Dog Bites

Pasadena Dog Bite Lawyers

Animal Attack Attorneys Protecting Your Rights

Our Pasadena personal injury attorneys can help victims get full and fair compensation for their injuries. Since 1994, Tedford & Associates has been helping Los Angeles County victims of dog bites get the compensation they need to cover medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. If you or a loved one suffered a dog bite, we can help you bring an injury claim against the dog owner.

Representation by a Pasadena personal injury attorney can be your best opportunity to get the compensation you need. And a claim can help hold the dog owner accountable so no one else suffers injury from the dog that harmed you or a loved one. The dog owner, by virtue of owning the pet, has a duty of care to others. When that duty is breached and the dog attacks, causing an injury, that owner is negligent.

Does California Have a "One Free Bite" Law?

No. Unlike some other states, California does not adhere to the “one free bite” policy, allowing a dog owner to get a free pass on a first attack. California is a “strict liability state,” meaning that if a person is bitten by a dog without provocation, the dog owner can be held responsible for any resulting injuries.

While many other states have “one bite” laws that give the benefit of the doubt to dog owners whose dogs have never bitten or attacked anyone before, California does not require dog bite victims to prove that a dog had a history of aggression for an owner to be held legally responsible. With that being said, California does require an extra duty of care on dog owners whose dogs have previously bitten. This same standard applies to bites from other pets such as cats.

In simple terms, California’s policy is that an owner has a responsibility to train, restrain, and control their dog and be mindful of the safety of any people who may be nearby. While many dogs are lovable companions, they are animals and will act on instinct if they feel threatened or afraid. It is up to a dog’s owner to make sure that they cannot cause harm, even if it may be unintentional.

Dog Bite Injury Claims Are Not Necessarily Clear-Cut

Many personal injury law firms do not take dog bite cases seriously, but we do. Children are often the victims, and they need our help.

We delve into the facts concerning each dog bite case, answering questions such as:

  • Does the dog have a history of dog bites?
  • Was the victim on the dog owner’s property?
  • If so, was the victim invited or trespassing?
  • Did the victim provoke the dog’s aggressive behavior?
  • Did the dog owner witness the attack and take any action?
  • Was the dog restrained?
Dog Bite Statistics Offer Startling Information

While some breeds, such as pit bulls and Rottweilers, have reputations for biting, they are certainly not the only breeds that do so.

The American Humane Association has reported some alarming statistics:

  • Nearly 5 million dog bites happen in the United States each year.
  • Nearly 800,000 dog bites require medical treatment.
  • About 92 percent of fatal dog attacks involved male dogs.
  • About 25 percent of fatal dog attacks involved chained dogs.
  • About 24 percent of fatal dog attacks involved unrestrained dogs off the owner’s property.
  • About 58 percent of fatal dog attacks involved unrestrained dogs on the owner’s property.
  • About 71 percent of dog bites involved arms, legs, hands and feet.
  • At least 25 different dog breeds have been involved in fatal attacks.
  • About 66 percent of dog bites happened on or near the victim’s property, and most victims knew the dog.
  • 70 percent of the victims who died from dog bites were children under the age of 10.
Common Dog Bite Injuries

Seeking immediate medical attention following a dog attack is always a good idea. Medical records will be an important tool for your Pasadena dog bite attorney in establishing the dog owner’s negligence. If a loved one was killed because of a dog’s aggressive behavior, you may have grounds for a wrongful death action.

Injuries resulting from dog bites and aggressive attacks range from relatively minor to severe, in addition to death:

  • Punctures
  • Lacerations
  • Fractures
  • Serious bruising
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD)
  • Emotional trauma
  • Infection
  • Scarring or disfigurement
What to Do If You've Been Bitten by a Dog

Knowing what to do after a dog bite can be critical to both your help as well as any legal action you may need to take. If you’ve been bitten by a dog, be sure to do the following:

  • Seek medical help immediately: Dogs carry high levels of bacteria in their saliva, making puncture wounds from bites particularly prone to infection. Depending on the severity of the bite, you may need stitches or a tetanus shot. If you can, take photos of your wounds before they are treated to accurately document the level of harm done.
  • Exchange information: Similar to a car accident, you should exchange contact information with the dog’s owner or whoever was caring for the dog at the time of the attack. This should include their name, address, phone number, the dog’s name, breed, and animal license information. This will be useful if you need to contact them later or verify the dog’s vaccination history. Get the contact information of any witnesses to the attack as well.
  • Report the attack: Contact your local animal control agency and file an official report of the attack. This will create a written record of the incident as well as help to prevent future attacks from occurring.
  • Document everything: Keep a detailed record of the effects of your injuries on your day-to-day life, such as your pain levels, any impact on your mobility, and what tasks your injuries prevent you from performing. Photographs, journal entries, medical records, and written records can all be useful to your claim.
Contact an Experienced Dog Bite Attorney for Immediate Help

Tedford & Associates in Pasadena helps dog bite and dog attack victims throughout Los Angeles County get the compensation they deserve for their injuries. You pay no legal fees upfront. We offer convenient appointments and are easily accessible just off the Foothill Freeway.

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Call (626) 414-3341 to speak to a lawyer from Tedford & Associates.