Los Angeles Dog Bite Attorneys
Fierce Advocacy For Dog & Animal Attack Victims
The idea of getting bit by a dog might not seem very serious, but large, vicious dogs can do a significant amount of harm. Dog attacks can cause very serious and painful injuries, some of which are life-altering. If you or your child have been bitten by a dog on another’s property, speaking with a Los Angeles dog bite lawyer may benefit you greatly. At Omega Law Group Injury & Accident Attorneys , we have decades of combined experience and know that dog attacks require very special handling.
Some statistics about dog bites in Los Angeles:
- On average, 20,000 people are bitten by dogs in Los Angeles County each year.
- 30 people in California died from dog attacks between 1979 to 1996.
- More than 38,000 emergency room visits for dog bites occurred in 2015.
- Children account for 79% of fatal dog attacks in the United States.
- 5,714 postal employees were attacked by dogs in 2018. Los Angeles had the second-most attacks (60) behind Houston (75).
Bitten by a dog? Contact us at 866-942-3881 today to discover your legal options.
Los Angeles Dog Bite Laws
Los Angeles dog bite lawsuits are governed by California’s “strict liability” rule under section 3342 of the Civil Code. This means that owners can be held liable for any injuries their dogs cause even if they have no history of biting or vicious behavior. This statute only applies to injuries caused by bites; it does not include situations where a dog scratches, knocks over, or jumps on someone.
Dog owners can be held strictly liable unless:
- The victim was trespassing
- The dog is a military or police animal
- The victim provoked the dog
As with most personal injury cases, dog bite lawsuits in Los Angeles are subject to a “statute of limitations” which sets a hard deadline on how long victims have to file a claim against the dog’s owner. Dog bite claims generally must be filed within two years of the attack to be heard by the court.
Dog bite laws in Los Angeles generally work in favor of the victim. For example, if a dog latches onto someone but doesn’t break the skin, it can still be considered a bite. Likewise, a victim may collect compensation under California negligence statutes if a dog knocks someone over or causes injury in ways other than biting. In these situations, a victim must be able to prove that the owner failed to take reasonable care.
Examples of dog owner negligence may include:
- Failing to keep a dog on a leash
- Letting a dog roam a neighborhood freely
- Failing to warn a visitor of a dog’s aggressive tendencies
