Some breeds are more likely than others to bite and cause injury, California laws aren’t breed-specific. Thankfully, California has some of the strictest animal liability laws in the nation. In most cases whenever a dog bites you, the owner of that animal may be held liable. If you are chased by a dog and your efforts to flee result in an accident, even if you aren’t actually bit, there are options at your disposal to pursue compensation. In cases like this you may be able to prove the owner’s negligent behavior was the cause.
In many states a victim must prove the owner was aware their dog was dangerous before filing a claim for damages but that’s not the case in California. The owner of the dog may be held liable even if their pet has never attacked anyone. Owners may also be considered to be responsible if the victim suffered a dog bite and they were in a public area or if they were lawfully on private property.
In California, a bite doesn’t have to break the skin or even draw blood to prove liability. If a bike rider is attached by a dog and the rider crashes, the owner of the dog may be held liable for the injuries sustained in the crash. Police and Military K-9 officers are typically exempt from liability if the bite happened within the scope of their official responsibilities.
Knowing these facts how does a responsible dog owner defend themselves and their animal? While California laws are strict there are potential legal defenses. A few of the most common defenses include:
- The victim was to blame for the attack
- The victim was trespassing
- Comparative negligence
We represent people who are injured because of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. The reason that insurance companies have paid our clients in excess of $130,000,000.00 is that we get the facts and are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial when insurance companies fail to offer full compensation. We help with serious injuries that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth, LLP. Our Sacramento dog bite injury attorneys have more than 60 years of experience specializing in only representing injured people.. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 888-809-1075 or contact Guenard & Bozarth online. We would be honored to represent you!
