It may surprise you that California is ranked first in the nation in fatal dog attacks. Dog bites occur every 75 seconds in the US, that is an estimate of about 4.5 million people being bitten by dogs each year. Unfortunately the majority of dog bite victims are children, and in approximately 75% of child dog bite cases, the dog belongs to a family member or friend. Dog bite losses exceed $1 billion per year, with over $300 million paid by homeowners insurance.
If you are bitten by a dog, here is a checklist of things you should do:
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In California, a dog's conduct and behavior is always the owner's responsibility. This means that if a dog bites another person, the owner is responsible no mater what the dog's breed is or what the cause of the attack was. A dog's owner cannot runaway from his or her liability by trying to testify that he or she didn't realize the dog would attack. Liability is placed upon ownership of the dog.
We can go after many sources of payment to pay for your medical bills:
- Homeowner insurance
- Renter insurance
- Comprehensive liability coverage for a business if the attack happened on business property
- The victim's own health insurance
- The dog owner's personal assets
The cost of the dog bite attacks in medical bills alone is staggering. Unfortunately, the emotional cost to the victims is even higher. It is very important that you call us if you or a loved one has been bitten or attacked by a dog. At Lavaee Law Group, we have a great awareness of California dog bite laws, that will help protect you in your time of need. Please call 1-888-97-97-97-8 to speak to an attorney to evaluate your case for free.
