Dog Bite Personal Injury – Things to know

Currently, 54.4 million households in the U.S. own a dog. That’s a total of 77.8 million dogs that are kept as pets. . It should not, therefore, come as a surprise that dog bite injuries are fairly common. According to the CDC, more than 4.5 million dog-bite incidents occur in the United States every year. These incidents can result in serious injuries with substantial medical bills. For example, nearly 18% of dog bites become infected with bacteria. Further, the majority of the dog bite injuries are cause by dogs that you’re already familiar with. Unfortunately, children between the ages of 5 and 9 have the highest rate for dog bite injuries. Further, due to their smaller size, when injured, they are more likely to require medical attention.

California Dog Bite Personal Injury Law

Often, dog bites result in” emergency room visits, follow-up visits to prevent infection, possible plastic surgery, etc. The severity of the injury may also force you to take time off work, resulting in even additional monetary loss. There is no need for you to shoulder these bills yourself. In California, owners are strictly liable for any injury caused by their dogs. It doesn’t matter whether the dog had ever hurt anyone before. California Civil Code Section 3342. Dog bite injuries are more often than not covered under the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. In fact, insurance industry pays over $1 billion annually for homeowner’s/renter’s liability claims arising out of dog bites. Recovery on such claims help the injured party cover costs such as: medical expenses and lost wages. Recovery on dog bite claims can also compensate the injured party for any pain and suffering.

However, the injured party is not the only one with a claim. Emotional distress can be a concern for family members who witnessed the animal attack. For example, imagine a parent who witnesses their young child attacked by a dog. The parent may suffer emotional trauma, such as sever nightmare of their child being attacked. Thus the parent has a claim against the dog owner. Such claims are called “bystander claims.” In order to file a bystander claim, you must meet three requirements: (1) you are closely related to the injured person; (2) you were present at the scene of the incident and knew that the victim was injured; and (3) you suffered serious emotional distress as a result of what you witnessed.

A Dog Bite Attorney Can Help

If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog and suffered a dog bite personal injury, contact an experienced dog bite attorney to evaluate your claim. Our experienced attorneys can help you explore all your options and receive maximum compensation on your dog bite claim. Schedule a free initial consultation with experienced dog bite personal injury attorneys from the Law Offices of Eslamboly Hakim in Los Angeles County. Call 800-LAW-TALK (529-8255) or contact us online.