People often consider their pet dog a family member, and dogs are essential in many people’s lives. The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that as many as 40 percent of households in the United States own one or more pet dogs. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dogs are great companions and may even contribute to the physical health of their owners. CDC reports show that people who own dogs typically have improved blood pressure, reduced stress, and more chances to socialize and exercise.

While a pet dog is most often a great benefit, dogs bite. Most dogs won’t ever attack a human, but data from the CDC shows that over four million people are bitten by dogs in the United States every year. The injuries caused by these bites are often not serious. However, in severe cases, dog bites can leave people with trauma that drastically changes their life. The trauma suffered in dog attacks can mean severe emotional and physical damage. When dog bites are especially severe, they can leave people with fatal trauma.

If you or a family member has been hurt by a pet dog, call our Benicia dog bite attorneys at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400 for a free case evaluation.

• Around 1,000 dog bite injuries are recorded in emergency rooms daily.
• About three-quarters of dog bite injuries affect the extremities (hands, arms, legs, and feet).
• Most people who suffer dog bites are familiar with the attacking dog.
• Nearly one-third of traumatic dog bites occur near the injured person’s residence.
• U.S. insurance companies pay over one billion USD annually for dog bite damages.
• Approximately 25 percent of fatal dog bites involve a chained dog.
• More than 90 percent of fatal dog attacks involve a male dog.

Dogs can bite anybody under the wrong conditions, but statistics have shown that young children are the most vulnerable. According to the CDC, over 80 percent of those who visit the emergency room to be treated for dog bites are under 15. Furthermore, CDC data suggests that over half of children under 12 have suffered a bite, though most do not result in severe trauma.

Children are more vulnerable to dog bites for a few reasons. One of the main factors is that children are much smaller. Because of this, children cannot run away or defend themselves when a dog becomes aggressive. Another reason children are more vulnerable is that they are less able to tell when a dog wants to be left alone. Often, children suffer dog bites after trying to play with a dog they do not realize is hostile.

Many believe their pet wouldn’t ever hurt anybody, which is usually true. We can say from personal experience that dogs from “dangerous” breeds are often the friendliest pets around. However, over 33 years of representing clients injured by dogs, We’ve seen dangerous dog breeds cause severe trauma. To stay safe, people should be aware that some breeds of dogs can be more dangerous than others and are liable to become aggressive under the wrong conditions.

Dangerous breeds include the following:

• Lhasa Apso
• German Shepherd
• Chihuahua
• Bulldog
• Pit Bull
• Bull Terrier
• Rottweiler
• Boxer
• Pekingese

To reduce your risk of being hurt by an aggressive dog, you can view this helpful video that includes safety tips:

The effects of a dog bite injury can be severe. Many people who suffer dog bites are left with expensive hospital bills and must pay for therapy to recover. On top of this, dog bite injuries can leave people unable to work, meaning they lose a source of income. However, under California law, dog owners are strictly liable for injuries caused by their pets. Injured parties are not required to establish that the owner was negligent in receiving compensation. This differs from most personal injury cases and makes receiving compensation easier.

If your injuries are severe, calling a lawyer is critical to recovering your damages. A lawyer with experience handling dog bite cases in California will know the full extent of losses you can recover and prepare, investigate, and argue your case to reclaim all of the payments you rightly deserve.

However, finding a lawyer that is right for you can be a difficult task. In addition to finding somebody with ample experience, you must have a lawyer you are comfortable with. An excellent way to see if a lawyer is right for you is to call and speak with them about your case and any concerns you may have.

Because many dog breeds have sharp teeth and strong jaw and chest muscles, the damage they cause in an attack can cause a range of critical injuries. These severe types of trauma include traumatic brain injuries, facial lacerations, infected wounds, spinal injuries, bone fractures, etc.

These injuries can leave people seriously hurt. Those injured in dog bite cases can seek payment for various damages. Losses that can often be recovered from dog bite injuries include:

• Pain and suffering damages
• Emotional trauma
• Time off work
• Loss of a source of income
• Costs related to physical therapy
• Medical bills

Our law firm has nearly four decades of experience handling dog bite cases in Northern California. If you or someone you care about has been hurt by a pet dog, call our Benicia dog bite attorneys at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.

Our injury lawyers take cases based on contingency. This means you do not need to make payments up-front and will only be responsible for lawyers’ fees if we successfully resolve your case.

See our past cases on our Verdicts and Settlements page.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 7.14.22] Photo by pexels.com ms [cs: 1006] cha}