Benicia Dog Bite Lawyer

People often consider their pet dog to be a member of their family and dogs occupy an important role in many peoples' 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. Dogs are great companions and, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 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 both socialize and exercise.

While a pet dog is most often a great benefit, dogs do bite. The majority of 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 serious emotional and physical damage. When dog bites are especially severe, they can even leave people with fatal trauma.

General Dog Bite Statistics

• 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 take place 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.

Who do Dogs Bite?

Dogs are liable to bite anybody under the wrong conditions, but statistics have shown that young children are the most vulnerable. According to the CDC, more than 80 percent of those who visit the emergency room to be treated for dog bites are under the age of 15. Furthermore, CDC data suggests that over half of children who are less than 12 years old have suffered a bite, though most of these bites do not result in serious 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 are not as able to run away or defend themselves when a dog becomes aggressive. Another reason that 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 that they do not realize is hostile.

Dangerous Breeds

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

Dangerous breeds include the below:

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

Avoiding Dog Bites

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

What Can I Do?

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

If your injuries are serious, calling a lawyer is the most important step to take to recover for your damages. A lawyer who has experience with handling dog bite cases in California will know the full extent of losses that you are able to recover and can prepare, investigate, and argue your case so that you can reclaim all of the payments that 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, it is important that you have a lawyer you are comfortable with. A good 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. 

What Damages Can I Recover?

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

These injuries can leave people seriously hurt. Those injured in dog bite cases can seek payment for a variety of damages. Losses that can often be recovered for 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

Benicia Dog Bite Lawyer

I’m Ed Smith, a Dog Bite Lawyer in Benicia. I have more than 33 years of experience with handling dog bite cases in Northern California. If you or someone that you care about has been hurt by a pet dog, you can call me at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400 to get my free, friendly advice.

I take cases on the basis of contingency. This means you do not need to make payments up-front and will only be responsible for lawyers’ fees if I successfully resolve your case.

We are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.

See our client reviews on Avvo, Google, and Yelp, and our past cases on our Verdicts and Settlements page.

Editor’s Note: This page has been updated for accuracy and relevancy [cha 9.18.20]

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