
Dogs tend to be protective by nature. It’s in their DNA. But in personal injury law, there is a fine line between protecting premises, and violently attacking pedestrians walking down the street, or neighbors who are taking out their trash. Negligent dog owners who don’t properly care for animals, or keep them restrained, can be held responsible by a Glendale dog attack attorney named Howard Craig Kornberg.
For many years, he’s handled numerous premises liability incidents such as dog attacks. Even the smallest of breeds can cause serious personal injury, requiring months away from work. Dog owners are often held responsible either personally, or through their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance.
The Popularity of Dog Attacks
An estimated 4.5 million people are bitten by various dog breeds each year. Rottweilers and pit bulls, the two deadliest breeds, account for the most deaths annually nationwide. Because California is so populous, it’s not uncommon to see dog owners walking their pets through parks or keeping them close by while they sit outside on the porch. Because the aforementioned breeds are rather strong, it’s not hard to lose control of these dogs, even if they are not on a leash.
Dog bite injuries carry the same standard of proof as any other personal injury. My office works hard to build your case based on the evidence presented by the victim and what we can gather from police reports, animal control reports, and witnesses to this tragic event. All of this information will enable us to approach the home insurance provider with a settlement offer. Should a homeowner lack insurance, we’ll approach them personally to see about getting compensation for the victim.
Should neither want to cooperate, Law Offices of Howard Craig Kornberg is the dog attack attorney negligent dog owners would rather not meet in court because his ability to present a solid case often gets victims much greater settlement checks. Mr. Kornberg has recovered millions of dollars for dog bite victims.
Hard to imagine that 42% of dog-related deaths happen to children nine years of age and younger, with an additional 31% happening to infants under six days old. While these statistics are related to negligence necessarily, they paint the dark picture of how dog temperament can change from moment to moment.
POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF DOG ATTACKS
Various factors can influence how severe a victim’s injuries may be if they are attacked by a dog. A small dog may cause very little harm. However, a larger dog can cause such injuries as:
- Broken bones
- Damage to the eyes
- Infections
- Disfigurement
- Puncture wounds
- Neck injuries
- Scarring
In some instances, dog attacks can even result in a victim’s death or permanent disability.
It’s important to seek medical care after a dog attack. This is true even if the dog that bit you was small, as it still may have the potential to spread germs. It is important to obtain proof that the dog has received rabies vaccinations.
It’s also true even if you don’t believe you’ve been seriously injured. Infections and other such injuries are not always immediately noticeable. You need to confirm with a medical professional that you are not in need of care.
Additionally, if you wait to see a doctor until after your injuries have become noticeable, should you file a claim to collect from a negligent dog owner’s insurance, later on, an insurance company could suggest there is no hard evidence linking your injuries to that particular dog attack. This may prevent you from recovering the compensation you deserve.
WHAT TO DO AFTER A GLENDALE DOG ATTACK
Seeing a doctor is just one step you should take after being attacked by a dog. If an attack occurred on or near someone’s property, it’s also wise to take pictures of the dog and property as soon as possible.
It is important to file a dog bite report with “Animal Control” for the state or county where the incident occurred and to find out if the dog owner has homeowners or renters insurance.
You should also get the names and contact information of any witnesses who may have seen the attack when it happened. To at least minimize the amount of compensation you receive, a dog’s owner or their insurance company could argue the dog only attacked you because you provoked it first. It’s helpful to have statements from witnesses who can refute this story.
Next, after seeking medical care, draft a narrative of the incident and schedule a meeting at a Glendale dog attack law firm. Bring any evidence you may have with you to the initial case review. Preparing a narrative of the incident as you remember it will ensure that you don’t accidentally omit any relevant details when describing the attack to an attorney. A Glendale dog attack lawyer needs to have a clear understanding of how and when the attack occurred in order to explain what your next steps should be.
HOWARD WILL BITE BACK. HARDER.
Contrary to popular belief, premises liability issues arise when a dog bites another individual. Since a dog is the responsibility of human beings, the person in charge of the dog that caused personal injury to a victim is considered responsible to pay the victim compensation. So, if you’re jogging down the bike path and some Doberman pincher breaks his leash and bites your leg, the person restraining the dog is considered liable because they’re acting as the dog’s owner.
Law Offices of Howard Craig Kornberg has extensive litigation experience dealing with premises liabilities. If you’ve suffered serious bite injuries, you may have a substantial case. Compensation is available for victims of dog bite attacks, but since dog bite attacks have a strict statute of limitations, it’s important to contact a Glendale dog attack attorney today.