Granada Hills Dog Bite Lawyer

How frequently do dog bites happen?

Dog bites are very common in California and in the U.S. According to the CDC, an average of 4.5 million dog bites happen each year in the U.S. In California in 2017 alone, the Insurance Information Institute reports that 2,228 dog bite injury claims were filed with homeowners’ insurance policies. In 2017, $686 million was paid out to the victims of dog bites in the U.S.

Common injuries that are caused by dog bites

Dogs can cause serious injuries when they attack people. People may receive several common injuries when they are bitten by dogs, including the following:

• Infections
• Puncture wounds
• Serious blood loss
• Lacerations
• Severe scarring
• Fractures
• Psychological injuries
• Death

How to determine if a dog bite qualifies for a lawsuit

Dog owners are strictly liable to pay damages when their dogs bite people who are in public or who are legally on private property. Dog owners are liable regardless of whether they knew that their dogs were aggressive. You are able to file a claim if you were bitten by a dog in public or when you were legally on the property of someone else. You cannot file a claim if you were bitten by a police dog while you were being stopped or arrested by the police.

People who are the likeliest to be injured or killed in dog attacks

Older adults and young children are the likeliest groups to be seriously injured or killed by dogs. Children who were between the ages of zero and 20 months comprised 67 percent of the child fatalities from dog bites in 2017. Children who were ages 8 and younger accounted for 38 percent of the dog bite deaths, and adults older than 50 accounted for 75 percent of the adults who were killed in dog attacks. Women are likelier to be killed by dogs than men. In 2017, women made up 75 percent of the people who were older than age 21 when they were killed by dogs.

What you should do after a dog attack

If you have been bitten by a dog, get help by calling 911 or asking someone to call for you. You should get prompt medical treatment. Dog bites may carry infectious diseases that could endanger your life. You should also get the name of the dog’s owner and try to take a photograph of the scene where you were attacked as well as the dog. If there are bystanders, get their names and contact information so that they can be reached later.

When should you contact a Granada Hills dog bite lawyer?

California’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including dog bite injuries, is two years from the date of the injury. It is important for you to speak with an experienced dog bite lawyer as soon after you were bitten by a dog as possible. Contact our law firm to schedule your appointment so that you can learn more about the rights to recovery that you might have.