Los Angeles Dog Bite Attorney

beware of dog signDog attacks can be traumatic experiences that may cause severe and long-lasting dog bite injuries. If you or a loved one is the victim of a dog bite you should seek immediate medical assistance and contact an experienced Los Angeles dog bite attorney without delay. In 2018, California became the Number 1 state for dog bite-related injuries in the country according to a recent article in The Tribune.

If you have been attacked by a dog and sustained a serious dog bite injury, contact The Reeves Law Group today for a free consultation.

Our personal injury law firm is located in Los Angeles at 1055 West 7th Street, Suite 3333, Los Angeles, CA 90017. We also have meeting locations throughout Southern California for your convenience.

For Immediate Consultation Call – (213) 271-9318


What Dog Bite Victims Have to Say About The Reeves Law Group, Dog Bite Lawyer in Los Angeles

When I got bit by a dog, the police were not helpful at all, so I decided to make the decision to call a law firm to get them involved. After doing extensive research, I chose the Reeves Group. Before hiring The Reeves Law Group, I was incredibly stressed for a number of reasons, one being large medical bills and no insurance or job. My stress level decreased once I call The Reeves Law Group. I felt as though someone was finally on my side. I was kept informed and my calls were returned immediately. I would definitely recommend this to friends and family.

Five Star Rating
Reviewer: Nicole

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Choosing the Right Los Angeles Dog Bite Attorney

A dog attack can be a terrifying experience and may result in not only serious physical injuries but emotional trauma as well, especially in children. Post-traumatic stress disorder can result in certain dog attack victims.

Handling a dog bite case can be a complex process and it is essential to seek representation from a skilled and experienced Los Angeles dog bite lawyer without delay.

Because time is of the essence in dog bite cases, the following should be done without delay:

  • Secure evidence
  • Track down witnesses
  • Establish who the dog’s owner is
  • Identify other responsible parties
  • Report the incident to animal control authorities
  • Obtain an incident report
  • Obtain relevant medical records
  • Contact insurance companies and establish a dog bite claim

The Reeves Law Group has handled thousands of personal injury cases successfully, including numerous dog bite cases, and achieved exceptional results for its clients. The Reeves Law Group has both substantial experience and the skill to ensure that our clients will obtain optimum representation.

If you desire a free consultation on an animal attack matter, please contact us today.


What Should You Do After A Dog Bite Attack?

  • Seek Immediate Medical Attention as Soon as Possible. Most dog bites pose a serious risk for infection and a physician should be contacted immediately for medical treatment. If the bite is serious and you or a loved one are in immediate medical distress, call an ambulance or go to an emergency room or urgent care facility for immediate medical attention as quickly as possible..
  • Identify the Dog That Bit You. You or someone helping you should try to identify the dog that attacked you and determine how the dog’s owner can be located. The owner’s identity is necessary because the owner is the responsible party, and the owner’s home insurance company is usually the entity that pays for injuries.
  • Report the Attack. Report the dog bite to the local county animal control agency or the sheriff’s department. Provide information about the dog, including the owner’s name and address. If the dog was a stray, describe the animal’s appearance and the location of the incident.
  • Have Photos Taken of the Injuries? As soon as it is practical after the attack, take photographs of all visible injuries, including wounds and lacerations. Also, take photos of any torn or bloody clothing. If possible make sure pictures are taken of the dog itself and of the site of the attack.
  • Contact a Reputable Firm with Experienced Los Angeles Dog Bite Lawyers. After a dog attack, you may be facing significant pain, treatments, medical expenses, and perhaps pressure from an insurance company to give statements or settle cheaply. Time is of the essence. Your chances of success increase dramatically through effective investigation and representation by a skilled dog bite attorney. Prompt action by a lawyer with knowledge of California dog bite law is necessary to preserve evidence, locate witnesses, and identify defendants. Hiring effective legal representation should therefore not be delayed.
  • Do Not Give an Insurance Company Information About Your Dog Bite Incident or Injuries, or Sign any Document without Discussing it with Your Attorney. The insurance companies’ first interest is protecting themselves from claims. The information you give them can and will be used against you to defeat or minimize your claim. Also, do not attempt to settle a California dog bite case yourself. You may have a right to certain types of compensation for dog bite damages you may not know exist, or not know how to assert. The value of your dog bite case, for example, increases as you receive treatments and incur expenses. Dog bites in particular often result in scars requiring surgical procedures. Those treatments can be alleged as damages to increase the value of your claim. It is important to contact an experienced lawyer as soon as possible after the dog attack. In California, experienced dog bite lawyers can recover compensation for all of the damages you are entitled to recover.

