Dog Bite
The Role of Dog Owners in Preventing Bites
| November 18th, 2024
Owning a dog is rewarding, but it also comes with serious responsibilities—especially when it comes to preventing bites. Are you doing enough to keep others safe? In California, dog owners face strict legal consequences if they don’t meet their obligations, and failing to take the proper precautions could put others—and your pet—at risk.
Explore the role of dog owners in preventing bites and what you can do to protect others, your pets, and yourself. If you’ve been injured by a dog, contact a California dog bite lawyer to learn your legal rights and compensation options.
Legal Responsibilities of Dog Owners in California
California follows a strict liability rule for dog bites. In California, dog owners are responsible for any damage their pets cause, whether on private property or in public. This applies whether the dog has a history of aggression or not.
If someone is on your property for legal reasons, like a postal worker, they’re protected by law. Even if you invite someone over, they’re considered lawfully present.
Local leash laws add to this responsibility. For instance, in Los Angeles, dogs must be restrained by a leash no longer than six feet and under the control of a competent person when off the owner’s property. Failing to follow leash laws can increase the risk of a bite and lead to fines or other legal penalties for the owner.
Common Scenarios Where Dog Bites Occur
Dog bites can occur in various situations, and understanding common scenarios can help you take preventive measures. Some typical scenarios include:
- Unsupervised Interactions: Allowing a dog to roam freely in public spaces without supervision or proper control is a common scenario for dog bites. Without a leash or owner nearby, the dog may feel threatened or overly excited, leading to aggressive behavior.
- Interactions With Strangers or Other Dogs: Many dog bites occur when a dog feels uncomfortable or threatened by a new person or another animal. This is especially true if the dog hasn’t been properly socialized. Anxious or fearful dogs may lash out if they feel cornered or trapped in an unfamiliar situation.
- Defending Territory: Dogs are naturally territorial creatures. They may bite to protect their territory when they perceive a person or another animal as threatening their home or owner. This can happen when visitors enter the house, or someone gets too close to the dog’s personal space.
- Children and Dogs: Children are often victims of dog bites because they may not know how to approach or interact with dogs. A dog may react unpredictably if a child pulls its tail, grabs its fur, or invades its personal space.
Preventive Measures for Dog Owners
While owning a dog comes with risks, there are many steps you can take to prevent dog bites and protect those around them.
- Obey Leash Laws: The simplest way to prevent dog bites is to obey local leash laws. Keeping your dog on a leash in public areas ensures that you have control over your pet and can prevent it from approaching strangers or other dogs unexpectedly.
- Training and Socialization: Proper training and socialization help prevent aggressive behavior in dogs. Enroll your dog in obedience classes to teach them how to respond to commands and behave appropriately in different situations. Socializing your dog helps them feel more comfortable in unfamiliar settings, reducing the risk of fear-based aggression.
- Understand Your Dog’s Behavior: Recognize the signs of discomfort or stress in your dog. Dogs often give warning signals before they bite, such as growling, showing their teeth, or stiffening their body. If you notice these signs, remove your dog from the situation immediately to avoid a potential bite.
- Regular Veterinary Care: Ensuring your dog is healthy can also prevent aggression. Pain or discomfort caused by untreated medical issues can lead to uncharacteristic biting or lashing out. Regular check-ups with a vet can help keep your dog in good health and reduce the likelihood of aggressive behavior.
Legal Consequences for Negligent Owners
Dog owners who don’t take precautions to prevent bites can face serious legal consequences, and the emotional weight of knowing their negligence caused harm. A dog bite can have lasting physical and emotional effects on victims, especially children, who often suffer trauma and fear long after the wound has healed.
Under California’s strict liability laws, owners are responsible for these injuries—covering medical bills and the victim’s pain, suffering, and emotional recovery.
In some cases, the court may impose additional penalties, such as fines or requiring the dog to be euthanized if it is deemed a danger to the public. Owners who violate leash laws or other local ordinances may also face fines or legal actions.
Seek Compensation After a Dog Bite
If you’ve been injured by a dog bite, you have legal options. To pursue compensation, you’ll need to gather evidence of the dog owner’s negligence, such as proof of leash law violations, previous complaints about the dog’s behavior, or failure to restrain the animal properly.
Our skilled dog bite lawyers can help you collect this crucial evidence, build a strong case, and hold negligent owners accountable. We understand the complexities of dog bite cases and will fight to secure the compensation you deserve for medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages.
Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your legal options to seek the financial support you need to recover.
Why do you need a lawyer after a dog bite?
| April 30th, 2018
Getting injured by a dog is a shocking and traumatizing experience. Most people expect dogs to be friendly and docile, but even the most well-trained dogs can attack without provocation and without a history of biting. People who are bitten by dogs often experience severe pain, and they may be at risk of serious health problems due to common complications associated with dog bites. Bleeding, nerve damage, and infection are all possibilities after dog bites, and in severe cases, victims may even experience life-threatening complications. At Berg Injury Lawyers, our California dog bite lawyers are here to help people who were hurt by dogs. Bite-related injuries can be expensive and disabling, and victims may require weeks or months of medical care and rehabilitation—all while being unable to work. If you or someone you love was hurt by a dog, it’s our goal to help you:- Prove the dog’s owner didn’t follow local ordinances—Whether the owner neglected to leash or enclose his or her dog, we’ll collect evidence that proves negligence was a key factor in your injury.
- Calculate your bite-related expenses—Surgery, prescription medications, and physical rehabilitation can be expensive, especially when you’re disabled and not earning the paycheck you depend on. We’ll make sure the insurance company knows how much the bite has cost you and your loved ones.
