A dog bite attack can be a traumatic experience that may cause severe and long-lasting injuries. If you or a loved one is the victim of a dog bite you should seek immediate medical assistance without delay.
California's dog bite law imposes strictly liability on dog bite owners even if the dog doesn't have a history of biting or vicious behavior, the owner can still be held liable.
California Civil Code § 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.
What should you do after you are injured by a dog or other animal:
- Seek immediate medical attention
- Identify the animal that injured you
- Type of animal
- Color or markings
- Location of animal
- Owner of animal
- Report the dog bite / attack to the local animal control agency
- Have photo's taken of the injury
- Call our office to schedule a consultation