Dog bite injuries can be severe. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five people with a dog bite will require medical attention. Any dog can bite, regardless of breed or age, but dogs are more likely to bite when scared, nervous, eating, sick, or protecting a toy. Children are more likely than adults to be bitten, and many dog bites involving children happen during common activities with familiar animals.
If you or someone you love is bitten by a dog, you should clean the wound immediately, and apply antibacterial ointment and clean bandages. Dogs can have germs in their mouths and saliva that may cause serious infection. You should seek medical treatment if:
- The skin around the wound is crushed, torn, or bleeding profusely.
- The would is deep or a deep puncture.
- There is pain, swelling, oozing, redness, or other signs of infection.
- You are unsure if the dog that bit you has rabies or has been vaccinated against rabies.
- You have not had a tetanus shot in five to 10 years.
- You are unsure about the severity of your wound.
If you were bitten by a dog at the Los Angeles Grand Park Dog Park, the dog’s owner may be liable for expenses related to your treatment, as well as other costs. A Los Angeles Grand Park Dog Park dog bite lawyer may be able to help you with your claim. To learn more, contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 816-0755.
California’s Strict Liability Laws
Under California law, dog owners are “strictly liable” if their dog bites someone. This means the dog owner is responsible for damages related to the dog bite injury, regardless of if they acted negligently or did anything wrong.
Exceptions to strict liability, which can be found in California Civil Code 3342, are when a dog bites someone who is trespassing on private property, or someone who has intentionally provoked a dog to bite. Owners of police and military dogs that bite while on the job are not liable, nor are owners whose dogs bite someone while protecting them from harm. Individuals bitten on private property may seek compensation only if they were, “lawfully in a private place,” meaning they were performing duties of their job, such as a mail carrier delivering mail.
This is different from states that have a “one bite” rule, which holds dog owners liable only if their dog has bitten someone before and they have prior knowledge of the dog’s potential to injure a person. California does impose stricter regulations on owners whose dogs have bitten before. These owners must make accommodations to ensure their animal does not bite another person. If they fail to do so, anyone may file a lawsuit against them, including the city attorney or district attorney.
California Code of Civil Procedure 335.1 allows a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. The clock starts ticking on the statute of limitations at the time your dog bite injury occurs. You may want to speak to an attorney before the time limit expires, even if you wish to settle your case outside of court.
You may wish to begin seeking awards by filing a claim with the dog owner’s insurance company, and a lawyer can help you with the negotiation process. If you are unable to successfully settle your claim through insurance, a lawyer can help you pursue your case in court.Some homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover injuries caused by “dangerous” breeds, like Doberman pinschers, German shepherds, and pit bulls.
California has the most dog bite insurance claims of any state, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). In 2019, there were 2,396 California dog bite claims, resulting in $122.8 million in settlements.
If you were bitten at the Grand Park Dog Park, whether in the area of the park where dogs are required to be leashed, or in the dog run where dogs can be off leash, the dog owner may be liable for your injury. A Los Angeles Grand Park Dog Park dog bite lawyer can help you learn more about your options.
Awards You May Recover
A Los Angeles Grand Park Dog Park dog bite lawyer may be able to help you seek compensation for:
- Medical costs. Dog bite injuries are potentially serious wounds. Depending on the injury, you may require surgery, ongoing treatments and therapy, and medications. You may be able to win awards to cover these expenses and any other medical bills resulting from the dog bite.
- Pain and suffering. You may seek awards for stress, anxiety, emotional distress, and mental anguish. You may also pursue awards for permanent scarring or loss of a limb or finger.
- Lost wages. If your injury caused you to lose time at work, you may be able to seek awards for lost pay. If you are unable to perform the same job as before your injury, you may be able to seek future wages or permanent disability payments.
Even if your dog bite injury is found to be partially your fault, California operates on a system of pure comparative negligence. This means that if a court finds that you are 99 percent responsible for your injury, you may still receive compensation for the 1 percent caused by the defendant.
For a free legal consultation with a Grand Park Dog Park Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 816-0755
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm
The legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm has helped thousands of clients nationwide win settlements in personal injury cases. Our Los Angeles Grand Park Dog Park dog bite lawyers can handle negotiations with insurance providers, or can help you seek awards in court.
We can handle your case so you can worry about recovering from your injury. We work on a contingency fee basis, so there is no financial risk to you. Any fees we collect come from any settlement we achieve for you. To learn more, call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 816-0755 for a risk-free consultation.
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