What We Look for in Dog Bite Cases
| November 13th, 2017
Dog bites can be painful, traumatic, and even disabling. In severe cases, dog bites can even be life-threatening, especially if they become infected or when victims are small children or elderly adults. At Berg Injury Lawyers, we know that dogs bring joy to many families. But we also know that dogs have the potential to bite and cause serious injuries. Like most states, California has specific laws and ordinances concerning dogs to help protect guests on private and public property from bite-related injuries. When those laws or ordinances are violated, people can get hurt. If you or someone you love was injured by a dog, get in touch with our California dog bite lawyers today. When evaluating dog bite claims, we look for the following facts to help build a strong case:- The dog wasn’t properly leashed. If the dog wasn’t on a leash or was on a leash that wasn’t compliant with state or local laws, we can use this information as evidence for a claim.
- The dog wasn’t in an enclosure. In certain circumstances, a dog must be enclosed if not on a leash. When dogs are allowed to roam freely on private or public property, they can bite and seriously injure guests and visitors. We can investigate to find out if a dog owner violated these regulations.
Dog Bites Can Cause Serious Injuries.
| October 2nd, 2017
Dogs are joyful and loyal additions to many families. But even the most well-trained and well-behaved dogs can still be unpredictable at times, and they may become aggressive or even bite those around them. Most cities and communities in California have laws that require all dogs to be kept on leashes when they’re in public. However, those laws aren’t always followed, and some potentially aggressive dogs roam freely or on leashes that are too long, putting others at risk. If you or someone you love was injured by a dog, our California dog bite injury lawyers may be able to help you recover compensation for your bite-related expenses. Dog bites can be painful, disabling, and can include complications such as:- Infection – Dogs’ mouths are full of bacteria. When they bite, their long and sharp teeth can push some of that bacteria deep inside the skin and into the bloodstream, creating the potential for serious infections.
- Nerve damage – Many dog bite victims are attacked on their hands or arms. These are vulnerable areas of the body due to their blood supply and number of nerves. Dog bites can cause severe bleeding and nerve damage, resulting in permanent disability.
California Leash Laws Exist For a Reason
| April 18th, 2016
California has strict leash laws for a reason. In recent years, there have been an increased number of dog bite incidents reported. In fact, around 1,000 dog bites are reported every day in the U.S. Many of those incidents involve vicious or skittish dogs that are either off-leash or left unattended. It’s obvious that you should never let your dog roam the neighborhood off-leash, but did you know that it can also be illegal to leave your dog on-leash in public? In California, dog owners are required to provide adequate access to food and water to any dog that is tethered. That means if you walk your dog to a store, tie the dog to a table, and go inside, you’ve just committed a misdemeanor offense. However, if your dog bites someone while you’re in that store, you’re potentially in a lot more trouble. At Berg Injury Lawyers, we believe dog owners should be held responsible for the conduct of their pets. Many times, dog bites could have been avoided if the owner had taken proper precautions. If you or someone you love was the victim of a dog bite, give us a call immediately. Our San Francisco dog bite attorneys will hold the owner accountable for your injuries and protect your right to compensation.Controversy Surrounds Solutions To Solving California’s Dog Bite Injury Risks
| August 26th, 2013
August 26, 2013 Numbers show each year, hundreds of people are the victims of dog bite injuries in California. This high number of incidents leaves many citizens looking for ways to improve the laws protecting citizens from the dangers of being bitten by a dog. The California Dog Bite Injury Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers explain how some are calling for breed specific bans to be enacted as a way to reduce attack numbers. However, experts believe such laws may actually do very little to curb canine bites. Breed specific bans prohibit citizens from owning animals that are considered a threat or dangerous. These laws are being called for due to an unfounded belief that specific breeds, particularly pit bulls, are responsible for a disproportionate number of attacks. Data tends to point to the contrary though, with many studies finding difficulty determining some animal’s specific breed and lack of cost effectiveness in enforcing the ban. In an effort to help prevent breed specific bans from being enacted, an article from Ohmidog! stated that roughly 31,000 signatures have been collected on a petition to eradicate breed specific dog bans. Opponents of the laws say they are an infringement on personal rights and that there are laws already in place to handle unruly animals. Berg’s team of California Personal Injury Lawyers recognizes how devastating the injuries sustained in a dog attack can be. The firm is here to help anyone who has been bitten by a dog at no fault of their own.Lawmakers Set To Pass Bill Covering California Dog Bite Liability
| April 8th, 2013
April 8, 2013 In an effort to better protect cities from liability in California Dog Bite cases, a bill is being examined by state lawmakers that would prohibit government entities from being held responsible for “injury or death suffered by a pet or person” at dog parks. According to an article from the Capitol Weekly, the bill was unanimously approved by the Assembly Judiciary Committee this past Tuesday as a way to promote government officials supporting the construction of more dog parks in the state. While the current California Tort Claims Act already protects local governments from being held liable for the act of a dog on public property, proponents of the new measure say it is an added guarantee of protection when considering dog park projects. Assemblyman, Mike Gatto, explained when a dog bite or attack occurs at a park, the victim will likely attempt to hold the owner of the animal responsible for the dog’s actions. If the victim is unable to recover compensation or damages from that individual though, they will often attempt to collect from the host city or county. Gatto adds that the law closely mirrors legislation that was put into place for the state’s numerous skateboard parks. The California Injury Attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers are aware of the serious dangers a dog bite can present and are hopeful the measure will be effective in holding owners more responsible for the actions of their animals.
