EL CENTRO DOG BITE INJURY LAWYER

Kerckhoff Law, APC handles all types of dog bite attacks

California has a strict liability dog bite statute that states that the owner of a dog is liable for damages inflicted by his/her dog if it bites a person who is either 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. California Civil Code Section 3342.

The dog owner is liable regardless of whether the dog had ever been vicious before and regardless of whether the owner had reason to believe it would behave in a vicious manner.  The dog does not get "one bite free."

We have found that many times in dog attack cases, dog bite victims are hesitant to pursue a dog bite claim because of their relationship with the owner of the dog. It is common for dog bite victims to be relatives of or friends with the dog owner.  In most instances, injuries sustained by an animal attack or dog bite are covered under the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance policy.  Insurance policies allow victims to be fairly compensated for their injuries without subjecting the owner of the dog to financial hardship.

In all dog attack cases, it is essential that measures be taken promptly to preserve evidence, investigate the incident in question, and to enable physicians or other expert witnesses to thoroughly evaluate all injuries.

     Dog Bite Safety Tips

• Never approach an unfamiliar dog.
• Never run from a dog and scream.
• Stay still when an unfamiliar dog comes up to you ("be still like a tree").
• If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and lie still ("be like a log").
• Do not look a dog in the eye.
• Do not disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.
• Do not pet a dog without letting it see and sniff you first.
• Never play with a dog unless supervised by an adult.
• Never leave an infant or child alone with any dog.
• Teach your dog submissive behaviors, like rolling over to show its stomach.
• Do not play aggressive games with your dog, such as wrestling.
• Seek medical care for any serious dog bite and report all dog attacks.
• Support animal-control programs in your community and the enforcement of local laws regulating dangerous or vicious dogs.
• Support dog bite prevention educational programs in schools.
• Get the advice of a veterinarian about the right breed of dog if you are thinking about getting a family dog.
• Spay or neuter your dog, this often reduces its aggressive tendencies.
• Be sure all pets are properly immunized.
• Seek a veterinarian's advice quickly if your dog becomes aggressive.