California’s Dog Bite Injury Law – A Top Level Overview
Dog bites can be quite traumatic for victims, particularly when the attack resulted in a serious injury. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these attacks will, unfortunately, happen most frequently among the most vulnerable populations. As it pertains to dog bite attacks, those who are most affected are older adults and small, young children. Whenever a dog bites any person, however, the bite can leave emotional scarring and financial turmoil. If you or a loved one was attacked and bitten by a dog, obtain professional legal counsel from a law firm that understands the laws surrounding dog bite injuries in California. Conveniently located in Southern California, Milligan, Beswick, Levine & Knox, LLP is a law firm that can successfully represent your case.
Over the years, Milligan, Beswick, Levine & Knox, LLP has successfully helped many clients receive the monetary compensation they deserved after being viciously attacked by a dog. The firm is highly skilled in dog bite injury and dog bite attack cases. Consider contacting the firm at any time to obtain a free and confidential case evaluation.
California Civil Code §3342 – Dog Bite Statute
Every state across the nation follows its own rules in relation to when a dog biting another person. In California, however, Civil Code §3342 defines how a dog bite injury case will be processed. The statute states that dog owners are responsible for the damages their pet causes to another individual in the event of a dog mauling. Dog owners will be held liable for the injured person’s damages when the mauling happened on public property. Owners can also be held liable if the attack happened while the victim was legally on private property.
Based on California’s Civil Code §3342, the dog owner will always be held responsible no matter the owner’s knowledge of the animal’s history of aggressive behavior. The law is considered a strict liability statute, meaning, California courts will generally hold the owner responsible for the bite attack, even if the owner did all that was in his or her power to prevent an attack from happening.
What to Do Following a Dog Bite Attack in California
A dog bite attack can be a violent and even hectic event. When the victim is fortunate enough to survive the attack, he or she may endure many months of pain and anguish, emotional trauma, and economic hardship. If you or someone you love was recently attacked and bitten by another person’s dog, take immediate action by contacting a qualified dog bite injury attorney. With the qualified support of an established and knowledgeable attorney, obtaining fair monetary compensation may be possible.
Milligan, Beswick, Levine & Knox, LLP is a reputable law firm with many years of dedicated experience handling the most difficult dog bite injury cases. The firm is proficient in the field of law and has an in-depth understanding of all applicable state laws. To ensure you receive the highest compensation available after an attack, consider contacting Milligan, Beswick, Levine & Knox, LLP. The firm is proud to offer clients a free case evaluation. Consider arranging a consultation by completing the online form found here.
Stephen Levine, is a Board Certified Specialist in Criminal Defense — an honor achieved by only the top criminal law attorneys in California. Mr. Levine has over 40 years of experience in criminal defense and family law serving Southern California, and is a highly regarded Super Lawyer as well as AV Rated attorney.