Menu
310-474-5588
F
r
e
e

C
o
n
s
u
l
t
a
t
i
o
n

Dog Bite Injury? Know Your Rights

On behalf of The Law Offices of Howard Kornberg Posted in Dog Bite

Nearly 14 percent of dog bite injuries in the United States occur in California, and if you are among those injured, you have rights. Most dogs are friendly and docile and want nothing more than a pat on the head or the toss of a ball. Others, however, turn aggressive and violent out of the blue and inflict serious injuries that their victims must deal with for life. An experienced dog bite lawyer can help you understand your rights following a dog bite injury.

4.5 Million Dog Bite Injuries Every Year

Of the nearly 90 million dogs in the United States, roughly 4.5 million are attacked each year. In California in 2017, State Farm alone paid out almost $19 million in claims for dog bite injuries. More than half of all injuries were to children, although the elderly are often the targets of vicious dog attacks. In nearly all instances, the owner of the dog (and, if applicable, his insurer) is responsible for compensating dog bite victims.

California has a strict liability law that governs dog bite injuries. In a nutshell, if a dog bites a person in a public place or while the person was lawfully in a private place, then the owner is held strictly liable for damages. Unlike some states, in California, it doesn’t matter if the dog had been previously vicious or if the owner takes care to prevent the dog from biting someone; he’s still liable. And if a dog owner knows that the dog is prone to hurting others but fails to exercise control over the dog, then the owner can even be cited criminally if the dog attacks while roaming out of control.

Working With a Los Angeles Dog Bite Attorney

Dog bite claims are best handled by an attorney who is well-versed in personal injury law. Your attorney can help you establish liability, gather evidence to support your claim and reach out to the dog’s owner or the insurance company to seek compensation. Your attorney can help you determine an appropriate amount of compensation that will make you whole again. This is typically a mix of medical bills, future medical expenses, lost income, and the cost of any rehabilitation required. Further, your claim should take into consideration any permanent scarring and disfigurement and any permanent disability that results from the attack. In some instances, you may also be awarded punitive damages for pain, suffering, and emotional stress caused by this traumatic event. Your lawyer will be instrumental in ensuring you get the maximum compensation afforded to you under the law, usually without going to trial. Most insurers are willing to negotiate a settlement instead of taking a case to court, especially when the odds are stacked against a positive outcome.

When Should You File a Dog Bite Claim?

It is important to note that dog bite claims fall under the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits. In California, you have just two years from the date of injury under Cal. Civ. Proc. Code 312 et seq. to file a claim. Be sure to contact a Los Angeles dog bite attorney as soon as possible following the attack to get the ball rolling on your dog bite injury claim. The Law Offices of Howard Kornberg can help you get the compensation you deserve. Schedule your free consultation now to discuss your case.

Arrow Prev PrevNext Arrow Next
blog-bg
A
Howard is the best! He helped me when I was injured 🤕 on my shoulder and head he was amazing and we won!
Read more
M
Howard Kornberg is amazing ! I have been his client for over 15 years.
J
Howard and his staff were very thorough and always ready to update us on the progress of our case. They worked tirelessly...
Read more
S
Howard worked my dog bite case in quick time. We had a terrible event happen with a ferocious dog attack. Howard and his ...
Read more
M
Excellent experience! Howard and his team are smart, competent, honest and fair. They advocated on my behalf to secure ...
Read more
j
Friendly people, very professional, very detail oriented, and he will fight for you !!
R
Howard Kornberg and his team were utterly amazing from start to finish! Initial call - very attentive, supportive, warm a...
Read more
R
HCK and staff are amazing!!
f
The Law Offices of Howard Kornberg were highly recommend by someone I hold dear to my heart. He trusting them, meant I co...
Read more
R
Does great work and will go out of his way to ensure you get what you deserve, never gave up on me even when I was going ...
Read more
M
What a great!! experience I had with the Law Offices of Howard Craig Kornberg, Mr. Kornberg is a fantastic!! lawyer, very...
Read more
M
Howard is a phenomenal, exemplary, kind lawyer who will fight for you every step of the way. I couldn't recommend him hig...
Read more
P
Working with Howard Kornberg and his associates is like having an extended family. Not only did the team and Howard give ...
Read more
A
The people that work here are honest and straight up, Ana and Robert were extremely helpful ! I called in regarding an in...
Read more
T
Despite having to to deal with multiple family members and the death of my mother just as Mr. Kornberg had reach a settle...
Read more
J
I took my "car accident" case to Mr. Kornberg for review. I had been told by several attorneys it was a "losing case." I...
Read more
M
My experience with this office and Mr. Kornberg was everything I could have hoped for. Smart, efficient and reliable. If ...
Read more
A
Mr Kornberg and his staff are truly outstanding. Their diligent and honest efforts proved successful in trial. His person...
Read more
J
Howard is an amazing lawyer who gets the job done. He's a great guy, he's very helpful and he's responsive. And most impo...
Read more
A
Howard Kornberg did an impeccable job in representing me in my trial. He knew how to deal with the jury well. In his offi...
Read more
E
Mr Kornberg represented me very well in my case resulting in an outstanding settlement. His incredibly responsive staff a...
Read more
C
I needed a good personal injury lawyer, I was injured in a car accident and called a bunch of attorneys in LA and found t...
Read more
H
Howard is a great person to work with and his integrity is unquestioned. I would recommend him to any one if my friends...
Read more