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Minor’s Settlements in Dog Bite Cases in California

Minors’ settlements must be approved by the court or jurisdiction in the case, under California law. If the dog bite victim is a child, the financial recovery in the case is often placed in a protective account until the child has reached the age of 18. The account must be federally-insured and interest-bearing. A diligent Los Angeles dog bite attorney will ensure that compensation is properly structured to provide periodic payments to the minor after reaching eighteen years in a way that benefits the child over a long period of time. A good attorney will work to get you a fair settlement.


About Dog Bite Injuries

Dog Bites Statistics

According to a recent survey by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more than 74.8 million dogs in the United States. This survey also shows that dog bites occur more than 4.7 million people every year – nearly 2% of the population. Children are particularly vulnerable. They comprise more than 70% of dog bite victims and often are the victims of the more serious injuries from dog bite attacks.


Who is Liable for Dog Bites?

The dog bite laws vary from state to state, but all states generally hold dog owners liable for a dog attack if they knowingly kept a dog that had previously bitten someone, or that had shown a dangerous tendency to bite someone. This has come to be known as the “one free bite” rule because dog owners are shielded from liability if the dog had never bitten anyone or shown any tendency to do so. Almost all states place liability on someone who orders or makes a dog attack another person.

In that case, the person could also be charged criminally with battery.


Strict Liability and California Dog Bite Law

Many states, including California, have enacted statutes (laws that are passed by the legislature), which hold a dog owner liable for a dog bite attack even if the dog has never bitten anyone. This is called strict liability. These types of statutes effectively eliminate the “one free bite” rule because liability is based upon ownership. It is irrelevant whether the dog bit someone previously or whether the owner knew the animal could be vicious.

Under this California law, the victim of an attack only needs to show that:

  • The dog was owned by the defendant
  • The attack occurred on public property or while the victim was lawfully on private property
  • The victim was injured by an actual bite during the dog attack
  • The dog caused the injury

Other Responsible Parties in Dog Bite Attacks

  • Dog Keeper or Caretaker. California dog bite laws make the “owner of any dog” liable, but what happens when the dog is under the control of someone else at the time of the attack? In this situation the keeper or caretaker of the animal can also be liable, but not under strict liability. In contrast to an owner, a keeper must have prior knowledge of the dog’s vicious propensities before the keeper can be held liable. If the keeper knows that the dog has previously been involved in an attack this would qualify as “prior knowledge.” Having that knowledge makes him liable. Liability in the above situation is based on a “common law” theory (discussed below), similar to the “one free bite” rule. A keeper might also be liable for a dog bite if the keeper was negligent in handling or controlling the dog.
  • Landlords. Landlords can be held liable for a victim’s injuries in a dog attack in some circumstances. Although sometimes it can be difficult to prove, a landlord must 1) have knowledge of the dangerous propensities of a tenant’s dog, and 2) have the right to remove the animal from the premises.
  • Residential Property Owners. If the property in question is residential, the landlord does not have a duty to inspect for the existence of a dangerous dog. The landlord must have actual knowledge of the presence of a vicious dog. If a dangerous animal escapes from the landlord’s property due to defects (such as a hole in a fence), then the landlord could also be liable for off-site injuries caused by an attack.
  • Commercial Property Owners. In the case of commercial properties, the landlord has a stringent duty to inspect the premises in order to discover any dangerous conditions, including a vicious pet. For example, if a commercial tenant is running a business on the property and the tenant’s dog bites a customer, the landlord may be liable. The landlord cannot avoid liability by claiming that he or she had no knowledge of the dog because the landlord has a duty to inspect his commercial properties.

