Stockton Dog Bite &Amp; Animal Attack Attorneys

Dog Bite Litigation

Bite Victims Need To Fight Back Against Irresponsible Owners

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC"), Americans have a one in 50 chance of being bitten by a dog each year. In fact, over 1000 victims are sent to hospital emergency rooms each day.

Dog bites can cause serious physical and emotional injuries, including scars, a fear of dogs and even a fear of being outside. Many times the victims of dog bites are children, and often, the dog involved belongs to the child's family, friend or neighbor. As a result, many families are reluctant to pursue damages against the dog owner. However, because of the long lasting emotional and physical consequences of dog bites, it's imperative to contact a knowledgeable dog bite attorney to provide you valuable information and help assess your options.

Most Dangerous Breeds

All dog breeds can be safe around people, including children, if treated well and trained properly. However, if treated inhumanely or given improper or overly aggressive training, most animals' behavior will be unpredictable and dangerous.

Additionally, some dog owners choose dogs based on their protective nature and their ability to intimidate strangers, and train them in a way that enhances the dog's natural disposition. As a result, these breeds are often linked to dog bite injuries.

These breeds include:

• Rottweilers
• Pit bull terriers
• Alaskan malamutes
• Siberian huskies
• Wolf hybrids
• German shepherds

Owners Are Responsible For Dog Bites

Under California law, dog owners are always responsible for dog bites. Further, a person may be liable if they had custody or control of the dog and knew that it might bite. In many instances, victims of dog bites are not required to show negligence, evidence of a bite is sufficient to obtain compensation.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog bite, an experienced personal injury attorney can help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Typical damages include:

• Present and future medical costs
• Loss of earnings
• Costs to replace damaged property or personal belongings
• Emotional distress damages

In some situations you may be able to recover punitive damages if the dog owner behaved in a reckless or malicious manner.

As in many areas of personal injury law, each dog bite case is different, and the types of punishments vary, ranging from fines to criminal convictions and potential jail time.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog attack, contact an experienced Stockton dog bite attorney for more information and to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.