Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles Dog Bite Lawyer

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Los Angeles Dog Bite Lawyer

Were you or a loved one injured by a dog in Los Angeles, CA? Dog bite victims are often entitled to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and their pain and suffering. An experienced Los Angeles dog bite lawyer at M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight to maximize your settlement or verdict.

Don’t let the insurance companies take advantage of you. Our lawyers have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for injured clients over the years. We’d be happy to help you learn more about your legal options.

All you have to do is contact our law office in Los Angeles, California, or give us a call at (877) 300-4535 to schedule a free consultation today.

How M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With a Dog Bite Claim in Los Angeles

How M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With a Dog Bite Claim in Los Angeles

California follows strict liability laws in dog bite cases. Victims often mistakenly believe that strict liability makes it easy to recover damages. In reality, dog owners and insurance companies have many different tricks that they can use to avoid paying fair compensation.

Our personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles, CA have years of experience standing up to insurance companies. We’ve been rated by Super Lawyers and recognized as the top 100 trial lawyers in America.

When you hire M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers to protect your rights, expect us to:

  • Locate any witnesses or videos of the attack
  • Investigate to determine whether the dog had any history of viciousness
  • Work with experts and specialists to assess your damages
  • Defend you if you’re blamed for provoking the dog bite attack
  • Negotiate with the insurance company to secure the maximum financial award you deserve

Most homeowner’s policies cover dog bite injuries. Still, fighting with the insurance company can be overwhelming. An experienced Los Angeles dog bite lawyer can make all the difference in your case. To learn more about creating an attorney-client relationship, call to schedule a free consultation today.

How Common Are Dog Bites in Los Angeles?

Dog bites are a common cause of injuries in the United States. According to American Animal Hospital Association research, about 5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year. The CDC estimates that about 800,000 dog bite victims require medical care for their injuries.

In Los Angeles County alone, about 20,000 dog bites are reported every year. According to State Farm, California is the number one state in the U.S. for dog bites. In 2020, the insurance company paid out over $26 million in claims to dog bite victims.

COVID-19 lockdowns have only made the dog bite problem worse in California. If you or a loved one were bitten by a dog, don’t hesitate to reach out to M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers for a free case review.

What is My Los Angeles Dog Bite Case Worth?

Dog bites can cause significant long-term trauma – especially if the victim was a young child. Like any car accident victim, dog bite victims have the right to be made “whole” again after an attack.

That said, every personal injury case is unique. The value of your case will depend heavily on the severity of the injuries and how they’ve changed your life. Our experienced dog bite lawyers will carefully examine the circumstances to help you understand how much your personal injury claim is worth.

The most relevant factors in assessing your case value include:

  • The nature and severity of your injuries
  • The cost of your past medical treatment and anticipated future expenses
  • Your lost wages and income
  • The emotional and psychological trauma you’ve suffered
  • How the dog bite will impact your quality of life
  • Whether you’ll suffer any permanent scarring or disability

Dog bites are common. Insurance companies often try to use that fact to downplay the extent of your suffering. They might even blame you for provoking the dog. 

Our lawyers are familiar with these and other scare tactics. We know the games insurance companies play and how to help you fight back. To learn more, just give us a quick call for a free initial consultation today.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Dog Bite Victims?

If you win your case, you’ll be entitled to several different types of damages.

Under California personal injury laws, you may be entitled to compensation for:

  • Medical bills, including future medical expenses if you’ll require ongoing treatment
  • Physical therapy, rehabilitation, and reconstructive surgeries
  • Lost wages while you recover or care for a recovering child
  • Diminished future earning potential if your ability to earn a living is impacted
  • Pain and suffering, including emotional distress, anxiety, PTSD, and fear
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Loss of consortium

Working with an experienced lawyer is the best way to maximize your settlement or verdict. To learn more about how our team can help, call our Los Angeles personal injury law firm to schedule a free case evaluation today.

Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Dog Bite Injury in California?

California follows a pure comparative negligence law. Victims could be partially liable for damages if they contributed to their own injuries. That rule carries over into the state’s dog bite law.

If the owner of the dog can prove that you provoked the dog bite, your compensation can be reduced, even all the way to zero. However, the provocation defense isn’t always successful in California. It may also be possible to prove that the dog had behaved aggressively or viciously in the past. That can make it much more difficult for the owner to pin the blame on you.

Insurance companies won’t hesitate to blame you for your injuries. If they succeed, they won’t have to pay you the full compensation you deserve. 

Are you being blamed for provoking a dog? Call our lawyers in Los Angeles for help today. We’ll do everything we can to minimize the impact of these and other insurance tactics.

We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Dog Bite Injuries

Dog bite injuries can be serious. Puncture wounds can easily become infected. If the force of the animal attack knocks the victim to the ground, the injuries can be much more extensive.

At M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers, our Los Angeles dog bite attorneys often represent clients suffering dog bite injuries such as:

Los Angeles has strict laws that apply after a dog bite occurs. The dog must remain under quarantine for at least ten days to determine whether the dog has rabies. Animal control officials will make an assessment to determine whether the dog bite victim was exposed to rabies.

Do I Have to Prove Negligence to Recover Compensation for a Dog Bite in California?

California doesn’t follow a “one bite” rule. Pet owners can be strictly liable for any injuries their dog causes. In other words, you don’t have to prove negligence to recover compensation. Under Los Angeles dog bite laws, the dog’s owner is liable if:

  • Their dog bites and injures someone
  • The attack occurred while the victim was in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the dog owner’s property

Los Angeles dog owners could be strictly liable even if their dog had never displayed aggressive or vicious propensities in the past.

However, there are situations where a dog owner can escape liability. Strict liability dog bite laws won’t apply if:

  • You provoked the animal to bite you
  • You were trespassing at the time of the dog bite
  • The dog was a law enforcement animal
  • You assumed the risk of the dog bite

In these theories, you may have to prove the dog owner was negligent to recover damages.

Dog owners may be negligent if they:

  • Allow their dog to roam the neighborhood
  • Fail to keep the dog in a proper enclosure
  • Fail to keep the dog on a leash in public
  • Don’t use warning signs to warn visitors about an aggressive dog on their property

Under Los Angeles leash laws, all dogs must remain on a leash and under the owner’s control anytime they’re off the owner’s property. Dog owners who violate the leash law may be found “negligent per se” if someone is hurt because they violated the law.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Dog Bite in California?

California state law limits the amount of time you have to sue for damages. In most personal injury cases, a two-year statute of limitations applies. That means you must file a lawsuit within two years of the dog bite or lose your right to compensation.

Contact a Los Angeles Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Consultation

If you or a child have been attacked by a dog, don’t wait to speak with an attorney. Call M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Los Angeles dog bite lawyer today.

Our personal injury law firm in Los Angeles, CA also provides: