Los Angeles Dog Bites Lawyer
Looking for a dog bite attorney in Los Angeles? Golden Gate Legal helps victims of dog attacks get the compensation they deserve.
A dog bite can leave you with more than just physical scars; the emotional trauma can be just as difficult to overcome. If you are seeking legal representation in the Los Angeles area for a dog bite incident, we encourage you to contact us at the number below.
At Golden Gate Legal, our team has extensive experience handling dog bite cases and securing justice for victims across Los Angeles. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what to do immediately after a bite, provide an overview of the legal process, and address common questions you might have along the way.
What to Do After a Dog Bite in Los Angeles
If you are bitten by a dog in Los Angeles, it is important to follow the steps below:
Make Sure You're Safe
Your first priority after a dog bite in Los Angeles is to get to a safe distance from the animal to prevent another attack. Once you are out of immediate danger, find a secure location to check yourself and anyone with you for injuries.
Seek Immediate Medical Care
The most important first step is to get medical help right away by calling 911 or going to the nearest emergency room. This ensures the wound is properly treated to prevent serious infections and creates an official record of your injuries.
Call the Police and Animal Control
Contacting the police and local animal control ensures there is an official report of the incident. They will investigate, collect statements, and gather information, so be sure to ask for a copy of the report for your own files.
Collect Information and Evidence
Exchange contact and insurance information with the dog's owner, verify the animal's vaccination records, and document everything with photos of your injuries, the dog, and where the attack occurred. This evidence is critical for ensuring you receive proper medical care and for supporting any claim you might make.
Contact Golden Gate Legal for Help
Dealing with the aftermath of a dog bite in Los Angeles can be stressful, which is why seeking legal guidance is a crucial step. Golden Gate Legal’s skilled attorneys are here to take on the insurance companies and build a strong case so you can focus on your recovery.
Why Choose Golden Gate Legal
With dedicated years of experience handling dog bite cases and other personal injury claims for clients across Los Angeles, our team is ready to help. Here are a few reasons why you should choose us for your case:
- We Will Get You Maximum Compensation: Our experienced team will fight to hold negligent parties accountable and help you obtain the full compensation you are entitled to.
- We Will Protect You at All Costs: It is our top priority to protect your rights and interests, allowing you to focus on your recovery while we handle the rest.
- No Legal Fees Upfront: You will not pay any legal fees unless we successfully win or settle your case, ensuring you can access justice without financial risk.
- We Are Available at All Times: Our team is available 24/7 to provide the legal and emotional support you need, whenever you need it.
We encourage you to check out our Client Testimonials.
Legal Process Overview
We handle every step of the legal process for your Los Angeles claim so you can focus on what matters most—your recovery:
- Free Consultation & Case Evaluation: We start with a free, no-obligation meeting to discuss the details of your dog bite incident, address your concerns, and determine the strength of your claim.
- Evidence Collection & Claim Filing: Our team will meticulously gather all necessary evidence, from medical reports to witness accounts, and manage all communications and paperwork with the insurance companies for you.
- Medical Treatment Coordination: We can assist in coordinating your medical care and will track your recovery progress to ensure the full extent of your injuries is documented for your case.
- Demand Letter & Negotiation: After you've completed your medical treatment, we will compile a detailed demand letter and negotiate aggressively with the dog owner's insurance provider, or the owner directly, to secure the best possible settlement for you.
- Litigation (if necessary): Should the opposing party refuse a fair settlement, our skilled trial lawyers are fully prepared to take your case to court and fight for your rights before a judge and jury.
- You Get Paid: Upon the successful resolution of your case, we handle the final paperwork swiftly so you can receive your compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages without delay.
What Types of Damages Can You Claim After a Dog Bite?
In California, if you've been injured by a dog, the law allows you to seek financial compensation for the various losses you've suffered because of the incident. Compensatory damages for dog bites in California may include the following:
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Future medical care and treatment
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Psychological counseling
Insurance companies and at-fault parties frequently try to undervalue claims to protect their profits, making it essential to have experienced California personal injury attorneys like Golden Gate Legal handling your case.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
While this is not a complete list, here are some of the most common types of injuries we handle:
Puncture Wounds & Lacerations
A dog’s sharp teeth can cause deep puncture wounds or create jagged tears, damaging the skin and the tissue beneath. These injuries often bleed profusely, carry a high risk of infection, may need stitches for proper healing, and can leave behind permanent scars.
