The majority of dog owners regard their dogs as members of their family. However, regardless of how lovely and gentle a dog appears, it’s important to remember that they’re still animals with animal instincts. In certain circumstances, such impulses might take hold and drive the dog to behave out, whether aggressively or fearfully.
Every dog owner in California should be aware that the dog bite rules are fairly straightforward: if your dog attacks someone, you are liable in virtually all cases. Learn more about these regulations and what to do if you are bitten by a dog by continuing reading.
The rules governing dog bites in California
If a dog injures someone, the dog’s owner is responsible for the injury. There are just a few extremely precise exceptions to this highly stringent regulation. This applies to both public and private property, as long as the person who was wounded was welcomed onto the premises. If a person enters another person’s property illegally and gets bitten by a dog, the owner is unlikely to be held responsible.
A dog walker is virtually never held liable for a biting dog
When a dog attacks someone, a professional dog walker or dog handler, or even a friend strolling a dog, is in control, they are unlikely to be held accountable. That is, unless they did something to provoke the dog to bite, such as commanding the dog to attack.
What is the worst that can happen to the dog?
While there is a lot of information about what happens to the dog owner when their dog bites, there is less evidence about what happens to the dog. According to California law, a dog is classed as dangerous if it attacks a human or animal twice in three years, or if it bites a person merely once and produces even minor injury. This necessitates that the dog’s owner have their dog tied up behind a fence or kept indoors at all times. If three years pass without another documented assault, the dog is no longer considered dangerous.
A dog, on the other hand, will be regarded as vicious if it seriously injures or kills a human. This leads to a judge’s hearing. The dog might be taken to animal control and put down as a consequence of the hearing. While no pet owner wants this to happen, it is necessary if the dog is deemed to be very harmful to the community.
Have you ever been bitten by a dog?
If you have been bitten or otherwise wounded by a dog, you are entitled to professional legal assistance. Dealing with Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas means working with a lawyer who has decades of expertise. For a free legal consultation, call 909-982-0707 today.
