Let Binder Law Group Help You Hold Negligent Pet Owners Responsible
Dogs are beloved companions in millions of households across the United States, and California has more dog owners than most states. While most dogs are friendly and well-trained, attacks and bites can happen without warning, leaving victims with serious injuries, infections, scarring, and emotional trauma.
California law takes dog bites seriously, holding owners strictly liable for injuries caused by their pets under Civil Code Section 3342. This means that if you were bitten—whether on public property or while lawfully on private property—the dog’s owner is responsible for your damages in most cases.
While there are some exceptions, such as bites from police dogs in the line of duty or instances where the victim provoked the dog, many bite victims have the legal right to seek compensation for their injuries. Don’t wait to take action if you have been bitten by a dog in Encino, Los Angeles County, the San Fernando Valley, or anywhere in California. At Binder Law Group, our dedicated dog bite attorneys will fight for the compensation you deserve, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term trauma related to the attack.
Call us today at (818) 659-8588 or online for a free consultation. Let us help you understand your rights and pursue the justice and financial recovery you need to move forward.
Dog bites can be potentially dangerous and should be handled with swift care. First and foremost, it is essential to understand the severity of your injury and to seek medical care right away – especially if you cannot confirm the shot record of the canine who bit you. Contact 911 to receive the immediate care that you require. If you can get out of harm’s way and do not require an ambulance to transport you to care, contact your local law enforcement agency, Animal Control, or Humane Society to report the dog bite and have an incident report taken for your records.
Use the technology available to create a record of the dog bite. Your cell phone can become an incredible tool, allowing you to take pictures of the animal, if it is still at the scene, the location of the dog attack, and the name, address, and phone number of the dog’s owners. If you can ascertain the name, breed, and age of the dog who bit you, take that information down as well.
There are steps to take to gather evidence for your dog bite case, including:
If you’ve been bitten by a dog in California, you have a limited time to take legal action. Under California’s statute of limitations, you generally have two years from the date of the dog bite to file a personal injury lawsuit against the dog’s owner. If you fail to file your claim within this timeframe, you may lose your right to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
While most dog bite injury claims must be filed within two years, certain exceptions could shorten or extend this deadline:
Even though you may have up to two years to file a lawsuit, taking action as soon as possible is crucial. Evidence such as medical records, witness statements, and photographs of your injuries is easier to gather quickly after the attack. Additionally, insurance companies may try to minimize your claim, and early legal action strengthens your chances of receiving full compensation.
If you or a loved one has suffered a dog bite injury in Encino, Los Angeles County, or anywhere in California, don’t wait to seek legal help. Contact Binder Law Group today for a free consultation at (818) 659-8588 to learn about your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
While certain situations can stimulate dogs to react aggressively such as maternal defensiveness, territorial defense, and other normal coping responses, certain breeds such as pit bulls show more aggressive behavior than other dogs. Pit bulls are typically larger and stronger and are more likely to disable, severely injure, or kill people when they attack.
A research study found that while pit bulls make up only 6% of the dog population, this breed was responsible for 68% of all dog attacks and 52% of dog-related deaths since 1982.
Other dog breeds that have been involved in severe dog attacks are:
Regardless of a dog’s breed, all dog owners have the responsibility to maintain their dogs in a manner that does not harm people when in a public place or to visitors at home. Children, either due to their small size or unfamiliarity with dogs, are particularly prone to aggressive dog attacks, which result in severe injuries and disfigurement.
In California, a dog owner is legally responsible for injuries their dog inflicts on another person, regardless of the dog’s breed or history of aggressive behavior. If an aggressive dog attacked you while on public property or while you were lawfully on private property, you are entitled to compensation. The law does not require you to establish evidence of the dog previously biting another person or of the dog’s vicious behavior;. However, proof of an aggressive dog’s vicious tendencies may provide the basis for an award for punitive or other damages.
Small dogs or minor nips rarely cause serious injuries, but severe attacks by larger dogs or bites which become infected can lead to horrific injuries. The cost of emergency medical care balloons quickly, and that does not take into consideration ongoing care, rehabilitation, and things such as plastic surgery to limit scarring and disfigurement.
Dog bite victims are often unable to return to work immediately and instead are fighting to recover from their dog bite injuries. Still, medical bills must be paid, and lost wages covered. This means they are trying to fight for compensation from an insurance company when they should be focusing on their health. They’re probably not going to be able to do that effectively on their own, and therefore, they should get an Encino dog bite attorney.
Compensation in a dog-bite claim may include a wide variety of financial losses and other damages, including:
In many dog-bite cases, the injured party and the dog owner are friends, or at the very least neighbors or acquaintances. Luckily, though, Binder Law Group can often help maintain a positive relationship between the two parties while also securing the victim the compensation they need to cover their damages.
Recently the Encino personal injury law firm represented a client who was attacked while attending a Super Bowl party at his best friend’s house. For whatever reason, seemingly out of nowhere, the friend’s dog attacked the client, biting him on the face. The attack victim was not upset with his friend, but still needed the money to pay for medical care and surgery to reduce scarring. By taking on the dog owner’s insurer while also ensuring Binder Law Group did not create an adversarial environment between the two friends, our Encino dog bite law firm was able to secure our client a fair and substantial settlement to pay all his medical bills and ongoing costs to repair the damage. He also maintained a friendship that both men valued.
In another dog bite case, a client lost complete use of her hand after being bitten by another lawyer’s dog. Binder Law Group had to fight against this other lawyer, who participated in his defense. Our legal team was very adversarial with this lawyer throughout that case, and we were sure he hated us. Ultimately, we won that case for a very substantial settlement. Later, when this lawyer was the victim of a dog bite himself, he called on our team to represent him in his claim.
A dog bite can leave you with serious injuries, emotional trauma, and costly medical bills—but you don’t have to face this fight alone. At Binder Law Group, we are committed to holding negligent dog owners accountable and securing the maximum compensation for your injuries. Whether you need help recovering medical expenses, lost wages, or pain and suffering damages, our experienced Encino dog bite attorneys are here to protect your rights and guide you through every step of the legal process.
Don’t wait—time is critical in building a strong case. Call us today at (818) 659-8588 or contact us online for a free consultation, and let us help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.
