I happen
to be a huge dog lover, so let there be` no
claims that I am biased against dogs They
make wonderful companions. I currently own
two beautiful Golden Retrievers and have
owned dogs all of my life. Even the most
trusted dogs, despite their domestic status
and record, can cause major injuries on
children and adults. I've seen innocent
children with gaping holes in their faces,
missing ears, and gashes all over their
bodies: the result of an encounter with a
so-called "friendly" dog, so I
know.
Dog owners in
California are liable for injuries or death
caused by their dog's bite. It is irrelevant
whether or not the dog has ever bitten
anyone previously or if it has ever shown
aggressive behavior towards people and other
dogs. The dog doesn't get a free bite- not
even one. If your dog does bite someone, you
as the owner, may be required to pay for all
medical bills resulting from the injury. You
may also be required to pay for any loss of
income the injured party sustains. You may
also be required to pay for pain, suffering,
or any emotional distress caused by the
injury. The financial damages caused by a
dog bite can be devastating to both the
injured party and the owner of the dog.
If an owner knows
their dog is prone to bite, they can be held
negligent and made to be responsible for
injuries caused by their dog. They will have
to pay huge punitive damages as well.
In my practice, I have
seen many times that certain breeds are more
prone to attack people. These attacks occur
more to children than adults. These dog
breeds include the following: German
Sheperds and Sheperd mixes, Chow Chows,
Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, Akitas, and
Dalmatians.
Most homeowners'
insurance policies cover injuries caused by
dogs, but the more aggressive breeds listed
above may be excluded from policies written
recently by some companies. Make sure your
breed is covered by your insurance policy.
If your dog breed isn't included, and your
dog injures someone, you will be liable for
all costs.
Caution and common
sense should be exercised by homeowners who
have any breed of dog, particularly if it is
a large breed, to ensure that it does not
attack anyone. Here are some helpful tips:
1. A dog should always
be walked on a leash, and large dogs should
not be walked by young children who cannot
properly control them. 2. Give your dog
professional training. 3. Your dog should
always be properly fenced in. Everyone's dog
needs to be properly secured. This can
include locked gates and sufficient fencing,
while taking care to fill any dug out holes
underneath. 4. Keep your dog away from any
guests, especially small children. 5. Ensure
that all screen doors and windows are locked
and secure. (There once was an instance of a
dog bolting through a screen door to attack
a child.) 6. Be sure that your dog is
current on their shots and vaccinations. 7.
Before purchasing a dog, be sure to know
that the breeder is reputable. Obtain the
breeder's references. You may gain the
knowledge that the dependable breeder has a
record of breeding dogs skilled in the art
of fighting. If the breeder refuses to give
you references, then find another breeder 8.
Make sure to keep a person from putting his
or her face next to your dog's face.
Being the victim of a
dog bite is not just tragic and traumatic,
but it also can be costly for all parties
involved. Use common sense and caution
around friendly and unfriendly dogs. Just
remember that any dog has the potential to
do harm. So utilize common sense when around
them.
About the Author: One
of the most highly qualified personal injury
and California
lemon law lawyer Barry Edzant knows just
what to do following a bog bite incident.
Over the years Barry has developed a
specialty as a Santa
Clarita personal injury attorney and as
a result truly understands a client's needs
when dealing with a personal injury claim.
By
Barry Edzant
