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Dog Bites | Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie Blog
National Dog Day Awareness
This Saturday is National Dog Day! We love a well-behaved pooch, but if a dog is aggressive and bites – California laws hold dog owners strictly liable.
Dog Bites and What to Do if You Are Bitten
Dog bites can be deadly, cause serious bodily injuries, and require immediate medical attention – especially for children.
The dog may not have intended to bite the victim, it may have resulted from playtime, or may have been due to dog owner neglect. Most people do not realize dog bite injuries are covered by the owner’s homeowners or renters insurance.
Our experienced attorneys have helped many clients get the support they deserve.
Regardless of the situation, if you are bitten by a dog, we suggest you:
- Call local animal control
- Determine if the dog is current on rabies vaccinations
- Learn if the dog has a history of prior bites
How a Dog Bite Report Can Help Your Claim
Just like a car accident, one of the most important things you can do after a dog bite is to report it to the proper authorities. A dog bite report can lend weight to a personal injury claim and help you recover compensation for your medical bills. In addition, Orange County Animal Care needs to log all dog bites in their jurisdiction to track potential rabies infections and identify dangerous dogs in order to prevent future bites.
What If a Dog Doesn’t Have a Clear Owner?
Stray dogs can pose a risk to both children and adults. With no owner to control them, they can attack and injure innocent people. When a dog has no clear owner, it may be difficult to recover compensation for a dog bite. In some cases, the owner of the property where the attack occurred may be held liable for housing a dangerous animal, even if the property owner is not the dog owner.
Children Recovering from Dog Bite Trauma
Dog bites, while seemingly simple, can come with a host of physical traumas, including scarring, broken bones, and risks of infections. But dog bite attacks don’t only cause physical injuries. They can also have long-term psychological effects, particularly in children, and have been linked to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The resulting trauma can cause a fear of animals that the victim never experienced before, following them for years if not properly treated with therapy.
Children and Dog Bites
More than four million people are bitten by dogs in the U.S. every year, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The dog-bite injury rate is highest among children ages five to nine. Dog bite injuries are usually more severe in younger children, requiring hospital stays and reconstructive surgery in severe cases. The good news is that with the right strategy, many dog bites can be prevented.
What Happens If You’re Attacked at the Dog Park?
If you’re the kind of person who visits dog parks, Orange County has some of the best!
Here in Newport Beach, where our law office is located, we’re not too far away from the dog park at Avocado Avenue and San Miguel Drive, across from Civic Center Park. It’s just over 4 miles away – a 15-minute drive (12 on a good day). It has an lovely ocean view and plenty of parking.
Bitten by a Service Dog? Might Be Time to Call a Lawyer!
Who doesn’t want to cuddle a puppy with a wagging tail or a toy dog held in its owner’s arms? In fact, for dog people, there is no canine alive that doesn’t get an “Awww!” But our law firm wants to remind you that you shouldn’t pet just any animal!
California Workplace Dog Bite Injuries: Who Is Responsible?
We’ve all seen cartoon depictions of mailmen being chased by angry dogs, but these cartoons reflect reality. Each year, than 3,000 U.S. Postal Service mail carriers are attacked by dogs. And postal workers aren’t the only ones at risk: delivery persons, newspaper carriers, utility workers, repairmen and landscapers are also at risk of on-the-job dog bites.
Even if you aren't sure you have a case, give us a call at (888) 752-7474, or fill out our Free Case Review below.
We are here to help.
