Dog Bite Injury Attorneys

Torrance Dog Bite Attorneys

You could be eligible for compensation after suffering a dog bite injury in Torrance, California, even if the dog’s owner did all they could to prevent the incident from occurring. The experienced and trusted personal injury attorneys at Dordulian Law Group fight vigorously for anyone injured in a dog bite incident, ensuring you aren’t left with significant expenses for medical care, or mounting debt due to lost wages.

Our team has recovered more than $100 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients. With a 98% success rate and combined 40 years of experience, the team at Dordulian Law Group knows what it takes to help Torrance dog bite victims recover the compensation they deserve. We handle every stressful detail throughout the case so that you can focus entirely on recovering from your dog bite injuries.

What is a Dog Bite?

A dog can attack anyone without warning for any reason. Attacks happen in the form of scratching, knocking down, and biting. Dog bites can range in severity – from a small wound of the skin to severe lacerations that result in broken bones. Dog bites can lead to infections, temporary disability, disfigurement, permanent disability, and death. In order for you to prove that there was negligence present in a dog bite incident, you will need to demonstrate the following via a personal injury claim:

• The defendant named in the case is the owner of the dog
• The victim was bitten by the dog while lawfully permitted on private property or while on public property
• The victim suffered an injury as a result of the dog bite
• The injury was substantially caused by the dog bite

According to Section 3342 of the California Civil Code:

“The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.”

Our experienced attorneys can help you pursue a financial award for your personal injury case. Contact us online or by phone for a free consultation today.

If you were involved in an incident where a dog attacked you, but an actual bite did not occur, in order to recover financial compensation you must prove that negligence was present. In a California personal injury case, the plaintiff must demonstrate the following:

• A duty of care was owed the plaintiff by the defendant
• The duty of care was breached by the defendant
• The harm to the plaintiff was directly related to the defendant’s breach

Dog owners have a duty of care to prevent their animals from harming others.

The California Strict Liability Rule

California operates using a strict liability rule when it comes to dog bites. This means that you will not be required to prove negligence if you have been bitten by a dog. The strict liability rule places responsibility on the owner of the dog even if the dog has never bitten anyone in the past. For example, if you are bitten by a dog without a previous history of biting, the dog’s owner can still be held responsible for the incident.

The dog’s owner will be held liable if the following is true:

• The victim did not provoke the dog into biting them
• The dog bite incident occurred on public property or when the victim was lawfully on private property

Dog Bite Statistics for California

Any Torrance dog bite lawyer will tell you how staggering dog bite statistics are across the country. These incidents occur more often than you might think. In fact, there are an average 14,000 people hospitalized every year because of dog bite injuries. Other statistics related to dog bite injuries include:

• $797 million in homeowner insurance claims were paid in 2019 due to dog bite incidents
• On average, 4.5 million dog bites occur every year in the United States, with one out of every five bites leading to an infection
• Almost 27,000 people required reconstructive surgery in 2018 because of dog bites
• The average cost for a stay in the hospital due to a dog bite is $18,200
• Adults who live with two or more dogs are five times more likely to suffer a dog bite than adults who do not live with dogs
• Victims of dog bites suffer more than $1 billion in losses annually due to dog bites

According to statistics from State Farm, California leads the country in total dog bite insurance claims at 488 in 2017. State Farm paid a total of 3,600 dog bite claims nationwide in 2017, which means California accounted for almost 14% of all claims the company paid out that year.

Children account for more than 50% of all dog bite victims. Almost all dog bite attacks involving children occur when the child is playing with the dog. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that half of all children 12 and under have been bitten by a dog at least once. You can reduce the chances of suffering a Torrance dog bite by doing the following:

• Leave the dog alone while it is eating, drinking, caring for its young, or sleeping
• Do not approach a dog when it is growling
• Do not approach a dog you do not know without first asking the owner
• Let a dog smell and see you before attempting to pet it

Schedule an appointment online for a free consultation today, or call us directly to speak to our top-rated, expert personal injury attorneys.

If you are a dog owner, be sure to take the following precautions to reduce the chances that your dog bites someone:

• Introduce your dog to other people, other dogs, children, and to different situations
• Spay or neuter your dog
• Train your dog
• Try to keep your dog from being involved in a stressful situation

Despite following all of these precautions, dog bites still regularly occur. If you are bitten by a dog, be sure to consult with an experienced Torrance dog bite attorney from Dordulian Law Group about your case.

How Do I Know if I Have a Dog Bite Case?

If you have been bitten by a dog in Torrance (or anywhere else within the state of California), state law places liability on the dog owner. You are not required to prove that the dog had bitten someone before or that there was negligence present in the attack. There are some dog breeds that are more aggressive than others, which often places restrictions on insurance policies by insurance companies. Some dog breeds that are often restricted by insurance companies include:

• Pit bulls
• Staffordshire terriers
• Dobermans
• German Shepherds
• Chows
• Akitas
• Alaska Malamutes
• Rottweilers
• Siberian Huskies
• Wolf hybrids

Almost all renter’s and homeowner’s insurance policies cover dog bites. The Insurance Information Institute (III) reports that the most common liability claim filed against a renter’s or homeowner’s insurance policy is that of a dog bite incident.

There is no requirement in California to file a police report if you have been injured in a Torrance dog bite incident. However, doing so could help your case and assist your Torrance dog bite lawyer in recovering compensation on your behalf. Both the owner of the dog and the dog bite victim are required to report the incident to the local county health official. All doctors who treat dog bite victims in California must also report the incident.

Schedule an appointment online for a free consultation today, or call us directly to speak to our top-rated, expert personal injury attorneys.

Roadblocks to a Torrance, California, Dog Bite Case

Although it seems as though proving a dog bite case would be a straightforward process, there are potential pitfalls to consider. The defendant will likely attempt to absolve themselves of any liability in the incident which caused an injury. The defendant could use the following defenses:

• The dog was provoked by the victim
• The victim trespassed on the defendant’s property
• The dog was acting in accordance with police or military written policy
• The dog was protecting its owner under the self-defense laws of California

Given the complexities within the law, it is recommended that all dog bite injury victims seek counsel from a qualified and experienced Torrance personal injury lawyer at Dordulian Law Group. Doing so will help ensure your rights are protected and your case has the greatest likelihood of success.

Steps to Take if You Are The Victim of a Dog Bite

Every dog bite case is different. Because of this, you should seek medical attention immediately if you have been bitten by a dog. The injuries might not seem severe in the moments immediately following the attack, but keep in mind that they could worsen in the hours and days afterward. Not only is seeking medical attention important for your health, it also provides a link of evidence between the dog bite attack and your injuries. After you seek medical care you should contact a Torrance dog bite attorney at Dordulian Law Group to review your case.

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