“Dogs are a man’s best friend”, or so they say. This phrase should be amended to state “dogs, who are well behaved and trained, are a man’s best friend”. If you have been bitten and injured by a dog then our Dog Attack Injury Attorneys at Compass Law Group, LLP are here to help you through the process of filing a civil suit against the dog owner. California has strict liability for dog owners. Dog owners are to take reasonable care of their pets. However, if the dog has past instances of biting then there are more precautions that a dog owner must take. Either way, if you are a victim of a dog attack then you deserve to be compensated for the injuries you sustained.
Aggression Warning Signs
There are two ways a dog attacks: expectedly or unexpectedly. If you are near a dog there are signs that will tell you that the dog is aggressive and could attack you. First, a wagging dog’s tail doesn’t always mean they are happy. Tail wagging means that there is high energy, which can translate to ready to attack. Second, if the dog stands with legs apart and chests out, they are trying to enlarge themselves. Getting big means they are threatened and trying to show dominance. Last, the most obvious sign of aggression is when a dog shows its teeth. If you hear low growling and teeth then you are close to an animal who is ready to attack.
Unfortunately, not every attack happens expectedly. Sometimes dog attacks happen out of nowhere or in your back yard. A woman was hanging her laundry outside her home in Riverside when she was attacked and mauled by three pit bulls. The dogs attacked her on her own property. The injuries were so severe that the woman had to be airlifted to a hospital. The owner of the dogs was found and was discovered to have a felony warrant. He was arrested and the dogs were sent to the local impound. The impound is looking for papers to euthanize the dogs.
The woman who was injured has the right to sue the dog owners for the injuries, and emotional and mental anguish. Because the owner did not take reasonable care of the dogs and was negligent in keeping them enclosed, the woman has a good chance of winning her case. If the woman was found to be provoking the animals or if the owner can prove that those are not his dogs, then the case would be harder to win.
What To Do
If you or a loved one has been attacked and injured by a dog then contact our Dog Attack Injury Attorneys at Compass Law Group, LLP for legal assistance. We have the resources and skill to ensure that your case is heard and you recover compensation for your injuries.
