away. In cases where the wound is severe or on the face, stitches may be necessary. The doctor may also want to give you a tetanus shot to prevent the disease (also known as lockjaw) from developing. Other possible infections or diseases include rabies, Capnocytophaga, and sepsis.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a major cause of disability and death in the U.S. If the victim falls during a dog attack, they could easily strike their head on the pavement or against another object, causing a TBI. These injuries can alter the victim’s personality or impair their cognitive functioning.
Regardless of the type of injury you suffered because of the dog bite or attack, a Los Angeles Aliso Canyon Park dog bite lawyer can help you hold the dog owner responsible for your losses. Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for a free case review.
How California Law Applies to Your Case
California has a “strict liability” dog bite law. According to California Civil Code § 3342, the dog owner is automatically liable for any injury that dog causes, even if the dog does not have a history of aggressive history. All that is required for the dog owner to be responsible is:
- The victim was bitten or attacked in a public location or on a property they had legal access to.
- The victim did not provoke the dog by teasing or taunting it.
Because your attack or bite occurred while visiting Aliso Canyon Park in Los Angeles, you should have no problem meeting the first requirement. However, a defense lawyer may try to claim you provoked the animal in some way, and you may need to provide eyewitness statements proving you did not.
For a free legal consultation with a Aliso Canyon Park Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 816-0755
What You Need to Know About California’s Statute of Limitations
Like every other state, California places a limit on the amount of time that victims have to pursue compensation after a personal injury accident. The California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 sets a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases. That means you must file your claim within two years of the date of your injury. If you fail to do so, you are generally barred from recovering compensation.
Los Angeles Aliso Canyon Park Lawyer Near Me (800) 816-0755
How the Team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Can Help
A Los Angeles Aliso Canyon Park dog bite lawyer can help you gather evidence like eyewitness statements proving that you did not provoke the dog in any way. They can also get statements from medical experts and mental health professionals who can offer their professional opinions about the long-term impact the attack will have on your life.
In addition, they can gather your medical records, bills, and receipts to calculate the fair value of your case, including the cost of your pain and suffering. Understanding the fair value of your case can help them negotiate a settlement for your case when dealing with the defendant’s lawyer or insurance company.
The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm has worked on many cases like these, and we are proud of our results. For a free, no-obligation review of your case, contact the team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 816-0755. The sooner you act, the sooner we can get started.
Call or text (800) 816-0755 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form