According to California law, a dog’s owner is responsible for dog bites if their dog attacks or bites someone on public grounds or on their own private property, provided the victim was invited onto the property. The laws in this state are different than many other states in a number of ways, including the use of strict liability. Read on to learn more and then reach out to an experienced dog bite attorney at (310) 209-1600 for a free case evaluation.
Strict liability as it applies to dog bites in California
Strict liability means that if you’re bitten by a dog, you don’t have to prove that the dog owner was negligent. An owner is strictly liable for their dog’s actions even if they didn’t have any prior evidence that their dog might bite, even if they took preventative measures to try and reduce the chances that their dog would bite, and even if they only adopted or purchased the dog hours beforehand. The moment they take ownership of a dog, they are taking responsibility for it.
There are a few exceptions to liability
There are a few exceptions to this idea of strict liability. However, most of them apply to police or military officers and their working dogs. Essentially, police or military personnel aren’t not liable for injuries of their working dogs if the dog was protecting itself or if it was aiding in official business.
The main exception that can affect non-military or police officers is that you must have been lawfully on private property. If you instigated or provoked the dog into biting, then you may also not have grounds for a personal injury case. If you were injured while working, then you may not be able to file one either, but you would be able to make a claim through worker’s compensation.
Prior knowledge may result in additional damages
While an owner can’t wiggle out of a personal injury lawsuit based on the idea that they didn’t know their dog was violent, they may be liable for additional damages if their pet has a history of unsafe behavior. If they told someone their dog was friendly, when they knew it had bitten before, then they could be facing additional personal injury liability and even criminal charges.
Have you or a loved one been bitten by a dog? Call for help today
If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog then today is the day to call for help. At Law Offices of Michael A. Kahn, we have years of experience with cases just like yours. We can provide you with advice on your options and the best way to proceed. Your initial consultation is free and if we decide to take your case, we’ll take it on a contingency basis. This means you won’t owe us a penny until we recover for you. In the event that we don’t recover compensation, then you don’t owe us a penny. Call us today at (310) 209-1600 to learn more.
