ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR DOG?

Animal bites are commonplace in our society. In many instances, a person bitten by a dog has a right to recover damages from the animal’s owner or other responsible party.

California Civil Code Section 3342 states that the owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.

Under this California strict liability policy, the owner of the animal is generally responsible for any injuries caused by the dog, regardless of the owner’s actions. Someone other than the owner, such as a keeper or a landlord, is responsible only if he or she had previous knowledge of the dog’s vicious nature.

There may be certain exceptions to these general principles, ie adequate warning, provocation or assumption of risk, however under California’s dog bite statute, the owner of a dog is responsible for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog. Those damages include medical expenses, wage loss, property damages and pain and suffering.

For dog bites, or any other type of injury claims, Heiting & Irwin can prosecute or defend those claims. Our attorneys have exceptional qualifications and expertise to protect not only the injured party, but also the tortfeasor. Contact us with any type of injury claim whether plaintiff or defendant!