San Diego is one of the top dog friendly cities in the U.S. While a dog may be a man’s best friend, some may cause severe injuries upon biting an adult or child. Dog bite injuries have been known to result in permanent disfigurement, nerve and tissue damage, as well as psychological trauma. Dog bite injuries result in strict dog bite liability for dog owners.
Continue to read and learn about dog bite liability in personal injury claims and lawsuits.
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Dog Bite Liability | Overview
Under California law, dog owners are strictly liable for any injuries caused by their dog after biting someone. If you have been bitten by a dog, you can file a personal injury claim and lawsuit against the dog’s owner based on the following statute:
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. A person is lawfully upon the private property […] when he is on such property upon the invitation, express or implied, of the owner. Cal. Code Sect. 3342. (a)
Dog Bite Liability | Personal Injury
Depending on the nature of your dog bite injury and subsequent losses, you may be able to request economic and non-economic compensatory damages from a jury. Compensatory damages are awarded to the plaintiff to make them whole for the losses they incurred as a result of the dog bite. Juries typically award four basic types of compensatory damages for dog bite injuries which include the following:
- (past and future) medical expenses;
- (past and future) lost wages;
- (past and future) pain, suffering and mental distress; and
- disfigurement.
Example Scenario 1: Ebony is walking home from school one day. She is 13. At the same time, Jose’s dog Butch, escapes his yard and is running around loose in the neighborhood. Butch sees Ebony and attacks her. Ebony suffers great pain and injury from the bite to her leg and is also badly disfigured. Ebony’s doctors say that the bad scaring may be revised but only until she turns 18. In the meantime, Ebony feels great embarrassment for her scaring and refuses to wear shorts or dresses. Here, Jose would be strictly liable for Ebony’s pain, suffering, disfigurement, future medical bills, and embarrassment.
Ordaz Law, APC | Dog Bite Liability
Juan J. Ordaz Jr. provides candid, hardworking and personal legal representation to individuals seeking a dog bite liability, personal injury lawyer in San Diego County. We help victims suffering from a variety of injuries, who have sustained their injuries through dog bite injury producing incidents. We believe that it is a necessity to represent people who have sustained these traumatic and debilitating injuries.
Call (619) 550-3617 today so that we may schedule your free and discreet consultation with a premier San Diego dog bite liability, personal injury lawyer.
We are for Justice no Matter Who it’s for or Against.
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Premises Liability | Personal Injury
Strict Liability | Personal Injury
Blog: Personal Injury
Blog: Dog Bites
Sources and Useful Links:
Cal. Civil Code Sect. 3342(a).
County of San Diego, County Code of Regulatory Ordinances, Chap. 6 Animal Control.
City of San Diego Municipal Code Article 4, Division 3: Animals Section 44.03000.
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