Dogs constitute 38.4 percent of U.S. households, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Based on their data, it is safe to say that many people are familiar with the companionship of dogs and can coexist peacefully with them, especially since 48,255,413 households own at least one dog.
However, not everyone enjoys the presence of dogs. Dog bite attacks may occur if a dog was abused or raised to be aggressive, and these attacks can lead to severe injury and trauma. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one in five dog bites lead to physical injuries that need medical attention.
Consider taking legal action against the liable party, such as the dog owner, for your injuries. You may be able to receive compensation to cover your medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. To get the legal help of a San Diego dog bite lawyer, call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 816-0755 for a free consultation.
Report a Dog Bite to Animal Services Right Away
After seeking medical care for your injuries, the next step is to report the incident to your local animal control center. To do so:
- Call the San Diego Humane Society (SDHS) and report the bite
- Describe the dog and other relevant details to the representative
- Give the representative the name and contact information of the dog owner
- Request for your report number to follow up on their investigations
- To get a copy of their reports, complete the “Request for Copy of Records” form and send it via mail, fax, or email
A benefit of reporting a dog bite is that it might serve as a warning and protect other members of the community. No dog is exempt from biting a human being, and those with a history of aggression must be cautiously dealt with by members of the community.
What to Do After Being Bit by a Dog
Dog bites can result in serious infections when left untreated. The only way to determine if the wound is infected is to go to the hospital. If for some reason, you cannot see your doctor immediately, take the following steps to treat your wound at home:
- Wash the wound with antibacterial soap and warm water. Where possible, run the tap and let the warm water run over the wound for a few minutes.
- Gently press a clean cloth over the wound to stop the bleeding. If the bleeding does not stop, go to the hospital or call 911 if you think you might bleed out.
- Gently apply over-the-counter antibacterial cream or ointment over the wound.
- Cover the wound with a sterile bandage and watch for any signs of infection, such as discoloration, swelling, intense pain, and drainage of pus from the wound.
- Go to the hospital. Irrespective of the size of the wound, you should let your doctor examine it and clear you of any infections. From a legal standpoint, your visit and subsequent treatment by a medical practitioner create records to verify your claims.
Speak to a Lawyer
Contact a San Diego dog bite lawyer to discuss your case. Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may help you seek justice for your ordeal, which may include economic and non-economic awards for your losses. Contact us today to begin your litigation process.
For a free legal consultation with a Dog Bites Lawyer serving San Diego, call (800) 816-0755
How Our Law Firm May Approach Your Dog Bite Case
If you hire us, we may work with you to build the most persuasive case possible. To do this, we may:
- Investigate the accident: We may verify your claims to see if we have a case that is worth pursuing. We might speak to witnesses and take their statements, investigate the dog’s owner, and determine if the dog has a history of aggression.
- Collect more evidence: Once we have all the facts of the case lined up, we may gather relevant documents to support your case, such as your medical bills, animal bite report, medical records, and other documents alluding to the money you have spent as a result of your injuries.
- Negotiate a settlement: Once we have a fair idea of what your case is worth, we will file a personal injury lawsuit against the liable party to inform them of our intention to seek damages. Whether the case makes it to settlement or mediation, our goal is to get you the compensation that makes sense for your injuries and losses.
Finding the Responsible Party
Before we can seek damages, we need to determine liability. In many dog bite cases, the dog owner may be held liable for their dog’s actions. To determine liability, we may explore the following:
- Strict liability: This type of liability agrees that the dog owner may be held liable for their dog’s dangerous and aggressive actions, as long as the dog did not get provoked.
- One-bite rule: Here, the dog owner may be held liable if they knew or had any reason to believe that their dog was dangerous, but they acted negligently, putting innocent people at risk.
How to Know if the Dog Owner Liable for Your Injuries
To further determine if the dog owner is responsible for your injuries, we might confirm the following:
- The dog attacked you unprovoked
- Your injuries were a result of the dog’s aggressive and dangerous behavior
- You were not trespassing on the dog owner’s property
- You were not committing a crime
- You were not attempting to commit a crime
- You did not provoke the dog through abuse, torment, or intimidation
San Diego Dog Bites Lawyer Near Me (800) 816-0755
Hire Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to Work on Your Case
You may start your litigation process by calling Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 816-0755 to discuss your case with a member of our team in a free consultation. When you hire us, your San Diego dog bite lawyer may help you seek awards for your losses. A perk of us working for you is that you will pay nothing out-of-pocket for our legal services. Our law firm takes its fee from the settlement you receive.
Call or text (800) 816-0755 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