Depending upon the particular facts of the case, there may be other potential defendants in a dog attack case, such as daycare centers and homeowner associations. Identifying all responsible parties is critical to a successful lawsuit, especially if the pet owner is unable to fully compensate the victim. A competent Los Angeles dog bite lawyer will be able to investigate the facts surrounding the attack and determine the appropriate parties who may be responsible for the victim’s injuries. The diligence of the lawyer will help increase the chances that the injured victim will be compensated from all available sources.


Other Theories of Liability

As discussed above, there are various situations in which the victim of an attack may not be able to recover under California dog bite law. In such dog attack cases, there are other legal theories that a competent lawyer might use to hold a dog owner liable for a victim’s injuries.

The aid of experienced Los Angeles dog bite lawyers is essential in presenting the proper legal claims because they are based on the unique facts of each individual attack. Several of those theories are briefly discussed below:

  • Common Law Liability. Common law liability is based on the dog owner’s knowledge of the animal’s dangerousness. This is essentially the same as the one free-bite rule. To establish this type of liability it must be shown that the dog had vicious tendencies, such as a prior bite or other vicious behavior, and that the dog owner knew it. California’s law has essentially replaced this common-law action as applied to dog owners. However, common law is very useful in establishing liability against a keeper who is in control of the dog at the time of the attack and had knowledge of its viciousness.
  • Negligence in Attacks. A dog owner or keeper can also be held liable for a victim’s dog bite injuries if the owner or keeper is negligent in the handling of the animal at the time of the attack. All that the victim needs to show is that the owner or handler was not reasonably careful in handling or controlling the dog and that the victim’s injuries were a direct result of the owner or keeper’s lack of proper care. Under this cause of action, it is not necessary to show that the dog had vicious tendencies. The important factor is the owner or keeper’s ineffective control of the animal. Even dogs that are usually gentle can be dangerous under certain circumstances. For example, if an owner is not keeping a tight leash on his or her pet in a public place and the dog jumps and injures someone, the owner would be negligent.
  • Negligence Per Se. Another negligence theory is called “negligence per se.” This means that an owner or keeper is automatically presumed to be responsible for a victim’s injuries if a local law, such as a leash law or other animal control law, is violated and the violation is the cause of the bite injuries. If the dog owner or keeper has no justification for the violation, then culpability is fixed and there is no need to prove that the owner or keeper failed to exercise due care in their control of the dog.

Right to Compensation

A competent attorney will diligently pursue all types of compensation available to the dog bite victim. The types of compensation that California dog bite lawyers can seek on behalf of the victim include:

  • Medical bills (both past and future)
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost wages
  • Reduced earning capacity
  • Punitive damages
  • Medical monitoring
  • Lifestyle changes
  • Lifetime care and medical costs (for severe cases such as brain injuries)

An experienced Los Angeles dog bite attorney will also be able to help identify damages from future complications of the injuries sustained in an attack. Many breeds of dogs can exert enormous amounts of pressure with their jaws. Even where it does not appear initially that the victim sustained serious injuries, a dog bite victim can sustain significant nerve damage without having the skin broken. This type of dog bite injury has the potential to develop into a serious injury and could require prolonged medical treatment.

Retaining an experienced dog bite lawyer is an essential step in assuring that any possible future damages will be asserted on behalf of the victim.

For a free consultation, contact us or call (213) 271-9318. We fight for dog bite victims.

[Written by Derek Pakiz. Article updated on 2022-11-28]

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