Located within the neighborhood of Elysian Park and surrounding Dodger Stadium, the Elysian Park city park in Los Angeles features Bishop Canyon, a family recreation and sports area. While the public cannot access the Little League fields, they can enjoy the playgrounds, picnic areas, and trails. While the city allows dogs throughout Elysian Park, their owners must keep them on a leash as the park does not have a designated area for dogs to freely roam.
If a dog bit you or a family member during a visit to Bishop Canyon at Elysian Park in Los Angeles, Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you hold the owner accountable and seek compensation for your injuries. Contact us today at (800) 816-0755 to speak with our legal team about your case.
Complications of Dog Bite Injuries
Regardless of the extent of dog bite injuries, victims sometimes suffer complications that have lasting effects on their ability to function and resume a normal life. Certain hazards of dog bites remain unseen until they become an issue, especially if the dog did not receive vaccines to prevent illness and disease. According to Healthline, dogs can transmit many bacterial and viral illnesses to humans, and wounds can become infected, causing severe symptoms. Dog bite fatalities typically affect children age 10 and younger.
Reporting Your Dog Bite to Los Angeles Authorities
Los Angeles Animal Care & Control encourages anyone who suffered a dog bite to contact the department so that they can investigate the situation and address the issue as soon as possible. While the department may work with other agencies to hold the owner legally responsible for their dog’s behavior, they cannot help you file a claim against the owner to recover damages. A Los Angeles Bishop Canyon dog bite lawyer can assist you in gathering the evidence you need to build your case and pursue compensation for your injuries.
Stray Dog Bites
If the dog that bit you appeared to be a stray, you cannot hold the City of Los Angeles accountable. However, Animal Care & Control may still have the ability to track the dog and determine if it has an owner. If it does, you can hold the owner responsible for their failure to keep their dog contained, resulting in your injury.
Bites from Dogs Attended by Their Owners
Because Elysian Park does not have a designated dog area, owners must have their dogs leashed at Bishop Canyon to prevent them from approaching others. If a dog bit you because the owner failed to leash their dog or keep it a safe distance from you and others, they hold legal liability for your injuries. This applies even if they had their dog on a leash at the time of the bite or attack, as owners maintain full responsibility for the behavior of their dogs and must have the ability to keep them restrained, especially in public places.
For a free legal consultation with a Bishop Canyon Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 816-0755
Your Protections Under California Dog Bite Laws
The State of California designed dog bite laws to protect victims and ensure that dog owners exercise control over their pets. In addition to the California Dog Bite Statute, the county has its own regulations in place in regard to dog bites. Victims have up to two years from the date of the incident to file a claim against the dog owner.
State Dog Bite Law
According to California Civil Code 3342, a dog owner maintains legal liability for the victim’s damages in the event that the dog bites someone on public property or, if the victim had a lawful right to occupy it, the owner’s private property. This statute makes clear that if you suffered injuries as the result of a dog bite at Bishop Canyon, state law affords you the right to hold the owner accountable.
County of Los Angeles Dog Bite Law
In addition to California law, Los Angeles County has its own code of ordinances with regulations pertaining to animal behavior and the responsibility of their owners. These ordinances include:
- The right of a Los Angeles animal control or law enforcement officer to seize and impound an animal that poses an imminent threat to public safety
- The requirement of a dog owner capable of controlling the animal to keep it on a leash no longer than six feet in length in public and private places unless the owner of the private property consents to its release
- The right of the county to charge a dog owner who allows a dog to roam unleashed with an infraction
- The right of the county to charge a dog owner whose dog bites another person or animal and causes injury with a misdemeanor
Of the nine dog parks throughout the city established by the City of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, none exist in Elysian Park. Bishop Canyon has clear policies regarding dogs, and owners must abide by the state and local laws that back them. If you suffered a dog bite injury during your visit, a Los Angeles Bishop Canyon dog bite lawyer can help you build your case.
Los Angeles Bishop Canyon Lawyer Near Me (800) 816-0755
You May Qualify for Compensation
When you file a claim against a dog owner, you may qualify for financial awards to help you recover from your losses. The types of compensation you may receive depend on the circumstances of your case, but they may include economic damages to cover your medical bills and lost wages, as well as funeral and burial expenses if the bite resulted in the loss of your loved one.
A Los Angeles Bishop Canyon dog bite lawyer can also help you pursue noneconomic damages for the emotional effects of the experience, such as mental anguish and loss of consortium.
Click to contact our Bishop Canyon Lawyers today
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Can Help You Seek Compensation
If a dog bite at Bishop Canyon in Elysian Park left you with injuries or took the life of someone you love, you do not have to face the process of holding the owner accountable on your own. The attorneys at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you by getting to know the details of your case, collecting the documentation you need, and pursuing the compensation you deserve. Call us today at (800) 816-0755 to talk to our legal team about your free case evaluation.
Call or text (800) 816-0755 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form