California has been described as the “dog bite capital of the United States” by the Los Angeles Times. This is because California has the highest reported dog bite injury cases. California insurance companies receive nearly 2,000 dog bite claims a year, paying out approximately $64.7 million to claimants. This is the highest number of claims and payouts of any state. 

Nationally, the numbers are not much better. According to WebMD, approximately 4.7 million people every year, half of children between ages 5 and 9, are attacked and injured by a dog. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one of every five dog bite attacks causes an injury so severe that it requires medical treatment.

If you are bitten by a dog, quick action is significant medically and legally. Here are some essential steps you need to take after a dog attack:

• Seek immediate medical attention to ensure the wound is treated before getting infected.
• Get the name and address of the dog owner.
• Get the name and address of any witnesses.
• Take photographs of your injuries.
• Visit the agency that oversees animal control in Natomas and file a report. This is important to help document the incident and to ensure the authorities are aware of a dog in the area with violent tendencies.

In an article published in the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the statistical data studies indicated that in 16 dog bite injury cases, there were nearly 30 facial fractures. If that was not bad enough, 87 percent of the facial fracture cases occurred with children typically younger than 16. A whopping 69 percent of the cases involved eye bone, nose, and jaw fractures. Other serious injuries commonly suffered in dog attacks include:

• Nerve damage
• Facial Lacerations 
• Punctures
• Tissue loss
• Muscle sprain
• Ligament damage
• Scarring and/or disfigurement
• Infections (e.g., rabies, cellulitis, C canimorsus infections, etc.)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

Pitbulls and Rottweilers have been reported as breeds most often involved in severe attacks where someone is injured and loses their life. However, it is essential to remember that any dog breed could bite someone. As you will learn below, California law does not assess liability based on breed, and instead, dog owners are ultimately responsible for their pets’ conduct.

The YouTubpets’eo below provides some tips on preventing a dog from biting you.

The California legislature sent a clear signal that dog attacks will not be tolerated. According to California Civil Code § 3342, the legislature established strict liability for dog owners whose pets bite another person. Strict liability (also known as absolute liability) means that a party is legally responsible for a claimant’s harm and losses, even if they were not negligent.

If the dog owner tries to claim ignorance as a defense (e.g., “I had no idea my dog would bite someone”), they will likely fail and still be held liable for your harm and losses. Strict liability is not the law in all 50 states. In other states, it is possible for the owner of a dog to use ignorance as a defense if they had no knowledge or reason to know of their dog’s vicious tendencies and the dog had not bitten anyone before biting you.

However, strict liability only applies to the actual owner of the dog. This means that if you are attacked by a dog being walked by a freelance dog walker, you should ask for the name and address of the actual dog owner since they remain the responsible party.

If you were the victim of a dog attack or lost a loved one killed by a dog, you should speak to a Natomas dog bite lawyer to discuss your legal options. You may be able to claim compensation for the harms and losses stemming from the attack. The damages and losses you can seek compensation for via a personal injury claim include the following:

• Both incurred future medical expenses (e.g., ER treatment, surgery, prescription medications, rehabilitation, etc.).
• Lost wages for time missed from work and/or future wages if you cannot return to your job due to the injuries.
• Pain and suffering (e.g., waking up in agony due to the pain from the dog bite, inability to use your hand or arm, etc.).

In most cases, your Natomas dog bite injury claim will be filed against the homeowner’s insurance policy where the animal resided. This is why it is so critical for you to obtain the name and address of the dog owner. Without this information, it is complicated to file a claim.

Do not delay in pursuing a legal claim against the dog owner. You only have two years from the date of your Natomas dog bite injury to file a lawsuit under the statute of limitations. If you delay and the two-year window closes, your case will likely be barred from going forward.