If you’ve recently suffered a bite from a dog, you are not alone. Thousands of people suffer dog bite of many levels of severity every year in the United States, including right here in Los Angeles.
Not only are dog bites painful, they’re mentally hard to cope with afterward, and often come with expensive health care costs to match. Anyone suffering from a dog bite should seek legal counsel immediately, both to seek recompense for suffering and to recoup costs associated with bite care.
First Thing’s First: Take Care of Yourself!
Above all, seek immediate emergency care. If you haven’t done that already, take that step immediately.
Once you’ve had your wound attended to by a medical professional, it’s time to gather information on the bite. Get the dog owner’s information (name, phone number, address, anything helps), as well as contact information for any witnesses.
If possible, ask for copies of the dog’s registration information with the City of Los Angeles, as well as rabies vaccination documentation.
When you take a dog bite to a Los Angeles hospital, they’ll ask you for any details on the animal and the owner, as they are required to automatically report the bite to Animal Control. This information will also be useful for your legal counsel.
If the owner does not have up-to-date rabies vaccinations, they will be compelled to place the dog under a 10-day quarantine for observation. The cost will be the owner’s responsibility.
What to Know About California Dog Bite Law
While some states have various forms of leniency for dogs without a history of violence, California is comparatively strict. Dogs with no history of violence and no training or other circumstances that could be conceived as encouraging a dog to bite are given special consideration for a single bite.
With the help of legal counsel, you can leverage the benefits of the “One Bite Rule” even if the animal hasn’t bitten anyone before. If you can prove that the owner had some knowledge of the dog’s violent potential, the owner is held responsible for the dog’s behavior.
With the right legal approach, this includes irresponsible behavior such as walking dogs off-leash outside of designated dog parks or other violations of animal handling laws in Los Angeles.
How to Find a Lawyer For Your Dog Bite
The best choice is a local lawyer, deeply familiar with California law as well as the ins and outs of Los Angeles County statutes. Contact us today for a consultation on your case, and guarantee every legal avenue possible is explored to get you the compensation you deserve.
