Under the California dog bite statute, an owner is liable for any injury caused by his dog even if the dog has never shown any tendency to violence. There are some exceptions to the statute. Specifically, law officers and peace officers who are using canines in the execution of their duties can not be held liable for injuries caused by the dog under their control.

However, there are other statutes of California law under which a dog bite lawsuit can be brought. Like most other states, California dog bite cases may be brought under the common law principle of “scienter” – the knowledge that a dog is vicious or dangerous. Under the common law principle of scienter, a dog owner can be held liable for injuries caused by a dog that he knows is dangerous or has reason to believe might be dangerous even if the owner is not negligent and doesn’t intend harm. The decision to own a dangerous dog is sufficient to prove liability for the injuries. In order to bring a California dog bite claim under scienter, there must be two key elements present: the dog must have acted in a dangerous manner before and the owner of the dog must be aware of it.

If a dog has previously bitten a human when he wasn’t provoked, and the owner of the dog is aware of it, there’s a good chance that there is a dog bite claim under scienter. However, a person bitten by a dog who has never bitten a human may still be able to bring a suit under this principle if, for instance, the dog is of a breed that has a reputation for being vicious or that the dog is kept chained and muzzled.

A California dog bite victim can also prove liability in cases of negligence on the part of the dog owner or the dog’s handler. If a dog owner doesn’t sufficiently control his dog or deliberately puts the dog into a situation where it is likely to become provoked and cause injury, he may be considered negligent under the law. A dog owner might also be considered negligent if he ignored a leash law and the dog caused injury to another while off a leash. The dog owner may also be considered liable if he didn’t exercise enough control over the dog and the dog cause an injury that was not the result of a dog bite. For instance, a dog owner who takes his dog to a crowded mall is responsible to keep the dog under control at all times. If the dog manages to get entangled in the legs of a passer by, tripping that person and causing injury, the owner of the dog may be considered negligent, and liable for that injury.

In addition to the state statutes and common law principles, many cities and municipalities have their own dog bite and animal control statutes. If you’ve been injured by a dog in California, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, including your medical expenses and time lost from work. It’s important to contact a California dog bite attorney to find out about your rights under the law.

It’s important for you to get an experienced and aggressive Los Angeles dog bite lawyer so that you can get exactly what you deserve from your insurance company. Insurance companies are enormous corporations that increase their earnings each year by hiking up coverage rates and withholding as much money from their policy holders as is humanly possible. This means that unless you have the help of a serious dog bite injury lawyer, you may not get what you are owed from your insurance provider. In addition, insurance companies are typically equipped with their own group of specialized lawyers that win cases and claims against individuals like you all the time. As the unfortunate recipient of a dog bite or dog attack, however, you don’t have to become a victim of your insurance company’s indifference, too. A dog bite lawyer can aggressively persuade the insurance company and all of its lawyers to offer you a fair settlement for your injuries. You most likely won’t have to directly communicate with the insurance company at all—an obvious, refreshing perk to all who have ever dealt with insurance representatives in the past.

Whether your injuries are small or extensive, you should hire a dog bite lawyer to help you retain your rights as a victim. Your insurance company and even some court officials, such as the defendant’s law group, may try to bully you into settling for an unrealistic and unjust settlement amount. Your lawyer will not be bullied into pursuing less than you absolutely deserve for your claim. You should also consider the importance of getting a dog bite lawyer immediately following your accident. The statute of limitations is practiced in full force in most states, requiring you to file a claim within a certain period of time following the incidence; otherwise, your claim could be forfeit.

Joel McLaughlin, Legal Search Engine Marketing Services