San Diego Dog Bites Lawyer

We love our four-legged companions, and most of the time, humans and dogs can coexist peacefully. However, sometimes, the interactions we have with these animals can result in injury or even death in extreme cases. Here at the Benner Law Firm, we work tirelessly to get justice and compensation for those who have suffered serious dog bite injuries. Our personal injury law firm in San Diego is here to assist you if a dog has recently injured you or someone you love.

We know that this is a difficult time for you. You deserve to have an attorney who will take the time to understand your situation and help your healing process through passionate legal counsel and representation. Call us at 619-595-6794 to get in touch with our San Diego dog bites lawyer today.

California has strict liability statutes for dog-bite injuries. This means that when accident victims sue to get compensation for damages, it does not matter if the owners knew that their dogs had bitten someone before. It cannot be argued that they took care to prevent the animals from hurting someone or that they did not know that their dogs could be dangerous. However, a pet owner is strictly liable only if the injured person was bitten and was either in a public place or lawfully in a private property when the bite took place.

Under this statute, injured people cannot sue if police or military dogs bite them while doing law enforcement work or defending someone. This exception, however, does not apply to victims who were not suspected of participating in the alleged crime. A crime victim, therefore, may sue a city after being bitten by a police dog. Additionally, California courts have held that owners are generally exempt from liability if their dogs bite veterinarians or vet assistants during treatment.

Whether you own a dog in California or have a personal injury claim for a dog bite, it is important to understand state laws covering dog owners’ possible civil and criminal liability.

When certain animals become aggressive and hurt someone, pet owners could be liable and legally responsible for bites and other related bodily injuries. This includes instances where a dog grabs someone with its teeth but does not break the skin or when an individual suffers from an accident after the dog closes its jaws on their clothes.

While California’s strict liability statute is generally applicable for dog bites, injured people may be able to receive compensation if they can prove that their injuries resulted from the dog owners’ negligence.

If a loved one, for example, figures in a motorcycle accident or bicycle accident after being chased by a dog, or if you suffer bodily injuries after a dog jumps on you, it is possible to sue dog owners who did not use reasonable care to control the dog. An owner can take extra safety measurements by keeping their dog in a fenced yard or on a leash. A knowledgeable San Diego dog bites lawyer can explain these things in more detail.

If you or someone you know is a victim of a dog bite accident, our San Diego dog bite lawyers will evaluate your case and help you get the compensation you deserve. Call our law firm at (619) 505-3935 to schedule a consultation. 

Although the strict liability dog-bite statute applies regardless of the animal’s history, a separate state law makes owners responsible for taking reasonable steps to remove the danger of future attacks, particularly when their dogs have previously bitten someone.

Anyone can file a civil case against a dog owner with two biting incidents or that of a trained attack dog who has seriously injured someone with even a single bite. The court may order the owner to take steps to prevent future attacks, including:

• removing the dog from the area, or
• having it taken down.

Note, however, that these civil proceedings cannot be based on a dog’s history of biting trespassers or on bites by working police or military dogs. Call our law firm at (619) 505-3935 to schedule a consultation. 

When a dog injures someone while roaming at large and if the owner knew the dog was prone to mischievous behavior but did not keep it under control, the crime might be:

• Felony (if the victim was killed)
• Wobbler (if the victim was only injured)

Even if criminal charges are filed in connection with a dog bite, the injured person may still sue the owner for damages, as long as the civil suit is filed within two years after the injury. The court may extend this statute of limitations in some circumstances, which is why it is best to seek legal advice from credible dog bite lawyers at the Benner Law Firm today.

Call our law firm at (619) 505-3935 to schedule a consultation. 

In general, a dog is considered potentially dangerous if it has:

• forced people to defend themselves from unprovoked, aggressive behavior in at least two separate incidents during the past three years;
• bitten someone (who sustains an injury that is not severe) without provocation;
• injured or killed a domestic animal twice, without being provoked, in the last three years.

Meanwhile, a dog is considered vicious if:

• it aggressively wounded or killed someone without being provoked,
• a court already determined that it was potentially dangerous.

In relation to this, California has a separate legal procedure for controlling dangerous dogs. Animal control or law enforcement officers must file a petition for a hearing when they suspect a dog is a threat. If it is decided in a court hearing that the animal is potentially dangerous, the dog must be kept indoors, in a fenced yard, or on a secure leash controlled by a responsible adult.

Call our law firm at (619) 505-3935 to schedule a consultation. 

If a vicious dog poses a significant threat to the public, animal control may destroy it, and the court may prohibit the owner from having any dog for up to three years.

Alternatively, if a vicious dog is not taken down, the court must impose conditions on controlling the animal to protect the public.

How these guidelines translate to real-life scenarios, however, will depend on a variety of factors. Call us at (619) 505-3935 today and have a hands-on California personal injury attorney answer any questions related to these.

We love our four-legged companions, and most of the time, humans and dogs can coexist peacefully. However, sometimes, the interactions we have with these animals can result in injury or even death in extreme cases.

Here at the Benner Law Firm, we work tirelessly to get justice and compensation for those who have suffered serious dog bite injuries. Our personal injury law firm in San Diego is here to assist you if a dog has recently injured you or someone you love.

We know that this is a difficult time for you. You deserve to have an attorney who will take the time to understand your situation and help your healing process through passionate legal counsel and representation. Call us at 619-595-6794 to get in touch with our San Diego dog bites lawyer today.