Many of us consider ourselves dog lovers, but no matter how much of a fan you may be of the animals, there is never any predicting how a dog will act. When you acknowledge that basic fact of life, you should not be surprised to learn that dog bites are incredibly common in Los Angeles and all over the United States.
While some dog bites may be relatively minor and inconsequential, many other bites will cause serious injuries and may cause much longer-term damage physically and psychologically. Anybody who has been bitten by a dog should not hesitate to seek the help of Los Angeles dog bite lawyers for assistance recovering appropriate compensation to cover all of the costs relating to the treatment of the injuries.
Contact a Los Angeles Dog Bite Attorney
If you have been bitten by any dog in the Los Angeles area, do not wait another moment to obtain legal representation for help holding the negligent dog owner accountable. Arshakyan Law Firm knows how to tackle dog bite cases and will work closely with you so you can be fully informed about all of your rights and everything that is happening with your case.
Our firm is capable of negotiating with an insurance company on your behalf to make sure that you receive full and fair compensation that covers every single issue you are dealing with. You can call (888) 851-5005 or contact us online to schedule a no-obligation case consultation that will let us go over the specifics of your case and provide appropriate legal counsel.
Causes of Dog Bites
The actual reason that a dog bites a person can forever remain a mystery, but the reason that a dog bite occurs usually involves some form of negligence by the dog owner. Under California Civil Code § 3342, a dog owner is liable for the damages suffered by any victim bitten by a 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.
Dogs bite people for many different reasons. Even household pets that have never shown any signs of viciousness can snap for no apparent reason.
Many dogs bite people in response to environmental factors, such as feeling threatened. Dogs may also bite people to protect owners or territory.
California makes it a dog owner’s responsibility to prevent foreseeable dog attacks by maintaining adequate control of their dog at all times. Some of the most common reasons dog attacks occur in the Los Angeles area include, but are not limited to:
- Dogs provoked by surroundings
- Dog owners breaking California leash laws
- Dogs being startled or scared by actions, fast movements, or noises
- People trying to pet unfamiliar dogs
- Dogs defending territory or owners
- People disrupting dogs while they are eating or nursing
- Dogs having pain inflicted on them, intentionally or accidentally
- Dog owners failing to control dangerous animals
- People harming or provoking dogs
- Dogs being sick or malnourished
- People trespassing on private property
- Dogs running at large
You can help prevent dog bite injuries by not petting or reaching out to stray or unfamiliar dogs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in 2003 that an estimated 4.7 million dog bites occurred in the nation during the most recent year for which published data was available, and approximately 799,700 persons needed medical care.
Of the 333,700 patients who were treated for dog bites in emergency departments that year, nearly 6,000 (or 1.8 percent) were hospitalized. The report stated that in 2001, an estimated 368,245 persons were treated in hospital emergency departments around the country for nonfatal dog bite-related injuries.
The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and public education website about dangerous dog breeds DogsBite.org reported that in 2019, California had the most dog bite-related fatalities with nine deaths. The following year, 46 dog attacks resulted in human death, including 15 child victims, three victims ages 10-18, and 28 adult victims.
Types of Dog Bite Injuries
Dog attacks can easily become catastrophic, causing injuries that may impact victims for the remainder of their lives. Dogs are capable of inflicting such damage as:
- Facial injuries
- Broken bones
- Puncture wounds
- Lacerations
- Torn muscles and ligaments
- Nerve damage
- Cuts and scrapes
- Internal injuries
- Puncture wounds
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Infections or diseases
- Torn flesh
- Eye injuries
- Tissue loss
- Wrongful death
Dog attacks can also cause many kinds of emotional injuries, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As the Mayo Clinic notes, PTSD is a mental health condition that is triggered by a terrifying event and can lead to a wide variety of symptoms of negative changes in thinking and mood, intrusive memories, avoidance, and changes in physical and emotional reactions.
Possible Dog Bite Damages
Dog bite victims will typically face a multitude of costly medical expenses, and worse yet, the cost of any reconstructive surgery might not be covered by an insurance provider because it could be considered a “cosmetic” procedure as opposed to a life-saving one. Dog bite victims are thus entitled to many different kinds of damages in these cases, including:
- Past, present, and future medical bills
- Lost wages and income-earning opportunities
- Permanent scarring, disfigurement, or disability
- Hospitalization costs
- Mental anguish
- Surgery costs
- Emotional distress
- Rehabilitation costs
- Property damage repairs
- Pain and suffering
- Psychological counseling costs
- Lost quality or enjoyment of life
In cases of dog bites causing death, then the family of a person killed can be permitted to seek wrongful death damages, which may include other kinds of considerations such as loss of consortium.
Have you been bitten by another person’s dog in Los Angeles or a surrounding area of California? Arshakyan Law Firm can be committed to helping you recover from your traumatic incident and making sure that you are able to best be able to make a complete recovery.
Our firm understands how confusing and frightening the prospect of a dog bite case can be for most people, which is why we take the time to really talk to people and help them understand what is happening with their case while we are handling it. You can have us go over everything in complete detail with you when you call (888) 851-5005 or contact us online to set up a free consultation.