Dog Bite Attorney with over 40 Years Experience
Were you attacked by a dog in Southern California?
Dog Bite Attorney Los Angeles with over 80 million dogs in the United States, it’s not surprising that at least 4.5 million dog bites occur every year. The California dog bite statute holds dog owners responsible for bodily harm or property damage caused by their dogs. It is no defense that the dog owner had no reason to know of the dog’s aggressive tendencies – he is strictly liable for bite injuries caused by his dog.
If you were bitten by a dog, it is important that you retain legal counsel in an effort to be provided the highest amount of legal compensation available for your injuries. Dog bite victims, especially children, are particularly susceptible to disfiguring face injuries, debilitating scarring, damage to the nervous system and lifelong emotional trauma. Victims of serious attacks require immediate medical treatment such as stitches or surgery, and medical bills can add up quickly.
Insurance Applies to Dog Bites
You Probably Won’t Have to Bill Your Neighbor
Hire the top-rated Dog Bite Attorney. The average dog bite claim amounts to tens of thousands of dollars. If you were bitten by your neighbor’s dog, you might feel reluctant to file a claim because you consider him a friend and you don’t want to drive him into bankruptcy.
Rest at ease. Homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies generally cover dog bites – in fact, about one-third of all homeowner’s insurance policy payouts arise from dog bites. Your neighbor will probably only have to pay the deductible, and he might not even be subject to higher premiums. Some insurance policies, however, exclude coverage of dog bites by high-risk breeds such as pit bulls and Rottweilers
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ on What to Do if You Have Been Bitten by a Dog
What are the most common defenses against dog bite claims?
California law allows at least three defenses:
- The victim provoked the dog into the attack
- The victim was trespassing at the time of the attack
- The victim was bitten by a police or military dog acting in the line of duty.
A good Los Angeles dog bite personal injury attorney can help you overcome these defenses.
Will my claim be any different if my injury was caused by scratching or knocking me over, rather than biting me?
Yes. If the injury was caused by some act other than a bite, you will have to prove that the dog owner was negligent in order to win. You might, for example, prove that the dog had attacked someone before and that the owner knew about the attack.
Can criminal charges be filed against a dog owner for a dog bite? If so, can I still pursue my claim for compensation?
Criminal charges can be filed against a dog owner if the dog meets the legal definition of a “dangerous dog” or a “vicious dog” based on its past history, and it seriously injures or kills someone due to the owner’s negligence. You can still proceed with a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit even if the owner is also facing criminal charges.
I am planning on settling my claim out of court. Do I still need a dog bite lawyer?
Yes, absolutely. The insurance company is not your friend – the more money it pays you, the lower its profits will be. You can expect the insurance company to dispatch an expert negotiator who will look for any excuse to deny or minimize your claim and try to trick you into making a statement that will harm your claim. I have been there many times before, and I know all the tricks
Your Choice of Dog Bite Attorney is Important
My reputation as a personal injury and dog bite injury lawyer over the past 16 years is beyond question. As a matter of fact, in 2014 Consumer Lawyers of California named me Street Fighter of the Year. Insurance companies know about this, and in almost all cases they will agree to a private settlement rather than going to court against me.
You Don’t Need Any Money to Hire Us
We work on a contingency fee arrangement, which means that you will never owe me a dime unless we win a verdict or settlement for you. If you do win (like well over 90 percent of my clients do), my fee will be calculated as a percentage of the amount you recover.
Start the Process Today
California allows only a limited time for you to file a dog bite accident lawsuit. Once this deadline expires, your claim will die – you won’t even be able to negotiate a private settlement. If you need a California dog bite law firm, your search can stop here.
Schedule a Free Consultation
No Recovery | No Fee
We Stand Up To Greedy Insurance Companies
Get more compensation from your slip and fall injury with expert legal representation
With over 40 years of experience, we have handled many slip and fall cases. I can provide you with the caliber of legal services that is normally available only to large companies, due to my experience in large-scale litigation that has resulted in awards of millions of dollars on many occasions. In 2014, Michael Ghozland was named “Street Fighter of the Year” by Consumer Attorneys of California in 2014. Because of my outstanding trial record, winning your case will probably mean obtaining a private settlement, with no need to ever step into a courtroom. Insurance companies know my reputation, and most of them would rather settle than face me in a slip and fall lawsuit.