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ver 4 million animal bite injuries occur in the United States each year, and dog bites account for the most frequent cause of these injuries. If you or a loved one has been bitten or attacked by a dog, you are likely facing the financial stress of medical bills, lost income, and more.
Luckily, BANA LAW can help, because our experienced dog bite lawyers in Los Angeles fight for people just like you. Our attorneys have recovered over half a billion dollars on behalf of injured victims, and our dedicated team understands the physical, emotional, and financial toll these injuries can take.
Contact the Los Angeles personal injury lawyers at BANA LAW today for your free consultation and take the first step toward securing the compensation you need and deserve after a dog attack.
When it comes to recovering from a dog bite injury, having the right legal team on your side can make all the difference. At BANA LAW, we are dedicated to fighting for dog bite victims in Los Angeles and Southern California, helping you get the compensation and justice you deserve.
Here’s why so many injured clients trust our legal team with their dog bite claims:
Choosing BANA LAW means choosing a team committed to your recovery and success after a dog attack. If you’ve been injured, don’t wait to get your free consultation now.
Dog bites require immediate medical attention to prevent infection of wounds and further injury to bones and other tissues. While household pets tend to be vaccinated, there may be instances in which a dog is carrying rabies or a similarly harmful disease.
Dog bite injuries take time to properly heal and can have lasting consequences for the injured. Ligaments, tendons, and bones can all be damaged by the force of a dog bite, which can produce long-term issues such as arthritis, permanent scarring, and disfigurement.
Medical procedures, both necessary and cosmetic—such as plastic surgery—may greatly impact the total medical expenses and cost of recovery. Additionally, dog bites often leave emotional trauma and psychological injuries on the dog bite victim, causing a lifelong fear of dogs and other animals.
Dog owners in California are responsible for keeping their dogs under control at all times.
While there is no single statewide leash law, local Los Angeles ordinances generally require dogs to be leashed in public spaces. Furthermore, a dog is only legally required to wear a muzzle if it has been officially designated “Potentially Dangerous” or “Vicious” following a court hearing based on its aggressive history.
California law is uniquely victim-friendly because it holds dog owners strictly liable for injuries caused by a bite. This means you generally do not need to prove the owner was negligent or knew the dog had a history of aggression (the “one-bite rule” does not apply here).
California’s Civil Code states that a dog owner is liable for the personal injury damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully on private property.
The strict liability rule applies only when the injury is caused by a bite and the attack was outside of a few narrow legal exceptions (such as police/military work, trespassing, or provocation).
If your injury was not caused by a bite (e.g., you were knocked down or scratched), you can still recover full damages by pursuing a claim based on negligence or the owner’s knowledge of the dog’s dangerous nature.
The best way to determine if your claim—whether from a bite or a non-bite injury—falls under the strict liability statute or a strong negligence claim is to speak with experienced Los Angeles dog bite lawyers.
We’re here to help you understand your legal options and recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering after an unfortunate dog attack.
A statute of limitations places a deadline on an injured victim’s ability to file a lawsuit and recover for their losses. Statute of limitations laws vary from state to state and injury type.
In California, a statute of limitations for personal injury claims does exist, requiring victims to file their claims within two years of the date of injury.
Because dog bites are considered a personal injury claim, dog bite victims have up to two years after the date of an incident to seek compensation for their medical expenses, medical treatment, psychological trauma, and other losses.
While most injury claims are based on “negligence,” which requires proving the defendant failed to exercise reasonable care, “strict liability” is a legal doctrine reserved for specific cases involving abnormally high risk. In a strict liability case, a defendant is held liable without the need to prove carelessness or intent.
California is one of the states that applies this rule to dog owners. This means that a California dog owner is held liable in the event of a dog bite injury, regardless of the dog’s breed or previous behavior.
For a claim under this statute, you must primarily show that the dog bite occurred while you were lawfully present in a public or private space.
You do not need to prove the owner was negligent or that they knew the dog had a propensity to attack, which often makes it easier for victims to pursue a successful claim.
California’s strict liability dog bite statute requires that the injury occurred in a public place or in a lawfully private place. If a dog owner asserts that the victim was trespassing when the dog bite occurred, the victim cannot hold the owner strictly liable under this statute.
However, being a trespasser does not eliminate all legal options. An attorney can still pursue a claim by proving the owner was negligent in controlling a known aggressive animal.
Similarly, military and government agencies (such as the LAPD) may assert that the dog bite occurred within the dog’s legal duties as part of the force.
This strict liability exception only applies if the bite occurred within the scope of the dog’s duties and the agency has enacted written policies to manage these types of incidents. The exception typically does not apply if an innocent bystander is bitten.
These legal defenses are complex and require sophisticated counter-arguments. To learn more and ensure your claim is built on the strongest legal foundation, speak with a dog bite lawyer in Los Angeles, CA.
It’s important to note that the insurance company is not going to act in your best interest. Unfortunately, most standard insurance claims prevent victims from receiving adequate compensation for their medical care and medical records after a dog bite.
Typically, insurance companies will be focused on settling a dog bite claim as quickly and advantageously as possible, and they will not take into account the ripple effects a dog bite can cause to your health and well-being, including psychological trauma, infection of wounds, and property damage.
That’s why you need a dog attack lawyer in Los Angeles. At BANA LAW, we can fight for maximum compensation on your behalf.
Working with a dog bite lawyer in Los Angeles will ensure your insurance claims are properly assessed and investigated, so you can receive the medical treatment you need to care for your wounds and heal without the stress of a financial burden.
At BANA LAW, we will ensure that any settlement offers negotiated with an insurance company take into account the full breadth of consequences a dog bite injury can have on a victim, including medical bills, plastic surgery costs, and emotional trauma.
If you or someone close to you has been hurt in a dog attack, don’t wait to give us a call for your free consultation. To learn more about personal injury claims, visit our blog.