CALIFORNIA DOG BITE LAWYERS - CALIFORNIA DOG BITE ATTORNEYS - DOG BITE LAWS

A California dog bite lawyer is on call 7 days a week to answer questions on California dog bites, California dog attacks, dog bite statistics, California strict liability dog bite law & California dog bite claims. Our California dog bite lawyers handle dog bite lawsuits in northern California, central & southern California. Dog bite lawyers & attorneys in Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Orange County, San Diego. Our central California dog bite lawyers handle dog bite claims cases in Bakersfield, Fresno, Modesto, Clovis, Visalia, Salinas, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara. Our northern California dog bite lawyers handle dog attacks and dog bites in Sacramento, West Sacramento, Stockton, Folsom, Napa, Sonoma, Davis, Chico, Redding, Humboldt, Mendocino. In the San Francisco bay area our California dog bite lawyers handle San Francisco, Marin County, San Jose, Oakland East Bay, San Mateo, Fremont, Hayward, Berkeley, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz. A California dog bite lawyer or attorney from our California dog bite law firm is always on call to respond to any California dog bite case, or dog bites or dog attack in California.

CALIFORNIA DOG BITE LAWYERS ANSWER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ON CALIFORNIA DOG BITE LAW, CALIFORNIA DOG BITE CLAIMS, CA DOG BITE STATISTICS
TOLL FREE 1-800-221-9591 FREE CONSULTATION

1) I was bitten by my neighbor’s dog. She says the dog is friendly and that the animal has never bitten before. Therefore she says she is not responsible for my dog bite injuries. Is that true?

No. In California, the owner of a biting dog is “strictly liable” for all damages and injuries caused by the attacking dog. It does not matter that the dog had no prior history of being a vicious dog. With very few exceptions, in California the dog owner is absolutely responsible for any aggressive behavior of their dog. California dog bite law is very narrowly construed and known as “strict liability” for CA dog bites.

2) What if the dog bites or dog attack occurred in the dog owner's yard or house?

Under California dog bite laws, a dog owner has an obligation to restrain his dog, or other animal for public safety. As long as you were on private property legally (or on California public property) the dog owner will be strictly liable for all personal injuries, dog bite wounds, and/or property damage from the dog attack.

3) Should the dog bites be reported to some California authority?

All California dog bites that break the skin or cause puncture wounds should be reported IMMEDIATELY to your local county animal control and the police or county sheriff’s department if serious. Keep a note of the date of the report and the name of the person that you spoke with. For health and quarantine reasons, as well as public safety reasons, animals and dogs that bite should be reported and tracked. Additionally such reporting will assist later as your California dog bite attorneys establish liability of the owner of the biting dog.

4) Will the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance pay for the dog bites?

Yes, generally speaking, homeowners’ insurance in California will pay for all damages, personal injuries, medical bills, lost earnings, etc., suffered as a result of the dog attack or dog bites. However, some insurance companies in California are now excluding from coverage certain dog breeds that are known to bite or attack more often, such as pit bulls and rottweilers.

5) What if there is no insurance coverage? Does the dog owner still have to pay?

Absolutely. Remember, the owner of a dog that bites in California is “strictly liable” for all damages and injuries caused by the dogs aggressive behavior. It is easier to obtain compensation for the dog bites in California when there is insurance, but if there is not, the dog owner is not off the hook and is personally responsible for all medical bills for the dog bites and other damages sustained.

6) What compensation am I entitled to for the dog bites & dog attack damages?

Every California dog bite claim is unique. The life circumstances, age, earning capacity of the dog bite victim in California are all taken into consideration when evaluating damage and compensation. Direct damages from the dog bites such as medical bills and lost wages are compensable, as well as pain and suffering, psychological trauma, physical disability, dog bite scars, etc. A California Dog bite lawyer or California dog bite attorney from our law firm will meticulously review the facts of your California dog bite case with you upon request.

FROM CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE: Strict Liability of Dog Owner for Damages Suffered From Dog Bites, Dog Attacks, Statistics, Dog Bite puncture wounds, scars from dog bites, etc.

3342. (a) The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner's knowledge of such viciousness. A person is lawfully upon the private property of such owner within the meaning of this section when he is on such property in the performance of any duty imposed upon him by the laws of this state or by the laws or postal regulations of the United States, or when he is on such property upon the invitation, express or implied, of the owner. (b) Nothing in this section shall authorize the bringing of an action pursuant to subdivision (a) against any governmental agency using a dog in military or police work if the bite or bites occurred while the dog was defending itself from an annoying, harassing, or provoking act, or assisting an employee of the agency in any of the following: (1) In the apprehension or holding of a suspect where the employee has a reasonable suspicion of the suspect's involvement in criminal activity. (2) In the investigation of a crime or possible crime. (3) In the execution of a warrant. (4) In the defense of a peace officer or another person. (c) Subdivision (b) shall not apply in any case where the victim of the bite or bites was not a party to, nor a participant in, nor suspected to be a party to or a participant in, the act or acts that prompted the use of the dog in the military or police work. (d) Subdivision (b) shall apply only where a governmental agency using a dog in military or police work has adopted a written policy on the necessary and appropriate use of a dog for the police or military work enumerated in subdivision (b).

Duty of Owner of Biting Dog; Court Action Against Owner.
3342.5. (a) The owner of any dog that has bitten a human being shall have the duty to take such reasonable steps as are necessary to remove any danger presented to other persons from bites by the animal. (b) Whenever a dog has bitten a human being on at least two separate occasions, any person, the district attorney, or city attorney may bring an action against the owner of the animal to determine whether conditions of the treatment or confinement of the dog or other circumstances existing at the time of the bites have been changed so as to remove the danger to other persons presented by the animal. This action shall be brought in the county where a bite occurred. The court, after hearing, may make any order it deems appropriate to prevent the recurrence of such an incident.

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