A dog bite is a parent’s worst nightmare. You want your child to grow up loving animals and feeling comfortable interacting with them safely. Not only can a dog bite leave your child physically injured and disfigured, but it can also leave them significant mental trauma related to dogs for years or decades to come. If your child has been attacked by a dog, it’s important to discuss your next steps with a California dog bite lawyer.
California law offers extensive protections to dog bite victims, but you have to know how to use them. Our attorneys know what’s at stake and how best to support you and seek justice. Call Milligan, Beswick, Levine & Knox, LLP at 909-894-0812 to discuss your next steps with our dog bite attorneys.
Get Evidence at the Scene
Your first priority after a dog bite is to protect your child. Immediately separate them from the dog and put yourself between the dog and your child to protect them from any future attacks. Before you leave the scene, make sure you get the owner’s name and phone number, a picture of the dog, and verbal confirmation of the dog’s vaccination status. You may also want to take a picture of the owner or call the number they give you on the spot to make sure it’s their real phone number—dog owners have been known to give false information out of fear of having their dog euthanized. When you have a moment, write down everything you remember about the incident—the dog’s size, color and breed, as well as the owner’s general appearance and where the bite occurred.
Prioritize Medical Care
Any dog bite law firm will tell you to seek medical attention immediately after a dog bite. Dogs’ mouths carry hundreds of types of bacteria that our bodies have no immunity to. While rabies is the most serious concern, it is far from the only thing that could happen to your child after a bite. In addition to illness and infection, dog bites can leave your child with disfiguring injuries, permanent nerve damage, and soft tissue damage. The earlier your child gets the care they need, the better chance they have of making a full recovery.
Report the Bite
You must report any dog bite to your local animal control facility so they can investigate and take any necessary steps to keep the public safe. In San Bernardino County, these cases are generally handled by the animal control agency assigned to your service area. For example, Redlands dog bites are handled by Redlands Animal Control and City of San Bernardino Animal Control handles bites within city limits. A dog that bites someone must be quarantined for ten days and watched for signs of rabies. After ten days, they can be released from quarantine. If the dog has attacked humans in the past or presents a significant danger to the public, euthanasia may be required.
Know What California Law Says
Ask any dog bite lawyer and they’ll tell you that this is a widely misunderstood area of law. People often assume that their dog gets “one bite free” before they are legally liable for damage caused by their dog. The fact is that these laws are determined on a state-by-state basis. In California, there is no “one bite” law. Dog owners are strictly liable for all damage caused by their dog in most cases, even if they had no prior knowledge that their dog was dangerous. There are exceptions, of course—if someone was bitten while trespassing, for example, they may not be entitled to anything.
Pursue Compensation With a Dog Bite Attorney
There are numerous expenses associated with dog bites, and you should not be left covering those expenses on your own. Your attorney may help you recover compensation for medical expenses, mental health treatment, time off work to care for your child, property damage (if anything of your child’s was ripped or destroyed in the attack), pain and suffering, and other losses. It’s important to document both financial and non-financial losses throughout this process to ensure that you fight for fair compensation.
We’ll Be There for You So You Can Be There for Your Child
Our dog bite law firm will handle the legal aspects of your accident so you can focus on providing mental and physical support for your little one. Call us at 909-894-0812 or fill out our online contact form to get started now.
About the Author:
Milligan, Beswick, Levine & Knox, LLP is a well-established law firm located in Redlands, CA, providing skilled legal representation in criminal defense, personal injury, family law, and business law. With decades of proven success, the firm offers personalized legal strategies to help clients navigate complex legal matters. Committed to achieving the best outcomes, they serve clients throughout Southern California with professionalism, dedication, and trusted legal guidance.
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