Dog Bite Attorney in Woodland Hills

Providing Legal Support For Victims of Animal Attacks in Southern California

Each year in the United States, almost 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs. About a fifth of those bites are serious enough to require medical treatment and, in 2012, more than 25,000 dog bite victims had to have reconstructive surgery. Dogs of all types are responsible for these injuries—even when they do not have a history of being aggressive or biting before. Often, the dog bite victim is simply doing his or her job.

A large percentage of dog bite victims are postal workers, delivery people, and other individuals who work outside or have to enter a private resident’s yard or home. Any time your job calls you to enter someone else’s yard, you are at risk for a dog bite injury.

At Law Offices of Ali Taheripour, we encourage you to never approach a strange dog and even be wary of approaching familiar dogs if their owners are not present/available to offer assistance with the dog should it be needed. Dogs are protective animals and, consequently, their natural instincts can take over if they feel that someone entering their territory is a threat, which can result in an individual being attacked and bitten.

If you were bitten by a dog while minding your own business or on the job, contact our Woodland Hills dog bite attorneys at (818) 629-1121 for a consultation regarding your legal options.

California Dog Bite Laws

In Southern California, dog owners are reasonably responsible for ensuring that their pets do not harm others. It may also be possible to hold a dog owner liable if you can show that the owner acted negligently, for example, by letting their dog roam in an unfenced area. If a dog has a history of acting aggressively toward strangers, including postal workers or delivery people, but the owner of the dog allows it to be in the front yard without a leash, the owner is acting negligently. If the dog bites you or attacks you while you are attempting to carry out the duties entailed in your job, you will likely be able to hold the owner of the dog liable for your damages.

What to Do If You Encounter a Dog

When encountering an unrestrained dog or a dog that is acting aggressively, safety is of the utmost importance. Never attempt to approach a dog that is growling, barking, or otherwise acting in an aggressive manner. Do not approach any dog if the owner is not present, as even a dog that does not appear aggressive may suddenly become territorial.

If you come upon a dog that may be a threat, follow these steps:

• If the dog is loose, contact the local animal control department and/or your employer.
• Do not approach any dog that you are unfamiliar with and use caution when approaching any dog, even if you are familiar with it.
• Do not do anything to provoke the dog, such as yelling or kicking at it, throwing items at it, or backing the dog into a corner.
• Never mistreat, tease, or abuse any dog you encounter, including both restrained and unrestrained dogs.
• Avoid dogs that are tied up, contained in a yard, eating, barking, growling, or acting aggressively, as well as dogs that have puppies.
• If a dog is barking, growling, snarling, or acting aggressively toward you, quickly and calmly retreat to a safe area.
• If possible, visually search the area to locate the owner. Avoid altercations, even if you are distressed. Instead, calmly alert the owner that his/her dog is loose or acting aggressively.

Unfortunately, even when exercising caution, people are still frequently bitten by dogs. If this is the case:

• Get to a safe area immediately and seek medical attention for your injuries,
• Notify your employer of the incident if necessary and file a report with the proper authorities,
• Keep any and all information related to the incident, including medical bills and the dog owner’s contact information, and
• Reach out to an experienced attorney who can help you understand your rights and work to recover the compensation you are owed.

Ready to discuss your case? Contact our Woodland Hills dog bite attorneys today at (818) 629-1121 for a case evaluation.