All dogs can become aggressive, attack, and bite. What is different from one dog to the next are the specific triggers that can cause such reactions. For example, most dogs will become defensive and bite in defense if they are cornered and if pain is being inflicted on them, especially if the inflictor is someone who is not familiar. Sometimes, however, it doesn’t even take that much to cause aggression. Certain breeds, such as Pit Bulls and Rottweilers, are more prone to aggression, and as a result they account for a significant number of attacks on humans.
An experienced personal injury lawyer from our team can also answer any questions you may have about the legal process and the steps you should take after a dog bites to maximize your compensation.
Dog Bites: What You Need to Know
The bottom line is that it is hard to predict when or if someone will get bitten by a dog. Sure, certain behaviors make it more likely, such as actually trying to pet the dog or running up behind it unaware, but every dog is different. We have all heard about the unfortunate story of a woman who was mauled to death in the hallway of her apartment complex by a couple of Presa Canarios who were set off by the woman’s perfume. Or what about the story of the woman had to get facial transplant surgery because her own dog chewed off nearly half of her face when she didn’t respond to face licking? She was in a drug induced state and her dog’s actions were triggered by panic and fear from the owner’s unconsciousness.
That being said, California Civil Code section 3342 places strict liability on the owner in the event of a dog bite/attack. So if you are a victim of a dog attack and you are in a public place or lawfully in a private place, then you have a claim against the owner of the dog. Fortunately, for both the owner and the victim, most homeowner’s insurance policies cover liability stemming from a dog attack/bite up to 100k (individual)/300k (aggregate). In fact, more than a third of all homeowner’s insurance payouts are related to dog bite incidents. The average amount of these insurance settlements is over $32,000.00 dollars.
We will work tirelessly to help you recover the compensation you need to move forward with your life
So if you are a victim of a dog attack or dog biting incident, you need attorneys that are experienced in dealing with insurance companies, knowledgeable about this specific area of law, and aggressive in driving your case to victory. At Venerable Injury Law, we have helped thousands of victims enforce their rights and claim the benefits due and owing to them. Even when insurance companies were not involved, we have been successful in negotiating with, and litigating against, dog owners to obtain compensation for victims who were injured by improperly supervised animals. We know how to take care of victims, push injury cases forward, obtain maximum compensation, and vindicate our clients!
We believe that our experience, dedication, and personalized approach set us apart from the rest.