Child Dog Bite Injury Lawyer in Los Angeles
Kids love dogs, and most dogs love kids. Despite this mutual affection, dog bite injuries are among the most common types of childhood injuries.
Dog Bite Statistics
- About 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year (half are children)
- Almost one in five of those who are bitten, about 885,000, require medical attention for dog bite-related injuries; half of these are children
- In 2012, more than 27,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery as a result of being bitten by dogs
- Among children, the rate of dog bite–related injuries is highest for those ages 5 to 9 years, and children are more likely than adults to receive medical attention for dog bites
Your Child’s Rights as a Dog Bite Accident Victim
If a dog bit your child, the first thing you probably did was seek medical attention for your child. Hopefully, you also filed a police report, took pictures, got the contact information of witnesses, and learned something about the health of the dog. It’s OK if you didn’t do all those things, we can still help.
You probably have many questions: Who’s responsible for my injuries? Do I have a case? How do I prove the dog owner was liable? What’s the legal process? Do I need a lawyer? A lawyer can help answer all of your questions. Call us at (626) 604-6973 or complete and send an inquiry form by following this link.
Dog owners are responsible for controlling their dogs. Owners are subject to basic laws concerning negligence and lots of other state, local, and property laws. When these laws are broken, owners may be liable for damages and pain and suffering caused by their dog.
The State of California and many municipalities (cities, towns, villages, etc.) have dog and animal laws. Dog owners also have to follow the rules of any place they visit (many private and public locations post rules about animals). The California dog bite statute requires dog owners to maintain a standard of care to ensure that their dog does not cause harm to the community. Municipal statutes also impose similar or even more stringent requirements of dog owners (some going so far as to impose strict liability for any damages caused by their animal).
California also has common law standards that may impose higher standards of care on a dog owner who knows of their dog’s tendency to be dangerous (that their dog bites). If a dog owner knows of his animal’s tendency to bite, they may be liable for their dog’s damages even if they are not negligent. Also in California, a dog bite victim can pursue a basic negligence case.
A victim must prove that the owner was negligent (e.g., had ineffective control of their dog) in a situation where it would reasonably be expected that injury could occur, and injury does proximately result (is the legal cause) from that negligence.
Get A Seasoned Trial Attorney Experienced In Fighting Insurance Companies
In most cases, the responsible party for the dog bite will have some form of insurance covering accidents. Insurance companies want to pay as little as possible. They will fight against paying damages to an injury victim. The Law Offices of Scott Glovsky are experienced trial attorneys. We will vigorously represent your interests and seek maximum compensation for your child’s injuries. We do everything possible to ensure the emotional well being of you and your family as we pursue your California dog bite claim. Call us at (626) 243-5598 or complete and send an inquiry form by following this link.
Recoverable Damages In Child Dog Bite Accident Cases
The insurance industry pays more than $1 billion dollars annually in dog bite claims according to the American Humane Association. Recoverable damages include; medical bills, damages for pain and suffering, future medical care including plastic surgery, permanent impairments, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring or disfigurement, and lost earning capacity.
Dog Bite Prevention Tips
Educate Your Child
Children who understand how to act around dogs, play with dogs, leave dogs alone, and properly meet dogs are much less likely to be bitten.
Supervise Your Child
Unsupervised children may innocently wander too close to a dangerous situation.
Set Rules of Behavior For Your Child
- Don’t treat a dog unkindly
- Never bother dogs with puppies or dogs that are playing with or guarding toys, eating or sleeping. Always leave service dogs alone while they are working.
- Don’t approach a dog you don’t know.
- Be calm.
- Do still when a dog approaches and look away.
- Always make slow movements, set things down carefully, and don’t run when you’re around dogs, as this gets them excited and they may accidentally hurt you.
