Los Angeles has many parks for dogs and their owners to take walks in and mingle with others. One of these is Cohasset Melba Park. These should be safe spaces for them, but there is always the possibility that a dog might bite someone. If this happened to you or a family member, you have a chance to make the owner compensate for the injuries the dog caused.
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can send a Los Angeles Cohasset Melba Park dog bite lawyer to help build your claim and represent you in court. Call (800) 816-0755 if you have any concerns about your case.
Dog Bites Can Become Fatal
Perhaps the most dangerous health risk that dog bites pose is rabies, a virus that gets transmitted through the animal’s saliva and can kill a person within days if left untreated. Dog saliva can also cause other potentially deadly bacterial infections, including sepsis and tetanus. Depending on the dog’s strength, the force of the bite may also crush bones and tear muscles, resulting in even more medical expenses.
Although Los Angeles County requires all owners to vaccinate their dogs after reaching a certain age, the chance of an unvaccinated dog biting you remains. Make sure to clean your injury thoroughly and then find medical assistance immediately to keep any potential infection from spreading.
The Los Angeles Procedure for Dog Bite Incidents
To help reduce the risk of rabies cases in the community, you, the dog owner, or anyone else who knows about the bite should report it to the Los Angeles Animal Control or any local health authorities. Part of their duty is to monitor rabies transmission and investigate animal bite cases. They will track down the dog to have it quarantined for observation in a location of their choosing, which is a state requirement.
While California only requires dogs to undergo a 10-day quarantine, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, those in Los Angeles have to be isolated for at least 14 days. However, if the dog shows no signs of rabies after the mandatory check-up on the fifth day, the state may let it out of isolation. If the owner or anyone else disobeys quarantine rules, such as moving the dog to another location without Animal Care’s permission, they may get fined up to $1,000.
After reporting the incident and receiving medical treatment, you could start considering legal options for recovering from your medical expenses. You can consult with a Los Angeles Cohasset Melba Park dog bite lawyer about the best course of action for your situation. For more information, you can call the Pintas & Mullins Law Firm team today for a free case review.
For a free legal consultation with a Cohasset Melba Park Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 816-0755
Owners are Fully Responsible for Their Dog’s Actions
In California, the law views pets, including dogs, as private property. Thus, their owners are entirely liable for any injury their dog causes. However, the California Civil Code gives special mention to dog bites. The owner is accountable for the incident, regardless of whether the dog bit a person in a private setting or a public area such as Cohasset Melba Park.
Dogs used by military or police personnel are exempt from bite claims as long as they do so while arresting criminal suspects, investigating crimes, or protecting a person. They also do not need to undergo the required quarantine period, but the officer must have the dog examined as soon as it shows symptoms of rabies or other unusual behavior.
The other exceptions to the rule are if the victim deliberately provoked the dog, trespassed on the owner’s property, or if the animal was guarding the owner. The defendant may use these as defenses to reduce their liability. A Los Angeles Cohasset Melba Park dog bite lawyer can get enough evidence to ensure that your claim is better than the other party’s argument. Winning the suit lets claimants recover from expenses such as hospitalization bills, disfiguration, and earnings lost while recovering. If the dog bite results in a loved one’s death, the surviving family can receive compensation for wrongful death damages such as burial expenses and loss of consortium.
Los Angeles Cohasset Melba Park Lawyer Near Me (800) 816-0755
Dog Owners May Face Criminal Charges
A dog bite in itself is not a criminal offense, but the circumstances surrounding the incident can result in the owner getting charged. For instance, the owner possibly broke the park rules and other local dog regulations. They might have left their dogs unattended or let them run free in undesignated public areas, which could get them sentenced with an infraction or misdemeanor.
A Los Angeles Cohasset Melba Park dog bite lawyer has an understanding of all the laws related to dog ownership and bites. They can help you determine if the dog owner also violated county or state laws, which will serve as additional proof that they acted negligently.
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Our Legal Team Is Ready to Fight for You
A dog bite can lead to debilitating illnesses that can cripple your finances if you do not get compensated. If you need assistance in bringing the negligent owner to justice, Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can provide a Los Angeles Cohasset Melba Park dog bite lawyer to assist in your lawsuit.
You can contact us at (800) 816-0755 should you wish to discuss your concerns with a team member further.
Call or text (800) 816-0755 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form