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A Dog Bite Attorney Can Help You With a Complicated Claim

“Man’s best friend,” or so the saying goes. But often, man’s best friend can bite and cause serious injury. More than 4.7 million people sustain dog bite injuries every year in the U.S. If you were bitten by a dog, contact a dog bite attorney. We can help obtain the compensation you deserve.

Who Is Responsible If I’m Bit by a Dog?

California law holds dog owners strictly liable for the injuries and other damages their dogs cause. This means that dog owners are responsible for dog bite injuries their dogs cause irrespective of whether they knew their dog was dangerous. Usually, the dog owner’s homeowner or renter’s injuries will cover the costs of both the physical injuries and property damages the dog caused.

You do not need to prove that the dog was negligent or reckless. However, other states adhere to the “one-bite” rule. This means that the owner is liable if they knew the dog was dangerous or, having bite someone before, is likely to bite.

A dog bite attorney takes note that no matter how careful a dog owner is to ensure the dog won’t hurt others, the dog owner is still liable to the victim if the dog bites the victim.

What’s My Burden of Proof as the Victim?

Although you don’t need to prove that the dog owner was negligent, in California, you do need to prove:

That you were injured from a dog bite
The other party owns the dog
You did not provoke the dog into biting you
You had the right to be in the location where you were bit by the dog (e.g. not trespassing)

A dog bite attorney can review your case and gather the necessary evidence to help you meet your burden of proof.

If My Dog Bite Someone, Am I Responsible?

California will hold you, as the dog owner, responsible for the personal injuries and property damages that your dog causes irrespective of whether you know your dog was dangerous. However, you may not be responsible if the victim:

Provoked the dog
Was trespassing
Assumed the risk
Negligently caused the dog to attack

What Happens If My Dog Was Provoked?

You are not responsible for injuries if your dog was provoked. There are many ways your dog could be provoked, such as: teasing, taunting, pulling, holding, grabbing, and hitting a dog are some examples.

Am I Responsible to the Trespasser?

You may not be held liable to a trespasser that your dog bit. However, you could be held accountable under the negligence theory if you fail to provide adequate warnings you do not want anyone on your property. Warnings may include fences, signs, or locked gates.

Who “Assumes the Risk?”

For someone to “assume the risk,” that injured person must have:

Had knowledge and appreciation of the risk involved, and
Voluntarily took that risk

A dog bite attorney can prove the injured person had knowledge of the risk if s/he was warned of your dog’s dangerous propensities. The warning could be a verbal warning or a posted signed.

Dog professionals—groomers, walkers, sitters, trainers, and veterinarians) are presumed to have assumed the risk as long as you informed them of the dog’s vicious propensity. If you are dog sitting, you also assume the risk and the responsibility of controlling the dog. And if you know of the dog’s vicious propensities, you could also be held liable if the dog bites someone.