Infections & Soft-Tissue Damage
When a dog’s bite breaks the skin, it can introduce bacteria that may cause anything from a simple skin infection to a more severe abscess or a dangerous, body-wide infection like sepsis.
Nerve Damage & Functional Impairments
A particularly deep bite, especially in delicate areas such as the hands or face, can damage underlying nerves. This may lead to a loss of feeling, numbness, persistent pain, or even permanent functional problems if not properly treated.
Scarring & Disfigurement
Dog bite attacks often leave behind scars, which can be very noticeable on exposed areas such as the face and hands. When an injury involves serious tissue loss or tearing, cosmetic or reconstructive surgery may be required to repair the damage and lessen the disfigurement.
Crush Injuries & Fractures
The powerful jaws of some dogs, especially larger ones, can exert enough force to break bones or cause severe crush damage to soft tissue and joints. These injuries are often marked by significant swelling and bruising and may necessitate surgery, splints, or physical therapy to ensure proper healing.
PTSD & Emotional Trauma
More than just the physical injury, a dog bite can inflict lasting psychological trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and a fear of animals, which may require professional counseling to overcome, particularly in children.
Common Causes of Dog Bites in Los Angeles
Below are some of the most common reasons why dog bites happen in Los Angeles:
Lack of Proper Training
A dog without proper training or socialization might not know how to handle a scary situation, leading them to bite simply because they are frightened or don't understand what's happening.
Fear or Startling
A dog that is taken by surprise, whether by a loud bang or a person suddenly reaching for it, may bite as an instinctual response to feeling threatened.
Territorial Behavior
Since dogs are instinctively protective of their space and their people, they may bite if they feel threatened by an unfamiliar person approaching their territory.
Rough Play
When play gets too physical, a dog might feel threatened and lash out to defend itself from what it perceives as danger.
Protective Instincts
If a dog feels protective over something they value, whether it's a toy, their food, or a family member, they may bite if you try to take it away.
Pain or Illness
When a dog is unwell or hurt, it may bite if startled or touched because it anticipates the contact will cause more discomfort.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will a Personal Injury Attorney Cost?
For personal injury cases in Los Angeles, you won't pay any legal fees upfront. We only receive payment if we secure a win or settlement for you, eliminating any financial risk on your part.
What if the dog’s owner denies responsibility?
In California, the law is quite clear thanks to a "strict liability" rule. This means a dog's owner is generally held responsible for injuries their dog causes, even if the dog had never shown any aggressive tendencies before and the owner wasn't being careless. For the most part, you just have to demonstrate that the bite happened and that it resulted in an injury.
However, there are a few situations where an owner's responsibility might be lessened or even dismissed entirely. This usually happens if the injured person was trespassing on private property or if they provoked the dog into attacking. The specific circumstances are always important, and these factors are key considerations in dog bite claims throughout Los Angeles.
How long do I have to take legal action after a dog bite?
In California, you have two years from the date of the bite to file a claim under Civil Code § 335.1. If you fail to act within this period, your case will almost certainly be thrown out, no matter who was at fault.
For victims who were children at the time of the incident, this two-year clock doesn't start ticking until they turn 18.
In California, how long does an insurance company have to settle a claim?
In California, insurance companies are required to acknowledge your claim and start their investigation within 15 days of you filing it. After they receive all the necessary paperwork from you, they have a 40-day period to decide whether to accept or deny your claim.
If your claim is approved, the insurer must issue payment within 30 days of that decision. This means the entire process, from your initial filing to receiving payment, should be completed within 85 days as mandated by California's Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations.
Can I file a claim if the dog was on a leash or had no prior bite history?
Absolutely. In Los Angeles, it doesn't matter if the dog was on a leash or had no history of biting. If you were bitten while in a place you were legally allowed to be, the owner can be held responsible for your injuries.
How will Golden Gate Legal actually help me?
Here at Golden Gate Legal, we first listen to understand your unique situation in Los Angeles. We then assess your injuries, connecting you with specialized doctors for the right treatment so you feel fully supported.
While you concentrate on getting better, we manage the entire legal fight. Our goal is to win the compensation you are owed for your pain, lost income, and recovery journey.
Contact Golden Gate Legal for legal support
Golden Gate Legal has helped countless personal injury victims get back on their feet. Let’s do the same for you.
Call us now at (310) 445-3425 or click below for your free consultation.
Protecting your rights when you need it most
We believe in doing what’s right: you focus on your recovery, and we’ll handle the legal process from start to finish.
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We are available at all times
No legal fees paid upfront
We will protect you at all costs
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